Curtis McElhinney
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Curtis McElhinney
| image = File:Curtis McElhinney (8443948370).jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = McElhinney with the Springfield Falcons in 2013
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|5|23}}
| birth_place = London, Ontario, Canada
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 200
| position = Goaltender
| catches = Left
| played_for = Calgary Flames
Anaheim Ducks
Ottawa Senators
Phoenix Coyotes
Columbus Blue Jackets
Toronto Maple Leafs
Carolina Hurricanes
Tampa Bay Lightning
| ntl_team = Canada
| draft = 176th overall
| draft_year = 2002
| draft_team = Calgary Flames
| career_start = 2005
| career_end = 2021
}}
Robert Curtis McElhinney (born May 23, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He previously played in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. McElhinney was drafted in the sixth-round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Flames, and won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
Playing career
= Early years =
McElhinney played four years of university hockey for Colorado College, compiling a 62–15–8 record in that time en route to winning two Western Collegiate Hockey Association First All-Star Team selections in 2003 and 2005, as well as NCAA Second and First All-American Team selections in 2003 and 2005, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=20717 |title=Curtis McElhinney player profile |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |accessdate=January 25, 2010}} He was selected 176th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
He made his professional debut in 2005–06 with the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL). He tied for the AHL lead in shutouts in 2006–07 while setting an Omaha team record with 44 wins. He played in the 2007 AHL All-Star game,{{Cite book |title=2009–10 Calgary Flames Media Guide |publisher=Calgary Flames Hockey Club |last1=Hanlon |first1=Peter |last2=Kelso |first2=Sean |url=http://flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40390 |format=PDF |year=2009 |page=74}} and was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team.
McElhinney split 2007–08 between the Quad City Flames and Calgary. He made his NHL debut on October 22, 2007 against the San Jose Sharks in relief of Miikka Kiprusoff, appearing in five NHL games, finishing with a 0–2–0 record and a 2.00 goals against average. He played the entire 2008–09 NHL season with Calgary as Kiprusoff's backup and recorded his first NHL win in his 14th game of the year, the last of the regular season, in a 4–1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on April 11, 2009.{{Cite web |last=Sportak |first=Randy |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Calgary/2009/04/12/9092446-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714155820/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Calgary/2009/04/12/9092446-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 14, 2012 |title=McElhinney on fire in Flames victory |work=Calgary Sun |date=April 12, 2009 |accessdate=January 25, 2010}}
File:Curtis McElhinney.png during the 2009–10 season. He was drafted by the Flames in 2002.]]
The Flames signed McElhinney to a two-year contract prior to the 2009–10 season.{{cite web |last=Sportak |first=Randy |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/2009/07/25/10258451-sun.html |title=Goin' north nice to Irving |work=Calgary Sun |date=July 25, 2009 |accessdate=January 25, 2010}} He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on March 3, 2010 in exchange for goalie Vesa Toskala.
On February 24, 2011 McElhinney was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Dan Ellis. On February 28, he was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators.
McElhinney signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Phoenix Coyotes on July 4, 2011.{{cite web|title=Coyotes sign McElhinney to one-year deal|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370898|work=The Sports Network|accessdate=July 4, 2011}}
On February 22, 2012 McElhinney was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets (along with second round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft (via Ottawa) and a conditional fifth round selection in the 2013 Draft) for Antoine Vermette.{{cite web |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=388536 |title=Blue Jackets trade veteran Vermette to Coyotes |publisher=The Sports Network |date=February 22, 2012 |accessdate=February 22, 2012}} He spent the season with Columbus' AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons and had a fine season, posting nine shutouts to lead the league and set a franchise record for both single season and career shutouts, and was again named to the AHL Second All-Star Team.
