Maxime Daigneault
Encyclopedia
Maxime Daigneault is a professional ice hockey
goaltender
who is currently playing for the Windsor Wild
of the LNAH
. In 2001 Daigneault won the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
which is awarded to the outstanding goaltender at the Memorial Cup
of the Canadian Hockey League
.
Maxime Daigneault was selected by Washington Capitals in the second round (#59 overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
. He is a is a big, aggressive goalie who plays at the top of his crease and likes to challenge the shooter. He is known to play his angles well and is always square to the shooter. Daigneault anticipates the play well and is very effective in traffic. He has quick lateral movement and is very strong in his stance.
In six years as a professional goalie Daigneault has played in both the AHL
and the ECHL
. He played the 2009-10 season in LNAH
the with the Sherbrooke Saint-François
.
(QMJHL) draft.
His rookie year in the QMJHL went very well. He became the starting goaltender for the Val-d'Or Foreurs
, appearing in 28 games and posting a 3.55 goals-against average. The Foreurs successfully advanced to the 2001 Memorial Cup
final, and although they lost their final game, Daigneault was named the top goaltender of the tournament. Over the next two seasons in the QMJHL Daigneault continued to showcase his strong play by posting five shutouts and lowering his goals against average.
On 20 June 2002, Daigneault and his family were in attendance at the Air Canada Centre
in Toronto
when he heard his name announced as the 59th selection in the NHL’s 2002 amateur draft. Chosen by the Washington Capitals, Daigneault attended the Washington training camp in the fall of 2002, but returned to Val-d'Or for his final two seasons of eligibility in the junior league.
(AHL) with the Portland Pirates
. He played in 11 AHL games before being sent to the ECHL to play with the South Carolina Stingrays
. On December 30, 2004 Daigneault received the call up to the Washington Capitals that he had been waiting for. He dressed for two NHL
games as the backup goaltender (one against the Philadelphia Flyers
and the other against the Atlanta Thrashers
) but did not get the opportunity to play before being returned to the Stingrays on 2 January 2005. Later Daigneault told sports writer Jon C. Scott of the experience saying that he would have loved to have played in an NHL game for “even on minute” but that even “just being there was a dream come true.”
Daigneault stayed with the South Carolina Stingrays for the majority of the 2005-06 season, but he also saw three games in the AHL with the Hershey Bears
. He went on to play with the Hershey Bears for all of the 2006–07 AHL season
.
Daigneault split the 2007-08 season
between the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals
and the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones
, and played the 2008-09 season
again in both leagues with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack
and the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He moved back to his native Quebec for the 2009-10 season where he played in the LNAH with the Sherbrooke Saint-François
.
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 is currently playing for the Windsor Wild
Windsor Wild
The Windsor Wild is an ice hockey team based in Windsor, Quebec that plays in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey . Formerly the Sherbrooke Saint-François, the Wild have played in the LNAH since the 2011-12 season.-External links:*...
of the LNAH
Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey
The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey was founded in 2004 and is a low-level professional league based in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was called the Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League from 1996 until it turned pro in 2004...
. In 2001 Daigneault won the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
The Hap Emms Memorial Trophy is awarded to the outstanding goaltender at the Memorial Cup of the Canadian Hockey League.The award is named after Leighton "Hap" Emms, who led four teams to championship victories at the Memorial Cup in the 1950s and 1960s....
which is awarded to the outstanding goaltender at the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
of the Canadian Hockey League
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
.
Maxime Daigneault was selected by Washington Capitals in the second round (#59 overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002 NHL Entry Draft
The 2002 NHL Entry Draft was held June 22–23 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. 291 players were drafted in total: 35 from the OHL; 23 from the QMJHL; 43 from the WHL; 41 from the NCAA; 6 from U.S high schools and 110 from outside North America....
. He is a is a big, aggressive goalie who plays at the top of his crease and likes to challenge the shooter. He is known to play his angles well and is always square to the shooter. Daigneault anticipates the play well and is very effective in traffic. He has quick lateral movement and is very strong in his stance.
