Wayne Rutledge
Goalie Wayne Rutledge spent parts of three years with the LA Kings in the 60s and 70s. He was better known as a top star in the WHA and the minors.
Born in Barrie, Ontario, Rutledge played with the hometown Flyers and stayed with the franchise when it moved to Niagara Falls. He bounced around the minors for a few years and was a two-time all-star in the CHL and won the Terry Sawchuk Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the league with the Minnesota Rangers in 1965-66.
Rutledge then joined the expansion LA Kings and split the goalkeeping chores with the legendary Sawchuk. On October 14, 1967 he backstopped the club to a 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in its NHL debut. He won 20 games that year and played two more years with the club before he was sent down to the minors. In 1972 he was named to the WHL second all-star team after leading the league in minutes played as a member of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles.
In 1972-73 Rutledge debuted with the Houston Aeros as they took part in the WHA's inaugural season. He was a solid performer for the club through the 1978 season and helped them win the Avco Cup in 1974.
After retiring from hockey Rutledge moved to Huntsville, Ontario, where he raised horses on his farm and also worked for the Dawson and Mirror Glass Company. Rutledge passed away on October 5, 2004, at the age of 62, following a battle with stomach cancer.
Received this blue ink signed card TTM
Return envelope and business card.
Handwritten note dated March 6, 1987
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