Ben Bishop
Encyclopedia
Ben Bishop is an American
professional goaltender
for the Peoria Rivermen
of the American Hockey League
(AHL).
At 6' 7", Bishop is the tallest goalie to ever play in the NHL, topping Devan Dubnyk
, Steve Valiquette, Anders Lindback
and Mikko Koskinen
, who all stand at 6' 6". Bishop played youth hockey for the Kirkwood Stars in suburban St. Louis as well as the St. Louis Junior Blues. Bishop attended Chaminade College Preparatory School
in St. Louis Missouri.
of North American Hockey League
during the 2004–05 season. He appeared in 45 games and posted a league-best record of 35 wins, eight losses, with five shutouts. His goals against average of 1.93 was second in the league. Most notably, he led the Texas Tornado to their second consecutive National Championship and Gold Cup, given to the best junior A hockey team in North America. Bishop was named to the first team of the NAHL All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.
As a freshman for the University of Maine during the 2005–06 season, Bishop delivered. Bishop finished the regular season with a record of 21 wins, 8 loses and 2 ties, and a 2.28 goals against average. In October 2005 and February 2006 he was awarded Rookie of the Month as well as Goaltender of the Month by Hockey East
. He was also named Rookie of the Week four separate times. Bishop led the Black Bears to the 2006 Frozen Four, losing to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in the semifinals despite playing strongly. He led the Black Bears to the Frozen Four once again in 2007, but lost to Michigan State University
, in the semi-finals 4–2. As a junior in the 2007–08 NCAA Men's Division 1 hockey competition, Bishop played behind a less than stellar team, but he had a stellar season, as he posted a 2.43 GAA
with a .920 save percentage.
Bishop was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
, 85th overall and is now one of their top prospects. It was announced on March 11, 2008 that Ben Bishop had signed with the St. Louis Blues, and he played with Peoria for the remainder of that AHL season. In five games in 2008 with Peoria he posted a 2.39 GAA, as well as receiving a fighting major in his second career game.
It was announced on October 19, 2008 that Bishop was recalled from Peoria to join the Blues in St. Louis.
Bishop made his NHL debut October 24, 2008 against the Los Angeles Kings
. He came into the game at the beginning of the second period after an injury to Manny Legacé
. Legace tripped on the carpet that was laid out for Sarah Palin
, who dropped the first puck. Bishop was with the St. Louis Blues for 36 games in 2008-09, appearing in 6. He was the back-up goalie for all 4 playoff games.
After Jaroslav Halak was injured in the 2010-2011 season, Bishop was called up from Peoria. In his third game played of the season he would record his first NHL shutout, against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on February 25, 2011, stopping all 39 shots in a 5-0 win.
On July 5, 2011, Bishop signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
for the Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen
The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL).
At 6' 7", Bishop is the tallest goalie to ever play in the NHL, topping Devan Dubnyk
Devan Dubnyk
Devan Dubnyk is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Oilers in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft....
, Steve Valiquette, Anders Lindback
Anders Lindbäck
Anders "The Giant" Lindbäck is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Nashville Predators in the NHL.-Playing career:...
and Mikko Koskinen
Mikko Koskinen
Mikko Koskinen is a Finnish ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for KalPa in the SM-Liiga.-Playing career:Koskinen was drafted 31st overall by the New York Islanders in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after playing for the Espoo Blues in the Finnish SM-Liiga. He was the first goalie taken in...
, who all stand at 6' 6". Bishop played youth hockey for the Kirkwood Stars in suburban St. Louis as well as the St. Louis Junior Blues. Bishop attended Chaminade College Preparatory School
Chaminade College Preparatory School (Missouri)
Founded in 1910, Chaminade College Preparatory School is an independent Catholic Marianist school for boys in grades six through twelve. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis. The school is located in west St. Louis County, Missouri. Chaminade offers 7-day, 5-day, and...
in St. Louis Missouri.
Playing career
Bishop played for the Texas TornadoTexas Tornado
The Texas Tornado are a Junior A hockey team located in Frisco, Texas, USA. The team joined the North American Hockey League's Central division in 1999 while located in North Richland Hills, Texas, and have enjoyed unprecedented success since their expansion year...
of North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
during the 2004–05 season. He appeared in 45 games and posted a league-best record of 35 wins, eight losses, with five shutouts. His goals against average of 1.93 was second in the league. Most notably, he led the Texas Tornado to their second consecutive National Championship and Gold Cup, given to the best junior A hockey team in North America. Bishop was named to the first team of the NAHL All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.
