Fred Brathwaite

{{short description|Canadian ice hockey player, coach (born 1972)}}

{{about|the ice hockey player|the American artist|Fab Five Freddy}}

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| image = Fred Brathwaite 2015.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|11|24}}

| birth_place = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 7

| weight_lb = 185

| position = Goaltender

| catches = Left

| played_for = Edmonton Oilers
Calgary Flames
St. Louis Blues
Columbus Blue Jackets
Ak Bars Kazan
Avangard Omsk
Adler Mannheim

| ntl_team = CAN

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 1993

| career_end = 2014

}}

Fredrick Brathwaite (born November 24, 1972) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player.

Brathwaite played as a goaltender, and spent his career with the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL before finishing his career overseas with Ak Bars Kazan, Avangard Omsk and Adler Mannheim. Brathwaite was named Deutsche Eishockey Liga MVP in 2009.

Playing career

Following junior hockey with the Orillia Travelways/Orillia Laidlaw, Brathwaite played major junior for the Oshawa Generals, London Knights and Detroit Jr. Red Wings in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Undrafted, he was signed by the Edmonton Oilers in 1993. He played in the Oilers' system for three seasons between the NHL and Edmonton's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Cape Breton Oilers.

In 1996–97, Brathwaite began a two-season stint with the Manitoba Moose of the International Hockey League (IHL). In his first season with the Moose, he scored a rare goal as a goaltender November 9, 1996.{{cite web|title=Individual Records|url=http://www.moosehockey.com/individualrecords|access-date=2009-11-22|publisher=Manitoba Moose|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106053640/http://www.moosehockey.com/individualrecords|archive-date=2009-11-06}}

Brathwaite began the 1998–99 season on the Canadian National Team before being signed by the Calgary Flames. He appeared in 28 games, recording a 2.45 goals against average and .915 save percentage in what qualified as his NHL rookie season. He remained with the Flames for two more seasons until he was traded to the St. Louis Blues by general manager Craig Button as part of a deal for goaltender Roman Turek in the 2001 off-season.{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=18209 |title=Fred Brathwaite player profile |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=2010-01-24}} He played with the Blues for two seasons as a backup before being signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2003–04. In his sole season with the Blue Jackets, he backed up Marc Denis while also spending time in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch.

Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Brathwaite played overseas in the Russian Superleague for Ak-Bars Kazan. He remained there for two seasons until returning to North America to play in the AHL for the Chicago Wolves. After two seasons in Chicago, Brathwaite went back to Europe to join Adler Mannheim of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga.{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=8643c505-b155-44e0-8a64-51316b545cd5 |title=NHL dream burns bright in Brathwaite |work=Calgary Herald |date=2008-11-09 |access-date=2010-01-24}} In his first season in Germany, Brathwaite reeled off a 2.37 GAA, .925 save percentage performance to be named the German league's 2009 MVP.{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Jeff Z. |url=http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/european-puck-special-day-in-germany-for-mcllwain-and-brathwaite/ |title=Special Day in Germany for McLlwain and Brathwaite |work=New York Times |date=2009-02-27 |access-date=2010-01-24}}

Coaching career

After his playing career, he worked as goaltending coach of German team Adler Mannheim{{Cite web|title = Ready for Freddy? Fred Brathwaite works toward becoming an NHL goalie coach|url = http://colorofhockey.com/2015/06/09/ready-for-freddy-fred-brathwaite-works-toward-becoming-an-nhl-goalie-coach/| website = TheColorOfHockey|access-date = 2016-02-20|first = William|last = Douglas|date = 2015-06-09}} and served as Hockey Canada's goaltending consultant.{{Cite web|title = CHL Canada Russia Series|url = http://canadarussia.chl.ca/video/index/id/3d1e8b94a7561edc7bb4c9e881b26814|website = canadarussia.chl.ca|access-date = 2016-02-20|archive-date = 2016-02-20|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160220162221/http://canadarussia.chl.ca/video/index/id/3d1e8b94a7561edc7bb4c9e881b26814|url-status = dead}}

On July 10, 2017, the New York Islanders announced that Brathwaite was hired as goaltending coach.{{cite web|title=Islanders Name Fred Brathwaite Goaltending Coach|url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/islanders-name-fred-brathwaite-goaltending-coach/c-290342944| website = NHL.com|access-date=July 11, 2017|date=July 10, 2017}} He was replaced on July 25, 2018, by Piero Greco.

On January 17, 2021, Brathwaite was hired as goaltending coach for the Henderson Silver Knights prior to their inaugural season.{{cite web|title=Henderson Silver Knights round out coaching staff ahead of training camp|url=https://news3lv.com/sports/henderson-silver-knights-round-out-coaching-staff-ahead-of-training-camp|website = NBC News 3 Las Vegas|access-date=April 24, 2021|date=January 18, 2021}} On April 24, 2021, with starting goaltender Logan Thompson unavailable, Brathwaite dressed as backup goaltender for the Silver Knights at 48 years of age.{{cite web|title=48-year-old Fred Brathwaite called into emergency action for AHL's Henderson Silver Knights|url=https://news.yahoo.com/48-year-old-fred-brathwaite-called-into-emergency-action-for-ah-ls-henderson-silver-knights-014132083.html| website = Yahoo News|access-date=April 24, 2021|date=April 24, 2021}}

