John Vanbiesbrouck is an American professional ice hockey executive and former player who goes by the moniker “the Beezer” and “JVB.” He was admitted into the American Hockey Hall of Fame as a goalie in 2007.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | John Vanbiesbrouck |
| Occupation | Hockey Player |
| Age | 61 |
| Date of Birth | September 4, 1963 |
| Place of Birth | Detroit, MI |
| Star Sign | Virgo |
| Country | United States |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 1.73 m (5′ 8″) |
| Weight | 79.38 kg (175 lbs) |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Girlfriend/Wife | Rosalinde |
| Children | 4 |
| Net Worth | $1.5 million |
John Vanbiesbrouck Biography
Famous hockey player John Vanbiesbrouck was born in the United States on September 4, 1963. NHL Hall of Fame goalkeeper who was named one of the greatest Rangers players of all time and established several records with the New York Rangers. Astrologers claim that John Vanbiesbrouck is a Virgo by birth.
He was raised in Detroit, Michigan, with his two elder brothers. Being the youngest of three brothers, Vanbiesbrouck grew up. Frank, his eldest sibling, played goaltending for three junior-A hockey seasons from 1974 and 1977. Julian, his other sibling, was a left winger for the University of Michigan and spent a short time with the Toledo Goaldiggers of the International Hockey League. Frank Vanbiesbrouck had serious depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts when Vanbiesbrouck was a member of the Rangers. John made an effort to stay in touch with Frank during this period by calling him every day and taking infrequent flights away from the team to see him on the road. Frank attempted suicide, but he ended his life in 1993. When Frank passed away, Vanbiesbrouck said he “felt extremely empty” and that his death was “devastating,” but he added that his Christian faith and the Bible had helped him get through the trying period.
John Vanbiesbrouck Height, Weight
John Vanbiesbrouck is 5 feet 8 inches tall. He weighs approximately 79 kg. He has lovely warm black eyes and Black locks. There is no information on his chest-waist-hip measurements, dress size, shoe size, biceps, etc.
Career
- In the 1984–85 season, Vanbiesbrouck joined the Rangers full-time. He played in 42 games and had a 4.20 goals-against average (GAA). Vanbiesbrouck had a breakthrough season the following year, appearing in 61 games and winning a career-high 31 wins. All but five of the Rangers’ victories during the regular season came from the 31 wins. He led the Rangers to an upset victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the playoffs, where his success continued.
- He then won against a Washington Capitals squad that finished the regular season with 107 points. The eventual Stanley Cup winner Montreal Canadiens defeated the Rangers in the Conference Finals. In the off-season, Vanbiesbrouck earned the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goalkeeper was selected to the First Team NHL All-Star, and agreed to a new three-year deal with the Rangers. The next season, he struggled to build on his performance, winning only 18 of the 50 games he participated in while losing 20 of them.
- He competed for Team USA in the IIHF World Championships in 1985. With a 6-3-0 record, Vanbiesbrouck defeated three of the top three teams in the globe (Canada, the Czech Republic, and Sweden). He subsequently reflected on how those three wins gave him the self-assurance to succeed in the NHL. After the first round, the Americans were the second seed. They came in fourth place in the competition, nevertheless, since they were unable to win any games in the finals. Vanbiesbrouck was selected for the Second All-Star squad on an individual basis.
- He participated in his second World Championship two years later. With a 2-5-0 record, Team USA ended in seventh place, only one spot away from being demoted to Division I. He was unable to repeat his previous success. Vanbiesbrouck competed in the Canada Cup in 1987 and finished with a 2-2-0 record and 2.25 GAA. Despite having the lowest GAA in the competition, the United States came in sixth. He participated in two additional World Championships in 1989 and 1991, finishing 1-2-1 and 3-4-2 in those competitions, respectively, as the US rose to sixth place in 1989 and came close to capturing a medal in 1991 by placing fourth.