As a freshman for the University of Maine during the 2005–06 season, Bishop delivered. Bishop finished the regular season with a record of 21 wins, 8 loses and 2 ties, and a 2.28 goals against average. In October 2005 and February 2006 he was awarded Rookie of the Month as well as Goaltender of the Month by Hockey East
Hockey East
Hockey East Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference....
. He was also named Rookie of the Week four separate times. Bishop led the Black Bears to the 2006 Frozen Four, losing to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in the semifinals despite playing strongly. He led the Black Bears to the Frozen Four once again in 2007, but lost to Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, in the semi-finals 4–2. As a junior in the 2007–08 NCAA Men's Division 1 hockey competition, Bishop played behind a less than stellar team, but he had a stellar season, as he posted a 2.43 GAA
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
with a .920 save percentage.
Bishop was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft
2005 NHL Entry Draft
The 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft.As a lockout cancelled the games of the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years...
, 85th overall and is now one of their top prospects. It was announced on March 11, 2008 that Ben Bishop had signed with the St. Louis Blues, and he played with Peoria for the remainder of that AHL season. In five games in 2008 with Peoria he posted a 2.39 GAA, as well as receiving a fighting major in his second career game.
It was announced on October 19, 2008 that Bishop was recalled from Peoria to join the Blues in St. Louis.
Bishop made his NHL debut October 24, 2008 against the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He came into the game at the beginning of the second period after an injury to Manny Legacé
Manny Legacé
Emmanuel Legace, is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. He most recently played in the National Hockey League for the Carolina Hurricanes. He has also played in the National Hockey League for the Los...
. Legace tripped on the carpet that was laid out for Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
, who dropped the first puck. Bishop was with the St. Louis Blues for 36 games in 2008-09, appearing in 6. He was the back-up goalie for all 4 playoff games.
After Jaroslav Halak was injured in the 2010-2011 season, Bishop was called up from Peoria. In his third game played of the season he would record his first NHL shutout, against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on February 25, 2011, stopping all 39 shots in a 5-0 win.
On July 5, 2011, Bishop signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
.
Personal
Bishop is a hometown talent; he grew up in St. Louis and has been a life long Blues fan.Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2004–05 | Texas Tornado Texas Tornado The Texas Tornado are a Junior A hockey team located in Frisco, Texas, USA. The team joined the North American Hockey League's Central division in 1999 while located in North Richland Hills, Texas, and have enjoyed unprecedented success since their expansion year... |
NAHL North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League... |
45 | 35 | 8 | 2 | 2577 | 83 | 5 | 1.93 | .920 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 660 | 30 | 0 | 2.73 | .891 | ||
| 2005–06 | University of Maine University of Maine The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System... |
HE Hockey East Hockey East Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference.... |
31 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 1728 | 64 | 0 | 2.22 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | University of Maine | HE | 34 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 1907 | 68 | 3 | 2.14 | .923 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | University of Maine | HE | 34 | 13 | 18 | 3 | 1972 | 80 | 2 | 2.43 | .920 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 2007–08 AHL season The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:... |
Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 302 | 12 | 0 | 2.38 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 AHL season The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:... |
Peoria Rivermen | AHL | 33 | 15 | 16 | 1 | 1898 | 89 | 1 | 2.81 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
St. Louis Blues St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 245 | 12 | 0 | 2.94 | .893 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 AHL season The 2009–10 AHL season was the 74th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 regular-season games each from October 2 to April 11... |
Peoria Rivermen | AHL | 48 | 23 | 18 | 4 | 2793 | 129 | 0 | 2.77 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 245 | 12 | 0 | 2.94 | .893 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Awards and achievements
- Won 2005 NAHL National Championship
- Winning goaltender in 2005 NAHL All-Star Game
- Named to first All-Rookie NAHL team, 2004–05
- Named Texas Tornado Rookie of the Year, 2004–05
- Hockey East Rookie of the Week four times during 2005–06
- Hockey East Rookie of the Month in October 2005 and February 2006
- Named to NCAA All Regional Team in Albany 2006
- Inside College Hockey Player of the Month in October 2006
- Hockey East Player and Goaltender of the Month in October 2006
- Named to Florida Classic All Tournament Team in 2007
- Named to NCAA All Regional Team in Rochester in 2007
- Hockey East Goaltender of the Month in October 2007
- Named to Second Team All Hockey East 2008