Ed Belfour

Ed Belfour is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of North Dakota where he helped the school win the NCAA championship in the 1986–87 season. The following year, Belfour signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks, alternating time between them and the Saginaw Hawks of the International Hockey League. Many regard Belfour as an elite goaltender and one of the best of all time. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the 2011 class, his first year of eligibility. In addition Belfour is one of only two players to have won an NCAA championship, an Olympic Gold medal, and a Stanley Cup.

His characteristic face mask earned him the sobriquet "Eddie the Eagle", and some of his quirks and off-ice antics earned him the nickname "Crazy Eddie". After wearing #30 for his tenure with the Blackhawks, Belfour switched to #20 while a member of the San Jose Sharks as a tribute to Vladislav Tretiak, his goaltending coach and mentor from the Blackhawks. He would wear this for the rest of his playing career.

For Belfour, hockey is just the beginning of the legacy he wishes to leave. In 2019 he launched Belfour Spirits, which has since earned top awards for packaging and flavor, including Double Gold for its 106-proof Special Edition Straight Rye Whiskey in the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This is more than a job to him; it’s a second dream come true. And with that opportunity, comes the privilege to live each day better than the one before and the responsibility to influence the lives of others.