| abstract | - William Milton "Riley" Hern (December 5, 1880 – June 24, 1929) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He was the first professional goaltender to play on a Stanley Cup-winning team. Hern began playing ice hockey at an early age, playing for school teams in St. Marys and Stratford, Ontario, playing both as a goaltender and a forward. Hern played for the senior Stratford team in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1898 to 1901. He began his professional career with the Pittsburgh Keystones of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (WPHL) during the 1901–02 season. In his first season, Hern led the league in victories, with nine in 14 games. Hern, as a result, was named to the WPHL All-Star Team. However, in the next season, Hern led the league in losses, losing 10 out of 11 games. In the 1903–04 season, Hern played with Portage Lakes of the International Professional Hockey League (IPHL). Hern played, in total, three seasons with Portage Lakes. In the 1906–07 season, Hern joined the Montreal Wanderers, of the Eastern Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA). Hern posted a 10–0 regular season record in his first season with the Wanderers. The Wanderers won the Stanley Cup four straight seasons in the playoffs, from 1907 to 1911. The Wanderers also successfully defended the Cup in six out of seven challenges in that timespan. Hern retired from playing professional ice hockey in 1911, at the age of 30. He was involved in organizing various ice hockey leagues and printing schedules in Montreal. Hern also served as an NHL referee and a goal judge. Hern was inducted posthumously into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.
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