Michal Neuvirth
Encyclopedia
Michal Neuvirth is a Czech
professional ice hockey
goaltender
currently playing for the Washington Capitals
after spending time with the Hershey Bears
of the American Hockey League
(AHL). He was selected 34th overall in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft
.
career in the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL). He began with the Plymouth Whalers
in 2006–07 before being traded on 13 November 2007 to the Windsor Spitfires
, along with defenceman Tom Kane and a 4th round draft pick in 2009 in exchange for defenceman Michal Jordan
, goaltender Matt Hackett
, a 2008 second round OHL draft pick, and a third round pick in 2009. After spending less than half a season with the Spitfires, however, he was traded yet again on 8 January 2008 to the Oshawa Generals
along with Ryan Baldwin for forward Justin Shugg, goaltender Jakub Kovář
and second-round picks in 2008 and 2011.
Neuvirth turned pro in 2008–09
with the South Carolina Stingrays
, the Capitals' ECHL
affiliate. During his short stint with the Stingrays, he was named to the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game
for the American Conference. He was called up to the Hershey Bears
of the AHL
during the season and, before long, received his first NHL call-up to the Capitals when Semyon Varlamov was sidelined due to injury. He made his NHL debut on 14 February 2009 against the Tampa Bay Lightning
. Making 31 saves, including a breakaway glove save on Vincent Lecavalier
, Neuvirth backstopped the Capitals to a 5-1 victory for his first NHL win. He then played in his Capitals home debut on February 26 against the Atlanta Thrashers
, recording another win with a 21-save effort. He finished the season appearing in 5 games total for the Capitals with a 2–1 record and 3.00 goals against average
(GAA).
After being returned to the Bears, Neuvirth helped his team to the 2009 Calder Cup
finals. He recorded a shutout
in game three for the Bears to take a 2–1 series lead against the Manitoba Moose
. Neuvirth then went on with the Hershey Bears to win the 2009 Calder Cup
, earning MVP honors after his game 6 win. Neuvirth went 16-6 in the playoffs and finished the postseason with a 1.92 GAA, topping Frédéric Cassivi
's previous AHL playoff best 2.10 GAA.
After helping the Bears to the back to back Calder Cup in 2010, Neuvirth was named the starting goaltender of the Capitals season opener on Oct. 8th against Atlanta Thrashers
, in which he made 27 saves in a 4-2 loss. Neuvirth would go on to beat out Semyon Varlamov for the starting position for the entire season. Despite a good season as Washington's starter, and an adequate playoff performance, Washington would demote Neuvirth to backup goaltender status, to make way for Tomas Vokoun
, trading away the incumbent backup Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche
in the process.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
professional ice hockey
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...
currently playing for the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
after spending time 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...
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). He was selected 34th overall in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft
2006 NHL Entry Draft
The 2006 NHL Entry Draft was the 44th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on June 24, 2006.The draft order for the first 14 picks was decided during a lottery held on April 20, 2006....
.
Playing career
After being drafted into the NHL by the Capitals, Neuvirth began a two-year major juniorJunior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
career in the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL). He began with the Plymouth Whalers
Plymouth Whalers
The Plymouth Whalers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, USA.-History:...
in 2006–07 before being traded on 13 November 2007 to the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
, along with defenceman Tom Kane and a 4th round draft pick in 2009 in exchange for defenceman Michal Jordan
Michal Jordan (ice hockey)
Michal Jordan is a Czech professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League...
, goaltender Matt Hackett
Matt Hackett (ice hockey)
Matthew Hackett is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the 3rd round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft...
, a 2008 second round OHL draft pick, and a third round pick in 2009. After spending less than half a season with the Spitfires, however, he was traded yet again on 8 January 2008 to the Oshawa Generals
Oshawa 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...
along with Ryan Baldwin for forward Justin Shugg, goaltender Jakub Kovář
Jakub Kovář
Jakub Kovář is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for HC České Budějovice in the Czech Extraliga...
and second-round picks in 2008 and 2011.
Neuvirth turned pro in 2008–09
2008–09 ECHL season
The 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary...
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...
, the Capitals' ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
affiliate. During his short stint with the Stingrays, he was named to the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game
ECHL All-Star Game
The ECHL All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that traditionally marks the midway point of the ECHL's regular season, with many of the league's star players playing against each other. The starting lineup for the two teams, including the starting goaltender, is voted on by the coaches,...
for the American Conference. He was called up to 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...
of 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...
during the season and, before long, received his first NHL call-up to the Capitals when Semyon Varlamov was sidelined due to injury. He made his NHL debut on 14 February 2009 against the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. Making 31 saves, including a breakaway glove save on Vincent Lecavalier
Vincent Lecavalier
Vincent Lecavalier is a Canadian professional hockey center and captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League .-Rimouski Océanic:...
