Goaltender Sam LoPresti played a couple of years with the Chicago Black Hawks in the 40s. He was also a top amateur and minor pro player in a decade-long career.
Born in Eveleth, Minnesota, LoPresti played with the local Rangers of the TBSHL in 1936-37. He then spent three years with the St. Paul Saints of the AHA and accumulated 62 wins. After posting four shutouts and 29 victories in 1939-40, LoPresti was placed on the AHA second all-star team.
After starting the 1940-41 season with the AHA's Kansas City Americans, LoPresti was recalled by the Hawks. He played 27 games as a rookie and faced an NHL record 83 shots during a 3-2 loss at Boston on March 4, 1941. The hard working netminder also played five playoff games as Chicago beat the Canadiens to advance to the semifinals.
During the 1941-42 season LoPresti notched 21 wins then starred when Chicago lost a tough opening round playoff series to the Boston Bruins. After two years of military service during World War II, he returned to play with the PCHL's San Diego Skyhawks in 1944-45. After sitting out the next season, LoPresti returned briefly with the senior Duluth Coolerators. Beginning in 1948-49 he began a three year stay in the old North American League with the Duluth Steelers and Eveleth Rangers before retiring in 1951. Twenty years later his son, Pete, tended goal for several years in the NHL.