He was placed on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets January 8, 2017, after allowing 4 straight goals in a 5–4 loss to the New York Rangers on January 7, 2017. He posted a 2–1–2 record and a .924 save percentage in 7 games with the team in the 2016–2017 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/3187/curtis-mcelhinney|title = Curtis McElhinney Stats, News, Bio}} One day after being waived, McElhinney was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were in need of a backup goaltender following a disappointing season by Jhonas Enroth.{{cite news| url = https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2017/01/10/maple-leafs-hope-curtis-mcelhinney-will-address-backup-goalie-woes.html | title = Maple Leafs hope Curtis McElhinney will address backup goalie woes | newspaper = Toronto Star | date = January 10, 2017 | accessdate = January 12, 2017}}
Down the stretch, McElhinney went 6–7 with 1 shutout, a 2.85 GAA and a .914 save percentage. As starter Frederik Andersen went down with an injury, McElhinney received quite a few extra starts. Most importantly in the second last game of the season for the Leafs with a playoff spot on the line. In this game, McElhinney made arguably the biggest save of his career in the dying seconds on Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby who seemingly had a wide-open net for a one-timer goal. McElhinney slid across the crease to make a pad save and preserved the lead that eventually held up to earn the Leafs a playoff berth.{{cite web|title=GOTTA SEE IT: MCELHINNEY ROBS CROSBY FOR "SAVE OF THE SEASON"|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gotta-see-mcelhinney-robs-crosby-save-season/|website=sportsnet.ca|accessdate=March 18, 2018|date=April 8, 2017}}
=Later career and retirement=
Prior to the 2018–19 season, on October 1, 2018, the Maple Leafs placed McElhinney on waivers after Garret Sparks won the backup goaltending job in the pre-season. His two-year tenure with the Maple Leafs ended as he was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes the following day, in order to add depth after an injury to Scott Darling.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/canes-claim-curtis-mcelhinney-on-waivers/c-300557034 | title = Canes claim Curtis McElhinney | publisher = Carolina Hurricanes | date = 2018-10-02 | accessdate = 2018-10-02}} McElhinney would go on to split most of the 2018–19 season in goal with Petr Mrázek.
On May 1, 2019, McElhinney started for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs versus the New York Islanders in Round 2 making him the oldest goaltender to make his first career playoff start at 35 years and 343 days of age. On May 3, 2019, in Game 4, he helped to secure the franchise's first ever 4–0 sweep in the best-of-seven series.{{Cite web|title=Game 4 Recap: Hurricanes Sweep Islanders|url=https://www.nhl.com/hurricanes/news/game-4-recap-hurricanes-sweep-islanders/c-307197892|access-date=2022-01-18|website=NHL.com|date=May 4, 2019 |language=en-US}}
On July 1, 2019, McElhinney signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.{{cite web |title=Lightning sign goaltender Curtis McElhinney to two-year contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/tampa-bay-lightning-sign-goaltender-curtis-mcelhinney-to-two-year-contract/c-308150274 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=July 1, 2019 |date=July 1, 2019}}
He was part of the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup-winning teams, spending most of those seasons as the backup to Andrei Vasilevskiy.{{cite web| url = https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/09/28/lightning-win-stanley-cup-by-smothering-stars-in-game-6/ | title = Lightning win Stanley Cup by smothering Stars in Game 6 | publisher = NBC Sports | date = 28 September 2020 | accessdate = 29 September 2020}}
On September 25, 2021, McElhinney announced his retirement via Instagram.{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/curtis-mcelhinney-retirement-instagram-1.1698242 | title = McElhinney announces retirement via Instagram | publisher = TSN | date = September 25, 2021 | accessdate = September 25, 2021}}
International play
Following the Leafs first round defeat by the Boston Bruins in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, McElhinney was named to Team Canada to compete at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.{{cite web|title=CANADA ADDS PLAYERS TO 2018 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CAMP ROSTER|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/2018-mwc-canada-adds-four-to-worlds-roster-|website= Hockey Canada|accessdate=May 7, 2018|date=April 27, 2017}}
Personal life
McElhinney and his wife Ashleigh have one son and one daughter.{{cite news |last=Sportak |first=Randy |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/hockey/2009/06/06/9696941-sun.html |title=Expecting an in-crease |work=Calgary Sun |date=June 6, 2009 |accessdate=October 26, 2011}}{{cite news|last1=Stephens|first1=Eric|title=McElhinneys welcome a new addition|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2011/01/23/mcelhinneys-welcome-a-new-addition/|accessdate=April 7, 2018|newspaper=The Orange County Register|date=January 23, 2011}} McElhinney has a younger sister, Alana, who played goaltender for the Division I Bemidji State University's women's hockey team.{{cite news|last1=Macleod|first1=Robert|title=Curtis McElhinney finds his groove as backup for the Maple Leafs|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/curtis-mcelhinney-finds-his-groove-as-backup-for-the-maple-leafs/article36680587/|newspaper= The Globe and Mail|accessdate=April 7, 2018|date=October 20, 2017}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:75%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="10" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! W !! L !! T !! OTL !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% ! GP !! W !! L !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% | ||||||||||||||||