, Neuvirth backstopped the Capitals to a 5-1 victory for his first NHL win. He then played in his Capitals home debut on February 26 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...
, recording another win with a 21-save effort. He finished the season appearing in 5 games total for the Capitals with a 2–1 record and 3.00 goals against average
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....
(GAA).
After being returned to the Bears, Neuvirth helped his team to the 2009 Calder Cup
2009 Calder Cup Playoffs
The 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 15, 2009. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions then played a best-of-seven series for the...
finals. He recorded a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in game three for the Bears to take a 2–1 series lead against the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
. Neuvirth then went on with the Hershey Bears to win the 2009 Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
, earning MVP honors after his game 6 win. Neuvirth went 16-6 in the playoffs and finished the postseason with a 1.92 GAA, topping Frédéric Cassivi
Frederic Cassivi
Frédéric Cassivi is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who is currently a Free Agent. He most recently played for the Vienna Capitals in the Austrian Hockey League.-Playing career:...
's previous AHL playoff best 2.10 GAA.
After helping the Bears to the back to back Calder Cup in 2010, Neuvirth was named the starting goaltender of the Capitals season opener on Oct. 8th against 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...
, in which he made 27 saves in a 4-2 loss. Neuvirth would go on to beat out Semyon Varlamov for the starting position for the entire season. Despite a good season as Washington's starter, and an adequate playoff performance, Washington would demote Neuvirth to backup goaltender status, to make way for Tomas Vokoun
Tomas Vokoun
Tomáš Vokoun is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, trading away the incumbent backup Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
in the process.
Awards
- Played in the ECHL All-Star GameECHL All-Star GameThe ECHL All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that traditionally marks the midway point of the ECHL's regular season, with many of the league's star players playing against each other. The starting lineup for the two teams, including the starting goaltender, is voted on by the coaches,...
in 20092008–09 ECHL seasonThe 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary...
. - Won the Calder CupCalder CupThe Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
with the Hershey BearsHershey BearsThe 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...
in 2009 & 2010. - Won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Calder Cup Playoff MVP in 2009.
- Named the NHL Rookie of the Month for October 2010.
Records
- Calder Cup record; single-playoffs goals against average - 1.92 GAA (surpassed Frédéric CassiviFrederic CassiviFrédéric Cassivi is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who is currently a Free Agent. He most recently played for the Vienna Capitals in the Austrian Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, 2.10 GAA)
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% | GP | W | L | Min | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2006–07 | Plymouth Whalers Plymouth Whalers The Plymouth Whalers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of Compuware Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, USA.-History:... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
41 | 26 | 8 | 4 | — | 2223 | 86 | 4 | 2.32 | 0.932 | 18 | 14 | 3 | 1080 | 44 | 0 | 2.45 | 0.932 | ||
| 2007–08 2007–08 OHL season The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008.... |
Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | 600 | 26 | 0 | 2.60 | 0.928 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Windsor Spitfires Windsor Spitfires The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The... |
OHL | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 482 | 17 | 0 | 2.12 | 0.918 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Oshawa Generals Oshawa 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... |
OHL | 15 | 6 | 2 | 6 | — | 844 | 57 | 0 | 4.05 | 0.898 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 507 | 21 | 0 | 2.48 | 0.932 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 ECHL season The 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary... |
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... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | — | 762 | 29 | 2 | 2.28 | 0.918 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 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:... |
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... |
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... |
17 | 9 | 5 | 2 | — | 1001 | 45 | 1 | 2.70 | 0.913 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 1346 | 43 | 4 | 1.92 | 0.932 | ||
| 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... |
Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 220 | 11 | 0 | 3.00 | 0.892 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 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... |
Hershey Bears | AHL | 22 | 15 | 6 | 0 | — | 1231 | 46 | 1 | 2.24 | 0.919 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 1133 | 39 | 1 | 2.07 | 0.920 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Washington Capitals | NHL | 17 | 9 | 4 | 0 | — | 872 | 40 | 0 | 2.75 | 0.914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Washington Capitals | NHL | 48 | 27 | 12 | 4 | — | 2689 | 110 | 4 | 2.45 | 0.914 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 590 | 23 | 1 | 2.34 | 0.912 | ||
| NHL totals | 70 | 38 | 17 | 4 | — | 3781 | 161 | 4 | 2.55 | 0.913 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 590 | 23 | 1 | 2.34 | 0.912 | ||||