Personal life

Brathwaite was born in Ottawa, Ontario, to parents who had emigrated to Canada from Barbados in 1964. He appeared in the Jermaine Dupri rap video "Welcome to Atlanta" with the rappers the St. Lunatics. The scene was shot at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:90%; 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%
1988–89 \| Smiths Falls Bears \| CJHL \| 38	16	18	1	—	2130	187	0	5.27	— \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1989–90 \| Orillia Terriers \| COJHL \| 15	—	—	—	—	782	47	0	3.61	— \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1989–90 \| Oshawa Generals \| OHL \| 20	11	2	1	—	886	43	1	2.91	.897 \| 10	4	2	451	22	0	2.93	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1989–90 \| Oshawa Generals \| MC \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	— \| 1	1	0	52	1	0	1.15	—
1990–91 \| Oshawa Generals \| OHL \| 39	25	6	3	—	1986	112	1	3.38	.897 \| 13	9	2	677	43	0	3.81	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1991–92 \| Oshawa Generals \| OHL \| 24	12	7	2	—	1248	81	0	3.89	.885 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991–92 \| London Knights \| OHL \| 23	15	6	2	—	1325	61	4	2.76	.908 \| 10	5	5	615	36	0	3.51	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1992–93 \| Detroit Jr. Red Wings \| OHL \| 37	23	10	4	—	2192	134	0	3.67	— \| 15	9	6	858	48	1	3.36	—
1993–94 \| Edmonton Oilers \| NHL \| 19	3	10	3	—	982	58	0	3.54	.889 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1993–94 \| Cape Breton Oilers \| AHL \| 2	1	1	0	—	119	6	0	3.04	.880 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95 \| Edmonton Oilers \| NHL \| 14	2	5	1	—	601	40	0	4.00	.863 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1995–96 \| Edmonton Oilers \| NHL \| 7	0	2	0	—	293	12	0	2.45	.914 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995–96 \| Cape Breton Oilers \| AHL \| 31	12	16	0	—	1699	110	1	3.88	.872 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1996–97 \| Manitoba Moose \| IHL \| 58	22	22	5	—	2945	167	1	3.40	.901 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997–98 \| Manitoba Moose \| IHL \| 51	23	18	4	—	2736	138	1	3.03	.908 \| 2	0	1	72	4	0	3.33	.905
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1998–99 \| Canada \| Intl \| 24	6	8	3	—	989	47	—	2.85	.915 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 28	11	9	7	—	1663	68	1	2.45	.915 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 1999–00 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 61	25	25	7	—	3448	158	5	2.75	.905 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00 \| Saint John Flames \| AHL \| 2	2	0	0	—	120	4	0	2.00	.943 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2000–01 \| Calgary Flames \| NHL \| 49	15	17	10	—	2742	106	5	2.32	.910 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02 \| St. Louis Blues \| NHL \| 25	9	11	4	—	1446	54	2	2.24	.901 \| 1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	1.000
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2002–03 \| St. Louis Blues \| NHL \| 30	12	9	4	—	1615	74	2	2.75	.883 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04 \| Columbus Blue Jackets \| NHL \| 21	4	11	1	—	1050	59	0	3.37	.897 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2003–04 \| Syracuse Crunch \| AHL \| 3	0	2	1	—	188	7	1	2.23	.924 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2004–05 \| Ak Bars Kazan \| RSL \| 34	—	—	—	—	1958	61	9	1.87	.911 \| 2	—	—	128	2	1	0.94	.960
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2005–06 \| Ak Bars Kazan \| RSL \| 32	—	—	—	—	1866	66	6	2.12	.900 \| 11	—	—	623	16	1	1.54	.923
2006–07 \| Chicago Wolves \| AHL \| 40	22	13	—	5	2410	110	2	2.74	.902 \| 5	1	3	260	7	1	1.62	.944
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2007–08 \| Chicago Wolves \| AHL \| 13	10	2	—	0	769	32	0	2.50	.918 \| —	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08 \| Avangard Omsk \| RSL \| 18 \| —	—	—	—	1015	45	1	2.66	.902 \| 4	—	—	256	12	0	2.81	.904
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2008–09 \| Adler Mannheim \| DEL \| 49 \| 27	22	—	—	2880	114	6	2.37	.925 \| 9	5	4	539	24	1	2.67	.923
2009–10 \| Adler Mannheim \| DEL \| 47	21	25	—	—	2756	133	4	2.90	.914 \| 2	0	2	119	7	0	3.54	.897
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| Adler Mannheim \| DEL \| 49	25	24	—	—	2974	124	3	2.50	.918 \| 6	3	3	358	15	0	2.52	.893
2011–12 \| Adler Mannheim \| DEL \| 40	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2.61	.924 \| 14	—	—	—	—	—	1.86	.942
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan=3 \| RSL totals ! 84 !! — !! — !! — !! — !! 4839 !! 172 !! 16 !! 2.13 !! — ! 17 !! — !! — !! 1007 !! 30 !! 2 !! 1.79 !! —
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan=3 \| NHL totals ! 254 !! 81 !! 99 !! 37 !! — !! 13,840 !! 629 !! 15 !! 2.73 !! .901 ! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.00 !! 1.000