Cesare ("Hail Cesare") Maniago (Born January 13, 1939 in Trail, British Columbia) was a National Hockey League goaltender, most notably for the Minnesota North Stars, for whom he remains the 2nd all-time leader in games played in goal.
Originally the property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, for whom he played seven games in the 1961 season, Maniago underwent a lengthy apprenticeship in the minor leagues, punctuated only by a relief stint of ailing Ja...
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Cesare ("Hail Cesare") Maniago (Born January 13, 1939 in Trail, British Columbia) was a National Hockey League goaltender, most notably for the Minnesota North Stars, for whom he remains the 2nd all-time leader in games played in goal.
Originally the property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, for whom he played seven games in the 1961 season, Maniago underwent a lengthy apprenticeship in the minor leagues, punctuated only by a relief stint of ailing Jacques Plante for the Montreal Canadiens in 1963. By 1966, his rights owned now by the New York Rangers and Plante -- then the Rangers' goaltender -- having abruptly retired, he was paired with Ed Giacomin as New York sought a replacement. Giacomin firmly winning the job the following season, Maniago played in just six games.
With expansion arriving the next season, Maniago had his big chance. He was drafted by the new Minnesota North Stars, immediately becoming their number one goaltender, a job he kept for the next nine seasons. Playing...
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