Blackhawks legend and Hall of Fame goaltender Tony Esposito dies at 78

Tony Esposito, a Hall of Fame goaltender who rose to fame with the Chicago Blackhawks, has died at 78.

The Blackhawks announced on Twitter that Esposito died Tuesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Esposito, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., came to prominence in Chicago after being claimed off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens in 1969.

He posted a 38-17-9 record with 15 shutouts and a 2.17 goals-against average in the 1969-70 season, winning the first of his three Vezina trophies as the NHL’s top goaltender as well as the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.