Mike McKenna (ice hockey)

Mike McKenna
McKenna with the Tampa Bay Lightning at the end of the 2008-09 season
Born April 11, 1983
St. Louis, MO, USA
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams 		Arizona Coyotes
Portland Pirates (AHL)
Tampa Bay Lightning
New Jersey Devils
Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL Draft 172nd overall, 2002
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2005–present

Mike McKenna (born April 11, 1983) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL) whilst under contract to the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). McKenna previously played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils and the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as their minor league affiliates. McKenna was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 6th round (172nd overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

McKenna played his college hockey for St. Lawrence University, an NCAA Division 1 team in the ECAC. McKenna was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in the sixth round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Las Vegas Wranglers during the 2006–07 ECHL season, compiling an impressive 27-4-2 record, with five shutouts. He was named to the All-Star team and finished second in the league voting for Most Valuable Player.

McKenna was signed to an AHL contract by the Tampa Bay Lightning AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals for the 2008–09 season after drifting from several AHL teams during the previous seasons, including a previous stint for Norfolk during the 2005 season. McKenna played better than expected, earning Norfolk's starting goalie position. He had an 11-10-0 record with one shutout up until early February, when he was signed to an NHL contract by the Lightning after Olaf Kolzig went öown for the season with an injury. He made his NHL debut on February 3, 2009 versus the New York Islanders, relieving starter Karri Ramo. The following day, he made his first NHL start in goal on February 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, shutting the Penguins out through two periods before losing 4-3 in overtime. McKenna earned his first NHL win and shutout on February 7 with a 28 save, 1-0 home win against the New York Islanders less than a week into his NHL career.

In 2009, McKenna signed with the New Jersey Devils organization, and played two seasons with the Albany Devils. He also played two games in the NHL for New Jersey. McKenna's only NHL start of the season was against his hometown St. Louis Blues.[1]

In July 2011, McKenna signed a one-year contract with the Ottawa Senators.[2]

On July 1, 2012, McKenna signed a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues.[3]

For a third consecutive season, McKenna continued his journeyman career and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 5, 2013.[4]

McKenna was recalled by the Blue Jackets on December 3, 2013 after Sergei Bobrovsky went down with an injury. On December 12, 2013, McKenna made his Blue Jackets debut in relief of an injured Curtis McElhinney, saving 17 of 18 shots faced in a 4-2 win against the New York Rangers.

On July 1, 2014, McKenna signed a one-year two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes.[5] After the trading away of Arizona backup Devan Dubnyk, and the sending down of Mike Lee, McKenna is now in the NHL again as Mike Smith's backup.

Personal

McKenna is a fan of Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1999–00 Springfield Jr. Blues NAHL 16 6 8 0 879 48 0 3.28 — — — — — — — — —
2000–01 Springfield Jr. Blues NAHL 48 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
2001–02 St. Lawrence University ECAC 20 7 10 1 1122 59 0 3.16 .898 — — — — — — — —
2002–03 St. Lawrence University ECAC 13 1 7 2 618 38 0 3.69 .897 — — — — — — — —
2003–04 St. Lawrence University ECAC 27 9 10 3 1475 60 3 2.44 .917 — — — — — — — —
2004–05 St. Lawrence University ECAC 35 15 17 2 2022 92 3 2.73 .908 — — — — — — — —
2005–06 Las Vegas Wranglers ECHL 25 19 2 1 1383 49 1 2.13 .923 4 1 1 173 9 0 3.12 .905
2005–06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 7 4 2 1 388 25 0 3.86 .883 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Las Vegas Wranglers ECHL 38 27 4 7 2258 83 5 2.21 .927 6 3 3 358 15 0 2.51 .913
2006–07 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 1 0 0 0 11 3 0 15.72 .250 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights AHL 2 0 1 0 96 6 0 3.74 .889 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Portland Pirates AHL 41 24 13 1 2269 103 3 2.72 .908 6 2 4 320 18 0 3.38 .886
2008–09 Norfolk Admirals AHL 24 11 10 1 1315 65 1 2.97 .904 — — — — — — — —
2008–09 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 15 4 8 1 776 46 1 3.56 .887 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 Lowell Devils AHL 50 24 17 6 2891 119 3 2.47 .921 5 1 4 317 17 0 3.22 .902
2010–11 Albany Devils AHL 39 14 20 2 2062 124 1 3.61 .886 — — — — — — — —
2010–11 New Jersey Devils NHL 2 0 1 0 118 6 0 3.05 .893 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Binghamton Senators AHL 41 14 22 1 2196 109 0 2.98 .918 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 Peoria Rivermen AHL 39 19 18 1 2307 93 4 2.42 .923 — — — — — — — —
2013–14 Springfield Falcons AHL 36 22 10 1 2106 89 3 2.54 .910 5 2 2 245 14 0 3.43 .907
2013–14 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 4 1 1 1 219 11 0 3.01 .904 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Arizona Coyotes NHL 1 0 1 0 60 5 0 5.00 .853 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 22 5 11 2 1173 68 1 3.48 .889 — — — — — — — —

References

  1. ↑ Devils will give goalie Mike McKenna a start in his hometown of St. Louis - NJ.com
  2. ↑ Scanlan, Wayne (July 8, 2011). "Sens sign veteran pair to two-way deals". The Montreal Gazette (The Ottawa Citizen). Retrieved July 9, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Blues Sign McKenna, Chorney and Ford". St. Louis Blues. 2012-07-01.
  4. ↑ "Blue Jackets sign Goaltender McKenna to one-year deal". Columbus Blue Jackets. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
  5. ↑ "Coyotes sign Bolduc, Campbell, Hodgman, McKeena and Reese". Arizona Coyotes. 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  6. ↑ "McKenna tweet picture". Twitter. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-02-01.

External links