Reid, Robert

BORN DECEMBER 21ST, 1932 in Glasgow, Scotland, he developed as a goaltender with the Blackhawks in the local Victorian league in Melbourne, where he played 158 games for the Club for the fourteen seasons between 1952 and 1965. In the 1950s, he often ranked with the best Blackhawks' players in local ice hockey battles against the other league giants, Raiders and Monarchs, usually in the company of notables such as Noel Derrick, Dave Cunningham and Keith Jose.

Reid won the inaugural Australian Club Championships with the Blackhawks in 1955 and, after it resumed in 1962, he won it again with the 'Hawks in 1965. He represented Victoria on many occasions winning the Goodall Cup in 1955 before the five year hiatus caused by the lack of a rink in Sydney. Three more followed in 1961, '62, and '68.

In Australia's opening game of the 1960 Olympics, Reid in net played the entire 60 minutes making 64 total saves (17 in the 1st, 21 in the 2nd and 26 saves in 3rd), while the CSSR goalies Vladimir Nadrchal and Vladimir Dvoracek combined for 14 total saves. In the second game against the USA, he shared the net with Noel McLoughlin. Together they faced 47 shots from players such as Tom Williams and Bill and Bob Cleary. This continued in 2 games against Finland in the Consolation Round (1-14, 2-19). He was 27 and on the Olympic record he faced a total of 143 shots, saving 73.7 percent.

In 2018, local Dynamo's goalie, Jason Sangwin, caught up with him at the Oakleigh ice rink where he was interviewed for a live TV cross to an AFL footy show. He described the 1960 Games as a "real wake-up call" and was fascinated by modern goalie equipment. He had a stand-up style and the gloves he wore at the Games were made of leather and horse hair. Asked about face masks, he said "Nah, nobody wore masks then," shrugging off the suggestion as if a lack of protection was normal.

A Life Member of both state and national associations, the Reid-McLoughlin Trophy was awarded to the Best Goalie in the IHV Premier A League between 2008 and 2014. It is now awarded to the Best Goalie in the IHV Premier Reserve league.