- Vanbiesbrouck was selected for the 1991 Canada Cup roster, however, he mostly served as Mike Richter’s backup throughout the competition. He participated in only one game, which he won 4-3 against Finland. The United States completed the Canada Cup in second place when Canada defeated them 2-0 in the best-of-three final. He was selected for the 1996 World Cup of Hockey roster but was unable to participate in the triumph for the United States because of a tiny cartilage tear in his right shoulder that needed to be repaired in the offseason.
- In practice before to the 1987–88 season, Vanbiesbrouck was struck by a puck under his mask, breaking a tooth and inflicting a non-displaced fracture to his lower jaw. Fortunately for him, the damage did not necessitate that his mouth is wired shut, and the next day he was able to go back to practice. He played in 56 games and won 27, displaying no negative consequences from the injury. On June 13, 1988, a glass coffee table Vanbiesbrouck was seated on fell, causing the fragmented glass to lacerate his ulnar nerve and three tendons, resulting in nerve damage to his left wrist.
- In preparation for the birth of his first kid, he was seated at the table setting up camera equipment. As he prepared for the fall, the glass cracked under him, cutting his wrist. In order to extract the glass from Vanbiesbrouck’s wrist and treat the nerve and tendon damage, he needed five hours of microsurgery. However, he healed in time to show up at the Ranger’s preseason training camp only three months after his original four to six-month absence. He participated in 56 games once again, bringing his overall victory total to 28.
- After the Rangers struggled in the first few weeks of January in 1989–1990, Vanbiesbrouck was forced to split the starting goaltending responsibilities with Mike Richter, who had just been called up. Head coach Roger Neilson used a method of switching between the two goalies throughout the playoffs. The New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders in the first round of the playoffs, but they fell to the Washington Capitals in the second round. Vanbiesbrouck, on the other hand, had a 2-3 record, a 3.02 GAA, and a.902 save percentage.
Records
- Has the record for the most assists a goalkeeper has ever had in a single season with the New York Rangers.
- holds the record for the most career assists by a goalkeeper with the New York Rangers.
- Has the NHL record for the second-most wins among goalies who were born in America.
John Vanbiesbrouck ’s Net Worth
John Vanbiesbrouck is one of the wealthiest and most well-liked hockey players. John Vanbiesbrouck’s net worth is around $1.5 million as of February 2024.
John Vanbiesbrouck Wife, Marriage
Vanbiesbrouck and his family resided in Moorestown, New Jersey when he was a member of the Flyers. He has four boys with his wife, Rosalinde. When he was five years old, their eldest kid was identified as having attention deficit disorder (ADD). Vanbiesbrouck established the Vanbiesbrouck Foundation for Children with Attention Deficit Disorder as a consequence, with the goal of raising money and increasing public awareness for kids with ADD. However, the foundation was disbanded and the program’s objective was transferred to an information service on a South Florida basis after he departed Florida through free agency. In addition, Vanbiesbrouck is the famous patron of a golf tournament benefiting The Alan T. Brown Foundation to Cure Paralysis. The end of his playing career saw him return to his native Michigan.
Awards & Achievement
- Winner of the 1981 F. W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy (OHL – best rookie goals against average).
- chosen for the 1983 OHL Second All-Star team.
- chosen for the 1984 CHL First All-Star Team.
- Winner of the Terry Sawchuk Trophy in 1984 (shared with Ron Scott).
- Winner of the CHL Most Valuable Player Award in 1984, Tommy Ivan (shared with Bruce Affleck).
- 1986 NHL First All-Star Team selection.
- 1986 Vezina Trophy winner.
- The winner of the 1990 Extra Effort Award was Steven McDonald (shared with Kelly Kisio).
- 1994 NHL Second All-Star Team selection.
- played in the National Hockey League All-Star Games in 1994, 1996, and 1997.
- became the 15th goalkeeper in NHL history to reach 300 victories, and just the second American to do so.
- October 2007 saw his induction into the American Hockey Hall of Fame.
Interesting Facts
- After leaving the NHL, he temporarily coached junior hockey teams until he addressed one of the players in a racist slur.
- In the Stanley Cup playoffs, he assisted the Florida Panthers in defeating Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
