Ty Conklin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Position | Goaltender |
| Catches | Left |
| Nickname(s) | Conks, The Conk-eror, Conkblock |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 184 lb (83 kg/13 st 2 lb) |
| NHL Team F. teams |
Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Sabres Edmonton Oilers Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | March 30, 1976 , Anchorage, Alaska, USA |
| Pro career | 2001 – present |
| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | |||
| Bronze | 2004 Prague | United States | |
Ty Conklin (born March 30, 1976, Anchorage, Alaska) is a professional ice hockey goaltender currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He went undrafted, despite repeated honours in the United States Hockey League as a member of the Green Bay Gamblers, and the NCAA, while playing for the University of New Hampshire.
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[edit] Playing career
Conkin was signed by the Oilers in the summer of 2001 to challenge for the backup role. He spent the bulk of his time with the Hamilton Bulldogs, the then-shared American Hockey League affiliate for the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens, and led the Bulldogs to within one win of a Calder Cup championship in 2003. In the 2003–04 season, he played as back-up to Tommy Salo, and then the joint starter with Jussi Markkanen following Salo's trade to the Colorado Avalanche. During the NHL lockout he played for Wolfsburg in the DEL, the German elite league
He has also played for the United States national team at the previous two International Ice Hockey Federation world hockey championships. In the 2004 Championships, he was selected as best goaltender.
Following the lockout, Conklin entered the new season as Edmonton's probable starting goaltender, backed up by Jussi Markkanen. Given the prevalent idea that either goaltender could assume the starting job, local media began using the nickname "Conkkanen" to describe Edmonton's starting goaltender. However, during the 2005–06 season, both goaltenders proved to be ineffective, forcing the Oilers' General Manager Kevin Lowe to acquire Dwayne Roloson from the Minnesota Wild.
[edit] 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs
In the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Conklin was called in to play in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals in relief of an injured Dwayne Roloson. Late in the third period, he and Jason Smith committed a blunder that gave the Hurricanes an easy empty-netted goal that cost the Oilers the game.[1] Conklin did not return to the ice again as an Oiler as his team option for the 2006–07 NHL season was subsequently declined. [2]
[edit] Post-Edmonton career
Conklin was subsequently signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was expected to compete for the Blue Jackets' backup goaltending position, however coach Gerard Gallant opted to go with internationally-experienced Fredrik Norrena. Conklin was subsequently waived and sent to the American Hockey League. An injury to Blue Jackets' starter Pascal Leclaire prompted the team to recall Conklin to the NHL on December 11, 2006.
On February 27, 2007, Conklin was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres for a 5th round draft pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Conklin in his first start with the Sabres made 42 saves in a win over the Panthers. [3]
On July 18, 2007 Conklin was signed by the Pittsburgh Penguins to a $500,000, one-year contract. [4] He was recalled by Pittsburgh on December 6, when starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury suffered a high ankle sprain. Conklin became a sensation in Pittsburgh, winning all of his first nine starts. Over the next two and a half months before Fleury returned on March 2, Conklin compiled a record of 17–4–5. Conklin helped the Penguins to not only sustain, but advance their position in the standings during Fleury's extended injury. Fleury's noticeably improved play upon return was also credited to the mentoring and competition provided by Conklin. He played in 33 games, finishing with a personal record of 18–8–5 and a save percentage of .923, 2nd overall in the NHL and a single-season franchise record.
Conklin has participated in both of the NHL's regular-season outdoor games. He was the goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers when they lost 4–3 to the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on November 22, 2003. He was also the goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 2–1 Shootout win against the Buffalo Sabres in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1st, 2008.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Bio at HockeyGoalies
- Ty Conklin's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Ty Conklin's NHL player profile
- Bio at ESPN (includes photo)
