Joe Exter

Exter started his career with the Erie Otters, where he split time with former Edmonton Oilers draft pick Patrick Dovigi and former Los Angeles Kings draft pick Steve Valiquette. He played eleven games, going 0-4-0 with a 4.13 GAA. After a year with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL where he shared duties with two other goalies, Exter moved on to Merrimack College of Hockey East. Exter started more than twenty-five games in each of his three seasons with Merrimack College, compiling a 31-47-8 record. In his rookie year he would be selected to the hockey east all rookie team. He would then serve as one of the team’s assistant captains and later the as team captain during his tenure. In his senior year during the 2002-03 season he would help lead Merrimack to their first ever D1 in season tournament championship. In late December Exter was selected to the All-Hockey East Team by league coaches. As well as honored when he was given the hockey east 3 stars award.

On March 8, 2003, Exter and Boston College forward Patrick Eaves were racing for an open puck with about six minutes left in the game. Exter and Eaves collided, with Eaves' left hip striking Exter in the head. The resulting hit knocked Exter's helmet from his head. As Exter's head hit the ice, he was knocked unconscious and blood began to pour from both of his ears. Paramedics on standby for the game and trainers from both Merrimack and Boston college treated Exter and immobilized him before removing him from the ice and transporting him to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.{{cite news | url = http://www.uscho.com/2003/03/07/exter-in-serious-condition-with-fractured-skull/ | title = Exter in Serious Condition With Fractured Skull | publisher = uscho.com | date = March 7, 2003 | accessdate = August 18, 2011}} Upon admission, Exter was in a critical condition and was put in a medically induced coma for ten days, and doctors suggested that he retire from hockey. After ten days, Exter was taken off sedatives and started to acknowledge questions by a series of blinks. In less than three weeks, Exter was moved to Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, where he re-learned to speak and to swallow. A week later, Exter was released to his Cranston home.{{cite news | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1028590/index.htm | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130119102251/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1028590/index.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 19, 2013 | title = Back On His Feet | publisher = Sports Illustrated | author = E.M. Swift | date = April 21, 2003 | accessdate = August 18, 2011}} Exter would later say that he did not blame Eaves for the hit, and that the incident was "a hockey play."

Exter completed a series of rehabilitation tests within a week of therapy and decided that he was still could play hockey. By August, he was training on Merrimack's ice. Despite the numerous weeks of training and therapy, Exter received minimal interest from scouts. He would receive an offer from Pittsburgh Penguins scout Greg Malone, who had been scouting Exter prior to his accident. Exter eventually signed with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Penguins' AHL affiliate, on December 24, 2003, and was immediately assigned to the Penguins' ECHL affiliate in Wheeling.{{cite news | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1031503/index.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121104183130/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1031503/index.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = November 4, 2012 | title = Save Of A Lifetime | publisher = Sports Illustrated | author = Kelley King | date = March 29, 2004 | accessdate = August 18, 2011}}

In his rookie season, Exter went 8-2-0 in 15 games and led the team with a .924 save percentage. Since Exter played more than ten games in his rookie season, this activated a clause in his contract that required the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to re-sign Exter for the following season.

During the 2004-05 season (which coincided with the NHL lockout), Exter shared goaltending duties with Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks Dany Sabourin and Andy Chiodo. Coincidentally, Ben Eaves, brother of Patrick Eaves and also a Penguins draft pick, was also a member of the 2004-05 Nailers. Exter finished the season 10-13-2 with a career-high four shutouts.

Upon his retirement, Exter became involved in coaching. He started as an assistant coach with American International College during the 2005-06 season.[http://www.atlantichockeyonline.com/news/members_spotlight/AICExter080905 Joe Exter Joins AIC Hockey Staff] August 9, 2005 Since 2008, Exter has been involved with both the US U18 and U20 programs, being named the first full-time goaltender coach in program history.

In addition to working with the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, Exter is also an assistant coach with the Ohio State University ice hockey team,[http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/exter_joe00.html OhioStateUniversity.com: Joe Exter (assistant coach)] being named to the coaching staff on July 11,{{cite news | url = http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/071111aaa.html | title = Exter Joins Ohio State Hockey Staff | publisher = Ohio State Buckeyes | date = July 11, 2011 | accessdate = August 18, 2011}}

In 2017 he would be hired as an assistant for Michigan state. He would stay with the program till 2022.

In 2022 he would leave Michigan state and be named the associate coach of the Iowa Heartlanders in the ECHL. Mack report Exter to Iowa Heartlanders https://www.themackreport.com/p/exter-joins-the-iowa-heartlanders

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{{succession box | before = Colin Hemingway| title = Hockey East Three-Stars Award
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Category:1978 births

Category:American men's ice hockey goaltenders

Category:Erie Otters players

Category:Living people

Category:Merrimack Warriors men's ice hockey players

Category:Sportspeople from Cranston, Rhode Island

Category:Waterloo Black Hawks players

Category:Wheeling Nailers players

Category:Ice hockey players from Rhode Island