Doug Keans
Encyclopedia
Douglas Frederick Keans is a retired professional ice hockey
goaltender
who enjoyed a 9-year career in the National Hockey League
during the 1980s, suiting up for the Los Angeles Kings
and Boston Bruins
.
, Keans was selected in the 6th round (94th overall) of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings
. He would make his debut in the 1979–80 season, posting a stellar 2.47 goals-against average in 10 games. Keans spent parts of four seasons with the Kings, but was inconsistent and never fully established himself, serving as one of several backups to incumbent starter Mario Lessard
. His best season was 1981–82, when he posted an 8–10–7 record and 4.30 GAA in 31 appearances.
Keans was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins
prior to the 1983–84 season to back up starter Pete Peeters
. In Boston, he would finally settle down and play consistent hockey, establishing himself as one of the better backup goaltenders in the NHL. In his first season as a Bruin, he posted a 19–8–3 record with an excellent 3.10 GAA as well as his first two career shutouts.
While Boston cycled through starting goalies during the mid-1980s, Keans was a fixture as the backup, routinely outplaying the starter. He would spend 5 seasons in Boston, backing up Peeters, Pat Riggin
, Bill Ranford
and Réjean Lemelin
. During this period he never won less than 14 games in a season, never finished with a record below .500, and compiled a stellar 84–46–13 record. Despite his solid performances, however, he was considered too small at 5'7" to be relied upon as a #1 netminder.
At the trade deadline near the end of the 1987–88 season, Boston would acquire star netminder Andy Moog
from the Edmonton Oilers
. Lemelin was now the backup, and Keans was relegated to the #3 position and sent to the minors. He would spend another season in the minors before retiring in 1989, although he would come out of retirement for two brief stints in low-end minor pro during the 1990s.
Keans finished his 9 year NHL career with 96–64–26 record and 3.50 GAA in 210 career appearances, along with 4 shutouts.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
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...
who enjoyed a 9-year career in the National Hockey League
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...
during the 1980s, suiting up for 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...
and Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
.
Playing career
Following a solid junior career with the Oshawa GeneralsOshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
, Keans was selected in the 6th round (94th overall) of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft by 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 would make his debut in the 1979–80 season, posting a stellar 2.47 goals-against average in 10 games. Keans spent parts of four seasons with the Kings, but was inconsistent and never fully established himself, serving as one of several backups to incumbent starter Mario Lessard
Mario Lessard
Mario Lessard is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender.Lessard started his National Hockey League career with the Los Angeles Kings in 1978. He would play his entire NHL career with the Kings. He retired after the 1984 season. Lessard was a NHL Second Team All-Star in 1981...
. His best season was 1981–82, when he posted an 8–10–7 record and 4.30 GAA in 31 appearances.
Keans was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
prior to the 1983–84 season to back up starter Pete Peeters
Pete Peeters
Peter H. Peeters is a retired Vezina-winning professional ice hockey goaltender who was one of the NHL's most colourful characters in the 1980s.-Early life:...
. In Boston, he would finally settle down and play consistent hockey, establishing himself as one of the better backup goaltenders in the NHL. In his first season as a Bruin, he posted a 19–8–3 record with an excellent 3.10 GAA as well as his first two career shutouts.
While Boston cycled through starting goalies during the mid-1980s, Keans was a fixture as the backup, routinely outplaying the starter. He would spend 5 seasons in Boston, backing up Peeters, Pat Riggin
Pat Riggin
Patrick Michael Riggin is a retired former National Hockey League goaltender who played for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association...
, Bill Ranford
Bill Ranford
William Edward Ranford is a former professional ice hockey goaltender and current goaltending coach for the Los Angeles Kings. He graduated from New Westminster Secondary School in 1985. He was selected in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, 52nd overall, by the Boston Bruins...
and Réjean Lemelin
Rejean Lemelin
Réjean M. "Reggie" Lemelin is a former National Hockey League goaltender. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the seventh round, 125th overall, in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft...
. During this period he never won less than 14 games in a season, never finished with a record below .500, and compiled a stellar 84–46–13 record. Despite his solid performances, however, he was considered too small at 5'7" to be relied upon as a #1 netminder.
At the trade deadline near the end of the 1987–88 season, Boston would acquire star netminder Andy Moog
Andy Moog
Donald Andrew Moog is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the goaltending coach for the NHL's Dallas Stars.Moog was previously the Dallas Stars' assistant coach...
from the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. Lemelin was now the backup, and Keans was relegated to the #3 position and sent to the minors. He would spend another season in the minors before retiring in 1989, although he would come out of retirement for two brief stints in low-end minor pro during the 1990s.
Keans finished his 9 year NHL career with 96–64–26 record and 3.50 GAA in 210 career appearances, along with 4 shutouts.