| 2001–02
| WCHA | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | — | 441 | 15 | 1 | 2.04 | .918
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2002–03 | Colorado College | WCHA | 37 | 25 | 6 | 5 | — | 2147 | 85 | 4 | 2.37 | .906
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04
| Colorado College | WCHA | 19 | 10 | 6 | 1 | — | 1015 | 41 | 2 | 2.42 | .906
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2004–05 | Colorado College | WCHA | 25 | 21 | 3 | 1 | — | 1490 | 52 | 2 | 2.09 | .927
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06
| AHL | 33 | 9 | 14 | — | 2 | 1619 | 68 | 3 | 2.52 | .912
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2006–07 | Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights | AHL | 57 | 35 | 17 | — | 1 | 3181 | 113 | 7 | 2.13 | .917
| 5 | 2 | 3 | 311 | 11 | 0 | 2.12 | .914 |
| 2007–08
| NHL | 5 | 0 | 2 | — | 0 | 149 | 5 | 0 | 2.00 | .902
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2007–08 | AHL | 41 | 20 | 18 | — | 2 | 2320 | 88 | 3 | 2.28 | .911
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09
| Calgary Flames | NHL | 14 | 1 | 7 | — | 0 | 518 | 31 | 0 | 3.59 | .889
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 1.76 | .900 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2009–10 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 10 | 3 | 4 | — | 0 | 502 | 27 | 0 | 3.22 | .885
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10
| NHL | 10 | 5 | 1 | — | 2 | 521 | 24 | 0 | 2.76 | .917
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2010–11 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 21 | 6 | 9 | — | 1 | 996 | 57 | 2 | 3.43 | .890
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11
| NHL | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 0 | 399 | 17 | 0 | 2.56 | .917
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2011–12 | NHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 72 | 2 | 0 | 1.67 | .944
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12
| AHL | 25 | 10 | 13 | — | 0 | 1379 | 70 | 0 | 3.04 | .907
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2012–13 | AHL | 49 | 29 | 16 | — | 3 | 1349 | 113 | 9 | 2.32 | .923
| 8 | 3 | 5 | 483 | 25 | 0 | 3.10 | .895 |
| 2013–14
| NHL | 28 | 10 | 11 | — | 1 | 1423 | 64 | 2 | 2.70 | .909
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2014–15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 32 | 12 | 14 | — | 2 | 1710 | 82 | 0 | 2.88 | .914
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16
| Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 18 | 2 | 7 | — | 3 | 836 | 46 | 0 | 3.31 | .890
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | 2 | 376 | 15 | 0 | 2.39 | .924
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17
| NHL | 14 | 6 | 7 | — | 0 | 759 | 36 | 1 | 2.85 | .914
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017–18 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 18 | 11 | 5 | — | 1 | 980 | 35 | 3 | 2.14 | .934
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 4 | 0 | 5.07 | .826 |
| 2018–19
| NHL | 33 | 20 | 11 | — | 2 | 1978 | 85 | 2 | 2.58 | .912
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 268 | 9 | 0 | 2.01 | .930 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | NHL | 18 | 8 | 7 | — | 3 | 1081 | 52 | 1 | 2.89 | .906
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21
| Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 12 | 4 | 6 | — | 2 | 720 | 37 | 1 | 3.09 | .875
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 249 !! 94 !! 95 !! — !! 20 !! 13,019 !! 615 !! 12 !! 2.83 !! .907 ! 7 !! 3 !! 3 !! 350 !! 14 !! 0 !! 2.30 !! .921 |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" | ||||||||
| ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP !! W !! L !! T !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% | ||||||||
| 2018
| Canada | WC | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 245 | 6 | 1 | 2.02 | .936 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan=4| Senior totals ! 5 !! 3 !! 2 !! 0 !! 245 !! 6 !! 1 !! 2.02 !! .936 |
Awards and honours
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! |
| colspan="3"|College |
|---|
| WCHA First All-Star Team
| 2002–03 |
| AHCA West Second-Team All-American
| 2002–03 |
| AHCA West First-Team All-American
| 2004–05 |
| WCHA All-Tournament Team
| 2005 |
| colspan="3"|AHL |
| Second All-Star Team
| 2006–07 |
| colspan="3"|NHL |
| Stanley Cup champion
| {{Cite web| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/28/sports/hockey/tampa-bay-lightning-win-stanley-cup.html | title = Tampa Bay Lightning win Stanley Cup in Pandemic Bubble | work = The New York Times | date = September 28, 2020 | accessdate = September 28, 2020}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats|nhl=8470147|elite=11433|espn=|euro=|hr=m/mcelhcu01|hockeydb=62849|legendsm=|legends=20717|legendstype=|tsn=}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McElhinney, Curtis}}
Category:Anaheim Ducks players
Category:Calgary Flames draft picks
Category:Calgary Flames players
Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
Category:Carolina Hurricanes players
Category:Colorado College Tigers men's ice hockey players
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Ice hockey people from London, Ontario
Category:Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights players
Category:Ottawa Senators players
Category:Phoenix Coyotes players
Category:Portland Pirates players
Category:Quad City Flames players
Category:Springfield Falcons players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning players
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players