Ernest Alfred Linton Wakely (born November 27, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 113 games in the National Hockey League from 1962 to 1972, and 334 games in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1979.
Wakely was a goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues. He also played for the Quebec Aces, the Cleveland Barons (AHL), Winnipeg Jets, San Diego Mariners, Cincinnati Stingers, Houston Aeros, Houston Apollos, and Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association. Wakely was goaltender for the 1958âÂÂ59 Memorial Cup-winning Winnipeg Braves of the MJHL.
In the 1969âÂÂ70 NHL season Wakely took over in St. Louis for Glenn Hall. Wakely appeared in 30 games, won 12, and recorded an NHL league-leading goals against average of 2.11 in leading the Blues to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. Although Wakely did not start the first game of the finals, he replaced Jacques Plante early in the game after Plante was injured. Wakely played well through the second period, but Boston prevailed in that game 6âÂÂ1 and swept the Blues in four straight games to win the Stanley Cup.
The following season, Wakely played in 51 games, won 20, and posted a 2.79 GAA. Two years later, he played with the Winnipeg Jets and former Chicago Black Hawks star Bobby Hull in the World Hockey Association. No other goalie played more games in the WHA and his 16 shutouts are also a WHA career record.