Bannerman came to the Hawks from the Vancouver Canucks. He shared the goaltender position with future Hall of Famer Tony Esposito for four years, but he gained more playing time each season. Taking over for a legend like Tony O is never easy, but Bannerman performed quite well and made his own mark in the Hawks history.
Bannerman was also quite popular, in part because of the great calls by Hawks announcer Pat Foley. Any Hawks fan from that era should fondly remember Foley's excited shout of "Baaaaannnnnnnnerrrmannn" for every big save the goalie made.
When I met Bannerman, He talked very fondly of his time with the Hawks. He loved playing in the old Chicago Stadium and was proud to have played with Esposito. Like many ex-hockey players, he seemed genuinely touched by the number of fans and their continued fandom for former players.
Murray Bannerman and me in Highland Park, IL-Spring 2010.
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