Jack McCartan was a professional ice hockey goaltender who played for various teams throughout his career. McCartan was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and began playing hockey at a young age. He played for the University of Minnesota and was a member of the 1960 US Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal in Squaw Valley, California. McCartan was the starting goaltender for the US team and played a crucial role in their victory.
After the Olympics, McCartan signed with the New York Rangers and played for their minor league affiliate, the Kitchener-Waterloo Beavers. He made his NHL debut with the Rangers in the 1961-62 season and played in 13 games. McCartan was then traded to the Montreal Canadiens, where he played for their minor league team, the Quebec Aces.
In 1964, McCartan was traded to the Minnesota North Stars, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Los Angeles Kings for three seasons before retiring from professional hockey in 1970. McCartan played a total of 69 NHL games and had a record of 20 wins, 34 losses, and 8 ties.
After retiring from hockey, McCartan became a successful businessman and owned several car dealerships in Minnesota. He also remained involved in hockey and served as a coach and mentor to young players. McCartan was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 and the University of Minnesota Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.
Overall, Jack McCartan had a successful hockey career, highlighted by his gold medal win at the 1960 Olympics. While he did not have a long NHL career, McCartan made a significant impact on the sport and was a respected player and coach.
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