Roy `` Shrimp '' Worters ( October 19 , 1900 in Toronto , Ontario , Canada â `` November 7 , 1957 ) was a Canadian professional ice hockey Hall of Fame goaltender who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Montreal Canadiens and New York Americans , and was notable for having 66 shutouts in his career and being , at 5 ' 3 '' tall , the shortest player ever to play in the NHL . Roy `` Shrimp '' Worters ( October 19 , 1900 in Toronto , Ontario â `` November 7 , 1957 in Toronto , Ontario ) was a Canadian professional Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Montreal Canadiens and New York Americans , and was notable for recording 66 shutouts in his career and being , at 5 ' 3 '' tall , the shortest player ever to play in the NHL .