Ron Loustel Allowed 10 Goals and Never Played in the NHL Again

Published on November 2nd, 2024 10:02 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


The 1980-81 Winnipeg Jets were bad.

Tremendously bad.

The team finished with a record of 9-57-14, which was good for a miserly 32 points.

The Jets, who went through three different coaches that season, allowed 400 goals in 80 games.

As you can imagine, the Jets tested out a number of different goaltenders that season.

On March 27th, 1981, rookie Ron Loustel got his shot against the Vancouver Canucks. The young goaltender was given the best chance possible to succeed - the Jets were playing at home against a mediocre Vancouver Canucks team.

Loustel got his start with the Kelowna Buckaroos of the BCJHL before making it to the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL.

Despite putting up some pretty subpar numbers with the Blades (GAA of .872 and .854), Loustel was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 6th round of the 1980 NHL Draft.

The young Loustel, who had just celebrated his 19th birthday a few weeks prior, was given his first (and only) start in the NHL on a Friday night in the spring of 1981.

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The Canucks came early and often, lighting up Loustel in the first period for three goals. Tiger Williams opened the scoring, followed by goals by Rick Lanz and Blair MacDonald.

The Canucks continued to pepper Loustel in the second period, notching three more goals to make it 6-1, with two of the goals coming short-handed.

The Canucks scored four more goals before the halfway mark of the third period, making it 10-1. The Jets added a late goal to make it 10-2.

The young Loustel was under siege all night, allowing 10 goals on 51 shots. In reality, Loustel received practically zero help from his team and was left to fend for himself. While Loustel allowed 10 goals, he stopped 41 shots, giving him a save % of .804.

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After one game (a loss) with the Jets' farm team, Loustel was sent back to the WHL, where he put up some pretty unspectacular numbers.

Loustel would play one more professional game in his career - a 33 minute stint with the Fort Wayne Komets, where he allowed 3 goals.

Loustel continues to hold the record for most goals allowed by a goaltender in his only game in the NHL.