Revisiting Vezina Trophy Seasons: Roy Worters’ 1930-31 Season

Nicknamed Shrimp, Roy Worters is the smallest goalie to even win the top individual award for NHL goaltenders. Born in Toronto in 1900, Worters was a part of the 1920 Memorial Cup winning Toronto Canoe Club Paddlers.

Worters continued his success with the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets of the United States Amateur Hockey Association winning two more championships from 1923 to 1925 before the Pittsburgh Pirates, led by Worters and many of his teammates from the Yellow Jackets, joined the NHL in 1925-26.

Worters became the smallest goalie to ever play in the NHL and solidified his place in NHL history, becoming one of the most reliable options in net, in terms of games played over his first few seasons with the Pirates.

But it was the 1930-31 season, plastered with a big, strong defensive corps in front of him with the New York Americans, that Worters earned the NHL top goalie award – the Vezina Trophy.

Worters Goals Against Average Earned Him the Vezina Win

After a disgruntled management team in Pittsburgh moved Worters to the Americans, Worters began to see what it was like to play behind a stronger defensive team. The Americans were bolstered by players like Bullet Joe Simpson and Lionel Conacher which helped the smaller goaltender reach new heights with his individual success.

At the age of 30, Worters went on a season-long run that earned him the Vezina Trophy in 1930-31. That season, Worters started the year with a 1-3-4 record through eight games. Things for the Americans weren’t looking good. The silver lining was during that eight-game span, Worters had only given up eight goals.

That season, he went on to play in 44 games and while his record didn’t describe a successful season, Worters other numbers were more telling of the success he had had over the 44 games. He finished the season having given up just 74 goals with a 1.61 goals against average, finishing with eight shutouts.

Amongst his peers, he was one of six goaltenders that season to play in 44 games. He finished sixth in wins, but first in goals against average – which at the time was the defining mark for the Vezina Trophy. The season earned Worters a contract following the year with an annual salary of $8,500 – which redefined the goalie market.

The Americans missed the playoffs, but Worters’ etched his name in NHL history with the standout campaign.

Worters Had Star Calibre Abilities

His Vezina win in 1930-31 wasn’t his only individual award. In fact, four times over his career he was in the top-five for Hart Trophy voting – the award given to the NHL’s most valuable player to his team. In 1928-29, Worters was named the Hart Trophy winner in his first season with the Americans.

He played in 38 games for the Americans that season with a record of 16-12-10, giving up just 46 goals for a GAA of 1.15 and 13 shutouts. The two latter stats were career bests for the then 28-year-old. The Americans made the playoffs that season playing just two extra games, but Worters posted a 0.67 GAA in those two games, adding another shutout.

His career record ended up being sub-.500, however his goals against average and shutouts made him one of the top goaltenders during his career. He finished with a career 2.28 GAA and 67 shutouts in 484 regular season games – remaining top-15 all-time in shutouts in NHL history (as of 2026).

With a Hart, a Vezina and being a two-time NHL all-star, Worters earned a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame, being inducted in 1969 as a player.

Worters’ One-Game Stint With Montreal

Outside of being the smallest goalie in the history of the NHL at five-foot-three and 135 pounds, Worters was also known for having played a one-game stint for the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 27, 1930. Needing a goalie to replace George Hainsworth, the Canadiens were loaned Worters from the Americans.

Worters went on to help the Canadiens to a 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Canadiens would eventually win the Stanley Cup later that season.

As for Worters’ career, he eventually retired following parts of 12 seasons in the NHL after hernia surgery and would pass away in November 1957. But his height, his ability to stop the puck and one-time Vezina type numbers would forever etched Worters name in hockey history.