THEY CALL ME GUMP

Lorne John Worsley -- nicknamed ""Gump"" for his crew-cut resemblance to comic strip character Andy Gump -- took up organized hockey as a teen-ager in a playground league of his native Montreal where he was too small for any position other than goalie. Following amateur days with the Verdun Cyclones and several years with the New York Rangers Eastern League farm team, Worsley finally made his pro debut with the parent club in 1952 and was subsequently voted Rookie of the Year his first season. Traded to Montreal in 1963, Gump made up for the past decade's frustrating campaigns by puck-stopping the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Championship four times in the mid-'60's. The goalie's latter years were spent with the Minnesota North Stars where, after a final comeback in '73 at the age of 44, he closed out his lengthy career with a total of 860 regular season games. The athlete's personal recollections include not only occupationally hazardous in-net jitters, but also needling by coaches, post-game boozing and practical jokes which appear to be de rigueur in most pro sports. In addition to a number of comments on superstars past and present, there's a goal-tending chapter with tips on clearing the puck, positioning and the like. However earnest, this is neither as gripping as a fast-flying piece of vulcanized rubber nor as slick as an outdoor rink -- one for the barrel.