Doug Stevenson (Canadian ice hockey goaltender)

Role and playing style

The goaltender is the last line of defense on an ice hockey team, responsible for stopping shots and directing the defense. Contemporary reports and team rosters list Stevenson as a typical mid-20th-century netminder—reliable in goal and adaptable to the faster, more physical style of play common at the time. While detailed statistics from minor pro circuits are often incomplete, his regular work with Tacoma indicates durability and competence at that level.

Professional career

Stevenson appeared in eight National Hockey League games: four with the New York Rangers (New York Rangers) and four with the Chicago Blackhawks (Chicago Blackhawks). Outside the NHL he played extensively in the Pacific Coast Hockey League, most notably with the Tacoma Rockets, where he logged the majority of his professional minutes. His trajectory—moving between minor leagues and brief NHL stints—was typical for many players of his era.

Teams and timeline

• New York Rangers — short NHL appearance (link).
• Chicago Blackhawks — short NHL appearance (link).
• Tacoma Rockets — principal professional club in the Pacific Coast Hockey League.

Context and significance

The mid-20th century saw a robust network of minor professional leagues that supplied talent to the NHL and provided stable careers for many players. The Pacific Coast Hockey League was one such circuit where skilled competitors like Stevenson could play regularly and be local stars. Players with only a handful of NHL games nonetheless contributed to the development and competitive depth of hockey in North America.

Later life and legacy

Douglas Stevenson died on November 9, 1975 in Massachusetts. Though he never became a long-term NHL starter, his career illustrates the common path of professional hockey players in his era—moving between major and minor leagues while sustaining the sport at multiple levels. For researchers and fans, his name appears in historical rosters as a reminder of the depth and breadth of hockey's professional ranks.

Further information and archival records can be sought through team histories and period newspaper accounts, which often provide game-by-game details not captured in summary statistics.