Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, 'Gump' was given his nickname because friends thought he looked like comic-strip character Andy Gump.

In the 1955–56 New York Rangers season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks, Worsley made 43 saves, setting a franchise record.

[2] In the summer of 1963, Worsley became involved in the establishment of a players' union, and the Rangers promptly traded him to the Montreal Canadiens.

His best season was 1968, when he won the Vezina Trophy, attained a goals-against average of 1.98 — the lowest in his career — and earned eleven straight wins in the playoffs.

In 1969–70, however, he had a dispute with general manager Sam Pollock over being demoted to the minors, and head coach Claude Ruel's decision to favor Rogatien Vachon made Worsley quit in the middle of the season.

Pollock suggested Worsley accept a two-week conditioning stint to work his way back to the Canadiens, but the veteran netminder refused.

Worsley was suspended for not reporting to the Canadiens' Montreal Voyageurs farm team and told Pollock he intended to retire.

On November 25, 1968,[5] en route to Los Angeles, he suffered a nervous breakdown after a rough flight from Montreal's Dorval Airport to Chicago.

It has been reported that a stewardess upon landing came over the PA system and said that if passengers wished to claim refunds for drycleaning they should submit receipts.

It is said upon emerging from retirement to play for the North Stars he was assured, as Minnesota was in the middle of the continent, the team travelled less than any other in the league.

In 1953, he joined Montréal Hakoah FC and helped his new club to the Canadian final, but they lost the three-game series to the Westminster Royals.

In the TV series Law & Order: Criminal Intent a property management company is named "Gump and Worsley."