In six years as a professional goalie Daigneault has played in both the 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...
and the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
. He played the 2009-10 season in LNAH
Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey
The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey was founded in 2004 and is a low-level professional league based in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was called the Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League from 1996 until it turned pro in 2004...
the with the Sherbrooke Saint-François
Sherbrooke Saint-Francois
The Sherbrooke Saint-François is a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The team is part of the minor professional league Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey . The Saint-Francois plays at the Palais des Sports....
.
Junior
Maxime Daigneault became a goalie at age six. His decision was influenced by his father (who played goal) and because he liked the equipment, especially the decorated masks. By the time he was 15 he had begun to attract media attention, and in 2000 (at the age of 16) Daigneault became the first goalie ever to be the number one draft choice in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueQuebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL) draft.
His rookie year in the QMJHL went very well. He became the starting goaltender for the Val-d'Or Foreurs
Val-d'Or Foreurs
The Val-d'Or Foreurs are a junior ice hockey team based in Val-d'Or, in the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. The team was founded for the 1993–94 season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a member of the Canadian Hockey League. Former Quebec Nordiques and Trois-Rivières...
, appearing in 28 games and posting a 3.55 goals-against average. The Foreurs successfully advanced to the 2001 Memorial Cup
2001 Memorial Cup
The 2001 Memorial Cup occurred May 19-27 at the Agridome in Regina, Saskatchewan. It featured the host team, the Regina Pats as well as the winners of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League which were the Ottawa 67's, Val-d'Or Foreurs and the Red...
final, and although they lost their final game, Daigneault was named the top goaltender of the tournament. Over the next two seasons in the QMJHL Daigneault continued to showcase his strong play by posting five shutouts and lowering his goals against average.
On 20 June 2002, Daigneault and his family were in attendance at the Air Canada Centre
Air Canada Centre
The Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located on Bay Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The arena is popularly known as the ACC or the Hangar ....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
when he heard his name announced as the 59th selection in the NHL’s 2002 amateur draft. Chosen by the Washington Capitals, Daigneault attended the Washington training camp in the fall of 2002, but returned to Val-d'Or for his final two seasons of eligibility in the junior league.
Professional
Daigneault signed with the Capitals in the fall of 2004, and started the season in the American Hockey LeagueAmerican 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) with the Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
. He played in 11 AHL games before being sent to the ECHL to play with the South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina Stingrays
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
. On December 30, 2004 Daigneault received the call up to the Washington Capitals that he had been waiting for. He dressed for two 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...
games as the backup goaltender (one against the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the other against the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
) but did not get the opportunity to play before being returned to the Stingrays on 2 January 2005. Later Daigneault told sports writer Jon C. Scott of the experience saying that he would have loved to have played in an NHL game for “even on minute” but that even “just being there was a dream come true.”
Daigneault stayed with the South Carolina Stingrays for the majority of the 2005-06 season, but he also saw three games in the AHL with the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
. He went on to play with the Hershey Bears for all of the 2006–07 AHL season
2006–07 AHL season
The 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals....
.
Daigneault split the 2007-08 season
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:...
between the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
and the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
, and played the 2008-09 season
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:...
again in both leagues with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack
Hartford Wolf Pack
The Connecticut Whale is a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. They play in the American Hockey League . They play their home games at the XL Center....
and the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers. He moved back to his native Quebec for the 2009-10 season where he played in the LNAH with the Sherbrooke Saint-François
Sherbrooke Saint-Francois
The Sherbrooke Saint-François is a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The team is part of the minor professional league Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey . The Saint-Francois plays at the Palais des Sports....
.
Awards and honours
- 2001, Winner, Hap Emms Memorial TrophyHap Emms Memorial TrophyThe Hap Emms Memorial Trophy is awarded to the outstanding goaltender at the Memorial Cup of the Canadian Hockey League.The award is named after Leighton "Hap" Emms, who led four teams to championship victories at the Memorial Cup in the 1950s and 1960s....
(Top Memorial Cup Goaltender) - 2001, Named to Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
All-Star Team