Absurd Goalie Monday: Cam Newton

Unlike another athlete with the same name, this week's AGM wasn't a first overall pick in the Draft, he didn't win the top player in any ranks, but they did win a National Championship, though several decades apart. However, this week's AGM was most known for his bright mask, if nothing else. This week-- the profile of Cam Newton.

Newton's rise to prominence began in the OHL with the Toronto Marlboros in the 1966-67 season, playing in 18 games and was the hot hand going into the playoffs playing in 10 games and aiding the Marlboros to win the Memorial Cup in 1967 winning in five games against Port Arthur. Newton stayed with the Marlboros in the 1967-68 season, playing in 18 games, as well as part of the 1968-69 season, appearing in 27 games.

However, midway through the 1968-69 season-- Newton was traded to the Kitchener Rangers, where he would play another 24 games to end out the season. While the 1969-70 season had Newton get into 42 games with Kitchener, then four playoff games where he'd go 0-3.

The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Newton in the eighth round of the 1970 Draft and would place him in the Central League with the Amarillo Rattlers, playing in 15 games during the 1970-71 season. Newton would also get a call-up to the Penguins for five games, recording a 1-3-1 mark in those games.

For the 1971-72 season, Newton was assigned to the AHL's Hershey Bears where he would play in 35 games and put up a 13-17-4 record in those games, then losing his only playoff appearance. Newton would spend a majority of the 1972-73 season with the Bears, playing in 18 games and posting two shutouts, while also appearing in 11 games for the Penguins when he was called up, finishing with a 3-4-0 record in that time.

To forge his path, Newton moved to the WHA, signing with the Chicago Cougars and playing in 45 games in the 1973-74 season, compiling a 25-18-2 record in that season. Back with the Cougars for the 1974-75 season, Newton played in 32 games and post a 12-20-0 record.

The 1975-76 season was an adventurous one, as Newton was picked up by the Denver Civics during the Expansion Draft, and while the Civics would move to Ottawa halfway during the season, Newton went 4-6-0 in ten games before the Civics folded midway through the season. Newton was signed by the Cleveland Crusaders after the Civics ceased operation and he would appear in 15 games and put up a 7-7-1 record.

The 1976-77 season had Newton in the North American Pro League with the Erie Blades, where he would only play in four games, posting one shutout, before he would leave the game and retire all together.

From having the hot hand to get the Marlboros a Memorial Cup to being recognized for his baby-blue mask when he was in the NHL, Newton left a bit of a mark on the annals of history, though it was a small mark altogether.