Gonzaga Athletic Hall of Fame
As a goaltender, Frank McCool played a stressful position and carried the nickname “Ulcers” from his days with Gonzaga’s fine hockey clubs just before World War II and on into the National Hockey League. Legend has it that McCool, outwardly relaxed, often chatted with friends during Kootenay-American League action. But, he also often countered stress by sipping milk during intermissions of NHL games. McCool played all 50 regular season games for Toronto in 1944-45, led the NHL with four shutouts and won the Calder Cup as Rookie of the Year. In the playoffs, McCool registered four more shutouts, including a scoreless stretch of over 193 minutes as Toronto won two best-of-seven series and the Stanley Cup. He played one more NHL season, then returned to Calgary, Alberta, to work for his hometown newspaper. He eventually became general manager of Calgary Albertan.
