Almas was an impressive enough junior, but his career was put on hold because of the war. He saw duty with the Canadian Army for two years and after being discharged resumed what he expected would be a minor-league career. But before Detroit's final game of the 1946-47 season, incumbent Harry Lumley suffered a season-ending injury and Red was called up to play the game of March 23, 1947 against Toronto.

Although the Wings lost 5-3, he was named the teams number one goalie heading into the playoffs against those same Leafs. Toronto won the series in five games. In the last of the series, Almas pulled his groin stopping a Garth Boesch shot and had to leave. He was replaced by Johnny Mowers, and the redhead was again back in the minors to start the new season.

Red got another chance in the NHL, playing one game with Chicago on December 6, 1950, a 5-4 loss to Boston. Then it was back to the minors until Detroit called him up on Christmas Night 1952 when the Wings and the Hawks played to a 3-3 tie. Although his NHL days were numbered, he was long considered the finest goalie in the American league during these post-war years.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame