Ty Conklin
Encyclopedia
Ty Curtis Conklin is an American
professional ice hockey
goaltender
currently with the Detroit Red Wings
of the National Hockey League
.
Born in Phoenix
, Arizona
, Conklin grew up in Anchorage
, Alaska
, and was an early recruit of the now-famed Minnesota
hockey prep school
Shattuck-St. Mary's. He later played under Don Granato
for the Green Bay Gamblers
of the United States Hockey League
(USHL), before attending the University of New Hampshire
and playing for the Wildcats
under long-tenure
d coach
Dick Umile
.
A self-described "late-bloomer", and "shorter kid" at age 18, while spending his draft-eligible years (to age 20) remaining off the radar of professional scouts
– first as a post-graduate at Shattuck, and then in his first year in Green Bay – Conklin went unclaimed by any team in the NHL's Entry Draft
.
Subsequently, he went on to earn numerous goaltending awards and accolades in both the USHL and NCAA, however, Conklin claims he never thought of becoming a professional until his junior year (his second playing) at UNH
.
. He spent the bulk of his first two seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs
, the then-shared American Hockey League (AHL)
affiliate for the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens
, and led the Bulldogs to within one win of a Calder Cup
championship in 2003. He set an AHL record for most saves in a game with 83 (in a quadruple overtime
, 134:56 minute 2–1 win over the Houston Aeros
in Game 2 of the 2003 Calder Cup
Final) in what was then the longest game in AHL history. In the 2003–04 season, he played as back-up to Tommy Salo
, effectively becoming the starter when Salo was lost to injury, and then as the joint starter with Jussi Markkanen
following Salo's trade to the Colorado Avalanche
. During the NHL lockout he played for Wolfsburg
in the DEL, the German
elite league.
He also played for the United States national team at the IIHF
World Championships in the spring of 2004 and 2005. In the 2004
event, the US won a surprising bronze medal. Following an upset of the host Czechs and a shutout, 1–0 shootout victory over Slovakia in the bronze-medal game, Conklin was selected as the tournament's best goaltender.
With the conclusion of the lockout, Conklin entered the new season as Edmonton's probable starting goaltender, backed up by Markkanen. Given the prevalent idea that either goaltender could assume the starting job, local media began using the nickname "Conkkanen" to describe Edmonton's starting goaltender. However, during the 2005–06 season, both goaltenders proved to be inconsistent, with Conklin's performance additionally hampered by injury and no longer considered NHL-caliber, prompting the Oilers to waive Conklin in early February and general manager Kevin Lowe
to acquire a new starter, Dwayne Roloson
, from the Minnesota Wild
at the trade deadline.
in Raleigh, against the Carolina Hurricanes
. Roloson then suffered what would prove to be a series-ending knee injury late in the third period with the game tied 4–4, and Conklin was suddenly called into play. Edmonton had led by three goals at one point before allowing Carolina to then score four unanswered and take the lead before the Oilers managed to tie the game. With just over 30 seconds of time remaining in regulation, he committed a blunder that allowed Hurricanes forward
Rod Brind'Amour
to score the winning goal unopposed, into an empty net.
It also served as his first and at the time, only, experience in the NHL post-season; Jussi Markkanen
played all subsequent six games of the series at head coach Craig MacTavish
's discretion; not meant as a punishment or a reflection of Conklin's play, MacTavish explained, but, "...I can't be in a situation that I was in during the course of the year where you are going back between 1 and 1-A, and never give them the opportunity to get confident in the net. If he struggles, he will continue to play. If he plays well, he will continue to play." Canadian national television analyst and former NHL goaltender Kelly Hrudey
was less diplomatic than MacTavish: "Not even a question – Markkanen. And I gain no satisfaction in saying that."
"Let's not turn that play into some monumental thing," Conklin said at the time. However, the extraordinarily bad timing and subsequent massive public focus on the indelible miscue did nothing to improve his reputation, already severely diminished by a poor regular season.
Conklin did not return to the ice again as an Oiler, as the team option on his contract for the 2006–07 NHL season was subsequently declined. "Obviously I needed a change of scenery," he said. "I kicked myself a lot after it happened, but you can't change things, so you just have to deal with it and move on."
on July 1, Conklin was signed as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) by the Columbus Blue Jackets
, on July 6. He was expected to compete for the Blue Jackets' backup goaltending position, however coach Gerard Gallant
opted to go with internationally-experienced Fredrik Norrena
. Conklin was subsequently waived and sent to the Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
. An injury to Blue Jackets' starter Pascal Leclaire
prompted the team to recall him to the NHL on December 11, 2006.
On February 27, 2007, Conklin was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres
in a trade for a 5th round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
. In his first start with the Sabres, Conklin made a then-career high 42 saves in a win over the Florida Panthers
.
On July 19, 2007, Conklin was signed as a UFA by the Pittsburgh Penguins
to a $500,000, one-year, two-way contract
(that would pay him $100,000 in the AHL, exempting him from re-entry waivers). After being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
of the AHL on September 22, he was recalled by Pittsburgh on an emergency basis on December 6, when starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury
suffered a high ankle sprain
. His first appearance on December 11 in Philadelphia
was noted and extremely unprepossessing, as he relieved Dany Sabourin
in the third period of an ugly game with the division rival Flyers
and promptly earned a 9.00 GAA
by allowing the final three goals in an 8–2 blowout
loss.
(from ESPN.com Weekly NHL Power Rankings)
Although initially expected to remain Sabourin's backup, Conklin instead became a sensation as Pittsburgh's de facto
starting goaltender, winning his first nine starts from December 20, playing all but one game in the month of January. (Coincidentally, he was the first person to wear #35 for the Penguins since franchise goaltender
Tom Barrasso
, whose twelve-year tenure with the team ended in 2000.)
Before Fleury's return as a starter on March 2, 2008, Conklin compiled a record of 17–6–5, earning the nickname "Conkblock" (derived by keeping a person away from a goal, or preventing someone from scoring
) by posting career numbers (such as a 50-save win over the New York Islanders
at Nassau Coliseum on February 26, despite being outshot 52-21) and leading the NHL in save percentage
.
Despite Conklin's later protests that "[t]he kid has way too much talent, athleticism, and ability to not be a great goalie," and "I had nothing to do with it," Fleury's noticeably improved play upon return was also partially attributed to the competition and mentoring his presence provided, as Penguins goaltending coach Gilles Meloche
attested in May, Conklin helped the team to not only sustain, but advance their position in the standings during Fleury's extended injury. He was considered by his teammates to have played a role equal to that of Hart Trophy nominee Evgeni Malkin
in the success of the 2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins season, and was the team's candidate for the Masterton Trophy, "given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."
He played in 33 games for the Penguins, finishing with a personal record of 18–8–5 and a save percentage of .923, 2nd overall in the NHL, and a single-season franchise record
. Though he did not play, he served as Fleury's backup in all twenty of the team's post-season games, as Pittsburgh reached the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
, losing to the Detroit Red Wings
four games to two.
Due to the existence of the salary cap, the fact that Pittsburgh had both Fleury and Sabourin under one-way contracts for 2008–09, and the likelihood of his ability to earn a major increase in both playing time and salary (the 50% raise that eventually came from the Red Wings, who guaranteed him 30 games, was seen as a bargain) with his 2007–08 performance, despite Conklin's significant and memorable contribution to the team, the Penguins did not renew his contract, and decided to allow him to reach unrestricted free agency once more on July 1.
also signed a one year deal with Detroit, joining the team that had just defeated them in the Stanley Cup Finals less than a month earlier. In order to meet his new teammates and familiarize himself, Conklin was one of only six Red Wings to participate in the first optional skate before training camp.
Detroit coach Mike Babcock
expressed a desire to play Conklin in every third game in order to relieve starter Chris Osgood
. Conklin made his first start with Detroit on the road, against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 13, where he made 27 saves in a 3–1 Red Wings victory and was named the first star of the game. On November 17, 2008, Conklin made his debut at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena
against Edmonton, posting his fifth career shutout
as the Red Wings defeated the Oilers, 4-0.
Due to a remarkably poor regular-season performance from Osgood, Conklin essentially served in an equal-time platoon situation, playing in 40 games and winning 25 to Osgood's 26, his best NHL season, in that regard, to date. Despite significantly outplaying Osgood for the vast majority of the regular season, being credited by his fellow netminder and others for stabilizing the team's goaltending situation, allowing Detroit to capture another Central Division
title and the 2nd playoff seed in the Western Conference, Osgood played all but 20 minutes in the post-season, on the strength of his playoff resumé
.
Conklin received his second taste of NHL playoff experience in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks
, where he substituted for a dehydrated Osgood in the third period and played 20 scoreless minutes. The Red Wings reached the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals
, losing a rematch to Conklin's former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins
, in seven games.
It was announced in the 2009 offseason that Conklin would not be offered a new contract for the 2009–10 season due to salary cap
constraints, with the Wings instead opting to promote longtime prospect Jimmy Howard
from the AHL.
, who made him an immediate offer following the start of free agency at noon.
"It's a young team, a pretty exciting team, an up-and-coming team, and one that played as well as anyone in the second half of the [2008–09
] season," Conklin said. "Obviously, financially it's a lot better, a step up from what I've made the last couple years...I know the great season [Blues goaltender Chris] Mason had last year. I don't think they're signing me to play 10 games. Hopefully, I'll challenge for some ice time."
Conklin made his debut with the Blues overseas, on October 3, facing his former team, the Red Wings, at Sweden's Globe Arena, in the second game of the doubleheader of NHL Premiere 2009 Stockholm
; after allowing two goals in the first 2:08, he ended with 30 saves on 33 shots as the Blues won 5–3, with his performance publicly contrasted to the widely criticized one of Jimmy Howard, his replacement on Detroit's roster, at the other end.
His first North America
n game with the Blues, also his first win, and first shutout, came on the road October 17 against Anaheim, a 5–0 blanking of the Ducks
. Conklin made 26 saves to earn St. Louis's first win since returning from Sweden, the second star of the game, and his 11th career shutout. Conklin did not record any of his 10 wins during the 2009-10 NHL season at the Scottrade Center, home of the Blues. On February 26, 2011, Conklin was placed on waivers by the St. Louis Blues.
Following the 2011 NHL season, Conklin returned to play for Team USA at the World Championships in Slovakia, with his best performance coming on May 6 against Canada in a 4–3 shootout loss in the qualifying round; Conklin was named player of the game after making 48 saves. The US reached the tournament's quarterfinals but met defeat this time against the Czech Republic, 4–0. He became a free agent on July 1.
.
: "I've met two normal goaltenders in all my years in hockey: Ty Conklin and Pascal Leclaire."
Although his Phoenix
birth possibly makes him the first Arizona-born ice hockey player to play regularly in the NHL, Conklin spent his entire childhood in Alaska, attending West Anchorage High School
until he was recruited by Shattuck-St. Mary's, a boarding school
in Faribault
, Minnesota
. He is the first, and so far, only, Alaskan goaltender to reach the NHL. His younger brother Brice used him for shooting practice in their basement (a reversal of the usual positions for siblings) and went on to play defense
for Shattuck and the Harvard University Crimson
. His brother Sid also played at Shattuck as a goalie.
Conklin and his wife Erika have a young daughter and son, Maggie and Chase, and welcomed their second son, Nash, on November 15, 2008. They live in central Maine
during the offseason.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
of 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...
.
Born in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Conklin grew up in Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and was an early recruit of the now-famed Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
hockey prep school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
Shattuck-St. Mary's. He later played under Don Granato
Don Granato
Don Granato is a former American ice hockey player. Granato was previously head coach of the Worcester IceCats and Chicago Wolves of the AHL He was also head coach of the Columbus Chill and Peoria Rivermen of the East Coast Hockey League...
for the Green Bay Gamblers
Green Bay Gamblers
The Green Bay Gamblers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team in the East Division of the United States Hockey League. They play in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the Resch Center.-History:...
of the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
(USHL), before attending the University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
and playing for the Wildcats
New Hampshire Wildcats
The New Hampshire Wildcats, or Cats, are the athletic teams of the University of New Hampshire. The wildcat is the school's official mascot, the colors are UNH Blue and white...
under long-tenure
Tenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
d coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Dick Umile
Dick Umile
Dick Umile is an American ice hockey coach. Umile is currently the head coach of the University of New Hampshire. He has led the Wildcats to two championship game appearances. In 2009, he was inducted into the New Hampshire Hockey Hall of Fame.-External links:*...
.
A self-described "late-bloomer", and "shorter kid" at age 18, while spending his draft-eligible years (to age 20) remaining off the radar of professional scouts
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
– first as a post-graduate at Shattuck, and then in his first year in Green Bay – Conklin went unclaimed by any team in the NHL's Entry Draft
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
.
Subsequently, he went on to earn numerous goaltending awards and accolades in both the USHL and NCAA, however, Conklin claims he never thought of becoming a professional until his junior year (his second playing) at UNH
University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
.
Edmonton Oilers (2001–2006)
With the completion of his career at the University of New Hampshire in the spring of 2001, Conklin signed a professional contract as an undrafted free agent with the Edmonton OilersEdmonton 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 ....
. He spent the bulk of his first two seasons with the Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
, the then-shared American Hockey League (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...
affiliate for the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, and led the Bulldogs to within one win of a 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...
championship in 2003. He set an AHL record for most saves in a game with 83 (in a quadruple overtime
Overtime (ice hockey)
Overtime is a method of determining the winner and loser of an ice hockey match when the scores are tied after regulation. The two main methods are the overtime period and the shootout.-Overtime periods:...
, 134:56 minute 2–1 win over the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
in Game 2 of the 2003 Calder Cup
2003 Calder Cup Playoffs
The 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 9, 2003. Twenty teams, the top ten from each conference, qualified for the playoffs. The seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-placed teams in each conference played best-of-3 series in the qualifying round...
Final) in what was then the longest game in AHL history. In the 2003–04 season, he played as back-up to Tommy Salo
Tommy Salo
Tommy Mikael Salo is a Swedish General Manager of Swedish ice hockey club Leksands IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan. He is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender and a former head coach of IK Oskarshamn.-Playing career:...
, effectively becoming the starter when Salo was lost to injury, and then as the joint starter with Jussi Markkanen
Jussi Markkanen
Jussi Markkanen is an ice hockey goaltender for EV Zug of the National League A .-Playing career:Markkanen has played extensively in various European professional leagues as well as the NHL...
following Salo's trade 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...
. During the NHL lockout he played for Wolfsburg
EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams
EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams are a professional ice hockey club of the German professional ice hockey league Deutsche Eishockey Liga. They play their games at Eisarena in Wolfsburg...
in the DEL, the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
elite league.
He also played for the United States national team at the IIHF
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
World Championships in the spring of 2004 and 2005. In the 2004
2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2004 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held April 24-May 9, 2004, in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. Games for this Ice Hockey World Championships tournament were played at Sazka Arena and ČEZ Aréna...
event, the US won a surprising bronze medal. Following an upset of the host Czechs and a shutout, 1–0 shootout victory over Slovakia in the bronze-medal game, Conklin was selected as the tournament's best goaltender.
With the conclusion of the lockout, Conklin entered the new season as Edmonton's probable starting goaltender, backed up by Markkanen. Given the prevalent idea that either goaltender could assume the starting job, local media began using the nickname "Conkkanen" to describe Edmonton's starting goaltender. However, during the 2005–06 season, both goaltenders proved to be inconsistent, with Conklin's performance additionally hampered by injury and no longer considered NHL-caliber, prompting the Oilers to waive Conklin in early February and general manager Kevin Lowe
Kevin Lowe
Kevin Hugh Lowe is a retired defenceman and coach in the National Hockey League and the current President of Hockey Operations for the Edmonton Oilers. As a defenceman, he played for the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Rangers....
to acquire a new starter, Dwayne Roloson
Dwayne Roloson
Albert Dwayne Roloson is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders during his professional career...
, from the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
at the trade deadline.
2006 Stanley Cup Final
Despite having played one game for the Oilers between March and June, Conklin was on the bench in Game 1 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final2006 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2006 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2005–06 season. As a culmination of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers...
in Raleigh, against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
. Roloson then suffered what would prove to be a series-ending knee injury late in the third period with the game tied 4–4, and Conklin was suddenly called into play. Edmonton had led by three goals at one point before allowing Carolina to then score four unanswered and take the lead before the Oilers managed to tie the game. With just over 30 seconds of time remaining in regulation, he committed a blunder that allowed Hurricanes forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
Rod Brind'Amour
Rod Brind'Amour
Roderic Jean Brind'Amour is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes. He captained the Hurricanes to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship in...
to score the winning goal unopposed, into an empty net.
It also served as his first and at the time, only, experience in the NHL post-season; Jussi Markkanen
Jussi Markkanen
Jussi Markkanen is an ice hockey goaltender for EV Zug of the National League A .-Playing career:Markkanen has played extensively in various European professional leagues as well as the NHL...
played all subsequent six games of the series at head coach Craig MacTavish
Craig MacTavish
Craig "MacT" MacTavish is the current head coach of the American Hockey League Chicago Wolves and a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. He played centre for 19 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis...
's discretion; not meant as a punishment or a reflection of Conklin's play, MacTavish explained, but, "...I can't be in a situation that I was in during the course of the year where you are going back between 1 and 1-A, and never give them the opportunity to get confident in the net. If he struggles, he will continue to play. If he plays well, he will continue to play." Canadian national television analyst and former NHL goaltender Kelly Hrudey
Kelly Hrudey
Kelly Hrudey is a former NHL ice hockey goaltender and current hockey broadcaster with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. During his NHL career, Hrudey played for the New York Islanders , Los Angeles Kings , and San Jose Sharks .-Playing career:Hrudey played junior hockey for three years with...
was less diplomatic than MacTavish: "Not even a question – Markkanen. And I gain no satisfaction in saying that."
"Let's not turn that play into some monumental thing," Conklin said at the time. However, the extraordinarily bad timing and subsequent massive public focus on the indelible miscue did nothing to improve his reputation, already severely diminished by a poor regular season.
Conklin did not return to the ice again as an Oiler, as the team option on his contract for the 2006–07 NHL season was subsequently declined. "Obviously I needed a change of scenery," he said. "I kicked myself a lot after it happened, but you can't change things, so you just have to deal with it and move on."
Columbus Blue Jackets / Buffalo Sabres (2006–2007)
Following the start of free agencyFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on July 1, Conklin was signed as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) by the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, on July 6. He was expected to compete for the Blue Jackets' backup goaltending position, however coach Gerard Gallant
Gerard Gallant
Gerard "Turk" Gallant is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former NHL player.Gallant was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, sixth round, one-hundred seventh overall....
opted to go with internationally-experienced Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Jan Elis Norrena is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Linköping of the Swedish Elitserien.- Playing career :...
. Conklin was subsequently waived and sent to the Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
. An injury to Blue Jackets' starter Pascal Leclaire
Pascal Leclaire
Pascal Leclaire is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Leclaire is currently an unrestricted free agent. Leclaire played three years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was selected eighth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...
prompted the team to recall him to the NHL on December 11, 2006.
On February 27, 2007, Conklin was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
in a trade for a 5th round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft
2007 NHL Entry Draft
The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007...
. In his first start with the Sabres, Conklin made a then-career high 42 saves in a win over the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2007–2008)
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
to a $500,000, one-year, two-way contract
Two-way contract
A two-way contract is a professional sports contract which stipulates that an athlete’s salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play in...
(that would pay him $100,000 in the AHL, exempting him from re-entry waivers). After being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza...
of the AHL on September 22, he was recalled by Pittsburgh on an emergency basis on December 6, when starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury
Marc-Andre Fleury
Marc-André Fleury is a French Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
suffered a high ankle sprain
High ankle sprain
A high ankle sprain, also known as a syndesmotic ankle sprain, is a sprain of the syndesmotic ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula on the lower leg. Syndesmotic ankle sprains are known as high because their location on the lower leg is above the ankle...
. His first appearance on December 11 in Philadelphia
Wachovia Center
The Wells Fargo Center is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
was noted and extremely unprepossessing, as he relieved Dany Sabourin
Dany Sabourin
Daniel Sabourin is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently under contract for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
in the third period of an ugly game with the division rival 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 promptly earned a 9.00 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....
by allowing the final three goals in an 8–2 blowout
Blowout
-Science and technology:*Blowout , a sudden release of oil and gas from a well*Blowout , a sandy depression caused by the removal of sediment by wind*Blowout grass is a grass that can be found on sand dunes...
loss.
(from ESPN.com Weekly NHL Power Rankings)
Although initially expected to remain Sabourin's backup, Conklin instead became a sensation as Pittsburgh's de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
starting goaltender, winning his first nine starts from December 20, playing all but one game in the month of January. (Coincidentally, he was the first person to wear #35 for the Penguins since franchise goaltender
Franchise player
In professional sports, a franchise player is an athlete who is not simply the best player on their team, but a player that the team can build their "franchise" around for the foreseeable future...
Tom Barrasso
Tom Barrasso
Thomas Patrick Barrasso is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
, whose twelve-year tenure with the team ended in 2000.)
Before Fleury's return as a starter on March 2, 2008, Conklin compiled a record of 17–6–5, earning the nickname "Conkblock" (derived by keeping a person away from a goal, or preventing someone from scoring
Cockblock
A cockblock is an intentional, or sometimes unintentional action that serves to prevent someone from having sexual intercourse with a partner. Such behavior is often motivated by jealousy, or competitiveness, although it is sometimes accidental, or inadvertent...
) by posting career numbers (such as a 50-save win over the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
at Nassau Coliseum on February 26, despite being outshot 52-21) and leading the NHL in save percentage
Save percentage
Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
.
Despite Conklin's later protests that "[t]he kid has way too much talent, athleticism, and ability to not be a great goalie," and "I had nothing to do with it," Fleury's noticeably improved play upon return was also partially attributed to the competition and mentoring his presence provided, as Penguins goaltending coach Gilles Meloche
Gilles Meloche
Gilles Meloche is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins...
attested in May, Conklin helped the team to not only sustain, but advance their position in the standings during Fleury's extended injury. He was considered by his teammates to have played a role equal to that of Hart Trophy nominee Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni Malkin
Evgeni "Geno" Vladimirovich Malkin is a Russian professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League ....
in the success of the 2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins season, and was the team's candidate for the Masterton Trophy, "given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey."
He played in 33 games for the Penguins, finishing with a personal record of 18–8–5 and a save percentage of .923, 2nd overall in the NHL, and a single-season franchise record
Pittsburgh Penguins records
This is a list of franchise records for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.-Career Leaders :* Seasons: Mario Lemieux, 17* Games: Mario Lemieux, 915* Goals: Mario Lemieux, 690* Assists: Mario Lemieux, 1,033...
. Though he did not play, he served as Fleury's backup in all twenty of the team's post-season games, as Pittsburgh reached the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
, losing to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
four games to two.
Due to the existence of the salary cap, the fact that Pittsburgh had both Fleury and Sabourin under one-way contracts for 2008–09, and the likelihood of his ability to earn a major increase in both playing time and salary (the 50% raise that eventually came from the Red Wings, who guaranteed him 30 games, was seen as a bargain) with his 2007–08 performance, despite Conklin's significant and memorable contribution to the team, the Penguins did not renew his contract, and decided to allow him to reach unrestricted free agency once more on July 1.
Detroit Red Wings (2008–2009)
On July 1, 2008, Conklin signed a one-year, one-way deal as a UFA with the Detroit Red Wings, worth $750,000. Along with Conklin, former Penguin Marian HossaMarian Hossa
Marián Hossa is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . Hossa was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft; after playing for the Senators, he played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and...
also signed a one year deal with Detroit, joining the team that had just defeated them in the Stanley Cup Finals less than a month earlier. In order to meet his new teammates and familiarize himself, Conklin was one of only six Red Wings to participate in the first optional skate before training camp.
Detroit coach Mike Babcock
Mike Babcock
Michael "Mike" Babcock, Jr. is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League and former player. He serves as head coach of the Red Wings. He also served as the head coach of Team Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver...
expressed a desire to play Conklin in every third game in order to relieve starter Chris Osgood
Chris Osgood
Christopher John Osgood is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He's currently ranked tenth in wins in NHL regular season history with 401 career wins. He spent the first part of his 17-year NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, then the New York Islanders and the St. Louis...
. Conklin made his first start with Detroit on the road, against the Carolina Hurricanes on October 13, where he made 27 saves in a 3–1 Red Wings victory and was named the first star of the game. On November 17, 2008, Conklin made his debut at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...
against Edmonton, posting his fifth career 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....
as the Red Wings defeated the Oilers, 4-0.
Due to a remarkably poor regular-season performance from Osgood, Conklin essentially served in an equal-time platoon situation, playing in 40 games and winning 25 to Osgood's 26, his best NHL season, in that regard, to date. Despite significantly outplaying Osgood for the vast majority of the regular season, being credited by his fellow netminder and others for stabilizing the team's goaltending situation, allowing Detroit to capture another Central Division
Central Division (NHL)
The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division.The Central Division consists of the Western Conference's easternmost teams.-Current lineup:...
title and the 2nd playoff seed in the Western Conference, Osgood played all but 20 minutes in the post-season, on the strength of his playoff resumé
Résumé
A résumé is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education...
.
Conklin received his second taste of NHL playoff experience in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, where he substituted for a dehydrated Osgood in the third period and played 20 scoreless minutes. The Red Wings reached the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals
2009 Stanley Cup Finals
The Red Wings took Game 1, 3–1, as three different Detroit players scored goals off of unusual bounces. The first period featured back and forth action, with each team having a variety of chances...
, losing a rematch to Conklin's former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, in seven games.
It was announced in the 2009 offseason that Conklin would not be offered a new contract for the 2009–10 season due to salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
constraints, with the Wings instead opting to promote longtime prospect Jimmy Howard
Jimmy Howard
James "Jimmy" Russell Howard III is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
from the AHL.
St. Louis Blues (2009–2011)
On July 1, 2009, Conklin signed a two-year deal worth an average of US$1.3 million per year with the St. Louis BluesSt. 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...
, who made him an immediate offer following the start of free agency at noon.
"It's a young team, a pretty exciting team, an up-and-coming team, and one that played as well as anyone in the second half of the [2008–09
2008–09 St. Louis Blues season
The 2008–09 St. Louis Blues season, the 42nd season for the NHL franchise in St. Louis, Missouri, resulted in the team returning to the NHL Playoffs for the first time since 2004.-Game log:- Summary :...
] season," Conklin said. "Obviously, financially it's a lot better, a step up from what I've made the last couple years...I know the great season [Blues goaltender Chris] Mason had last year. I don't think they're signing me to play 10 games. Hopefully, I'll challenge for some ice time."
Conklin made his debut with the Blues overseas, on October 3, facing his former team, the Red Wings, at Sweden's Globe Arena, in the second game of the doubleheader of NHL Premiere 2009 Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
; after allowing two goals in the first 2:08, he ended with 30 saves on 33 shots as the Blues won 5–3, with his performance publicly contrasted to the widely criticized one of Jimmy Howard, his replacement on Detroit's roster, at the other end.
His first North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n game with the Blues, also his first win, and first shutout, came on the road October 17 against Anaheim, a 5–0 blanking of the Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Conklin made 26 saves to earn St. Louis's first win since returning from Sweden, the second star of the game, and his 11th career shutout. Conklin did not record any of his 10 wins during the 2009-10 NHL season at the Scottrade Center, home of the Blues. On February 26, 2011, Conklin was placed on waivers by the St. Louis Blues.
Following the 2011 NHL season, Conklin returned to play for Team USA at the World Championships in Slovakia, with his best performance coming on May 6 against Canada in a 4–3 shootout loss in the qualifying round; Conklin was named player of the game after making 48 saves. The US reached the tournament's quarterfinals but met defeat this time against the Czech Republic, 4–0. He became a free agent on July 1.
Detroit Red Wings (2011–)
On July 20, 2011, Conklin signed a 1-year contract worth $750,000 to return to the Detroit Red Wings as the backup to Jimmy HowardJimmy Howard
James "Jimmy" Russell Howard III is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
.
NHL outdoor games
Conklin participated in each of the first three NHL regular-season games outdoors, the most of any NHL player — even though on each occasion he was not his team's starting goaltender even a month prior to the game. “I count myself very lucky," he said of the opportunity. "There’s not a guy in this league who wouldn’t like to play in these games.”- He was the goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers when they lost to the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
by a score of 4–3, in the Heritage Classic at Edmonton's Commonwealth StadiumCommonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)Commonwealth Stadium is a sports stadium located in the Norwood Area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, primarily used by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. The stadium is owned and operated by the City of Edmonton.- History :...
, on November 22, 2003. - He was the goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 2–1 shootout victory over the Buffalo SabresBuffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
in the AMP Energy NHL Winter ClassicAMP Energy NHL Winter ClassicThe 2008 NHL Winter Classic also known as the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic was a National Hockey League game played on January 1, 2008, at 1:27 p.m. ET, outdoors at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. It was the first regular-season outdoor professional ice hockey game to be played in...
at Ralph Wilson StadiumRalph Wilson StadiumRalph Wilson Stadium is a football stadium, located in the town of Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. It is the home for the Buffalo Bills, of the NFL...
, near BuffaloBuffalo, New YorkBuffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, on January 1, 2008. He posted a shutout when the Penguins hosted the Sabres two days prior. - He was in goal for the Detroit Red Wings' 6–4 victory over the Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
at ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Wrigley FieldWrigley FieldWrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
in the 2009 NHL Winter Classic2009 NHL Winter ClassicThe 2009 NHL Winter Classic, also known as the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009, was a specially staged National Hockey League regular-season game played outdoors on January 1, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. CST at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois...
on New Year's DayNew Year's DayNew Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
. After allowing three goals in the first period, he shut out the Blackhawks for nearly forty minutes, before yielding a goal with ten seconds left in the game. The game was part of a home-and-home series, and Conklin posted a 4–0 shutout when Detroit hosted the Blackhawks two days earlier. Conklin got the start at Wrigley while starter Chris Osgood recovered from a groin injury.
Records
- Left the University of New Hampshire holding eight goaltending records
- Held the AHL record for most saves in a game with 83 on May 30–31, 2003 (broken by Michael LeightonMichael LeightonMichael "Mike" Leighton is a professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, 98 saves, April 24–25, 2008) - Played and won the longest game in AHL history, May 30–31, 2003 (surpassed by Game 52008 Calder Cup PlayoffsThe 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 16, 2008. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup...
, East Division Semifinals, AlbanyAlbany River RatsThe Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
vs. PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia PhantomsThe Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were...
, 5OT, April 24–25, 2008) - Holds the Penguins record for single season save percentage, .923 (2007–08) (surpassed Tom BarrassoTom BarrassoThomas Patrick Barrasso is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St...
, .922 (1997–98))
Awards
- Nominee for the Masterton Trophy, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2008
- Top ten finalist for the Hobey Baker AwardHobey Baker AwardThe Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.It is named for hockey player and World War I veteran Hobey Baker, who played collegiately at Princeton University and learned the game at St...
(best male ice hockey player, U.S. college hockey) 2000, 2001 - Co-winner of the Walter BrownWalter A. BrownWalter A. Brown was the original owner of the Boston Celtics as well as an important figure in the development of ice hockey in the United States.-Life:...
Award (with Brian GiontaBrian GiontaBrian Joseph Gionta is an American professional ice hockey player and captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League , and is the second American-born captain of the Canadiens and its first sole American-born captain...
) (New England's outstanding American-born college player), 2001 - Hockey East Goaltending Leader Award (lowest goals against averageGoals against averageGoals 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....
), 2001 - Co-winner, Hockey East Player of the Year (with Mike MottauMike MottauMichael Joseph Mottau is an German-American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League...
), 2000
Honors
- Best goaltender, 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships (Directorate Award)
- Named captain of the UNH Wildcats, October 5, 2000
- Elected by his teammates, he was the first goaltender to captain the Wildcats since 1961
- Hockey East First All-Star Team, 2000, 2001
- NCAA East First All-American Team, 2001
- Hockey East Second All-Star Team, 1999
- NCAA East Second All-American Team, 2000
- Hockey East All-Rookie Team, 1999
- Two-time regular-season champion (Anderson CupAnderson CupThe Anderson Cup is a trophy awarded annually to the United States Hockey League's regular season champion. It is named after Harold Anderson, who was extremely influential in the formation of the Midwest Junior Hockey League, the predecessor of the USHL. It is one of two trophies a team can win,...
), USHL, 1996, 1997 - USHL playoff championship (Clark CupClark CupThe Clark Cup is a trophy awarded annually to the winner of the United States Hockey League Tier 1 Junior Hockey playoff champions. The Clark Cup was named in honor of Dan Clark, the long-time registrar of the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association. Clark was also the recipient of the NHL's Lester...
), 1996 - USHL First All-Star Team, 1996
Personal
Ty is the son of Robert and Beth Conklin. In the view of fellow hockey player Jason ChimeraJason Chimera
Jason Chimera is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and an alternate captain for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .-Pre-NHL:Chimera played his junior career in the WHL, for Medicine Hat and Brandon...
: "I've met two normal goaltenders in all my years in hockey: Ty Conklin and Pascal Leclaire."
Although his Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
birth possibly makes him the first Arizona-born ice hockey player to play regularly in the NHL, Conklin spent his entire childhood in Alaska, attending West Anchorage High School
West Anchorage High School
West Anchorage High School is a public high school in Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska and part of the Anchorage School District.-History:The school was established as Anchorage High School in 1953, during a boom period in Anchorage...
until he was recruited by Shattuck-St. Mary's, a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Faribault
Faribault, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.8 people per square mile . There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 605.8 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. He is the first, and so far, only, Alaskan goaltender to reach the NHL. His younger brother Brice used him for shooting practice in their basement (a reversal of the usual positions for siblings) and went on to play defense
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
for Shattuck and the Harvard University Crimson
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. His brother Sid also played at Shattuck as a goalie.
Conklin and his wife Erika have a young daughter and son, Maggie and Chase, and welcomed their second son, Nash, on November 15, 2008. They live in central Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
during the offseason.
Regular season
| 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 | OTL | 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... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | Green Bay Gamblers Green Bay Gamblers The Green Bay Gamblers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team in the East Division of the United States Hockey League. They play in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the Resch Center.-History:... |
USHL United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger... |
30 | — | — | — | — | 1727 | 82 | 1 | 2.85 | — |
| 1996–97 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 30 | 19 | 7 | 1 | — | 1609 | 86 | 1 | 3.21 | — |
| 1997–98 | Did not play, NCAA regulations (Division I program transfer) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1998–99 | University of New Hampshire Wildcats | H-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.... |
22 | 18 | 3 | 1 | — | 1338 | 41 | 0 | 1.84 | — |
| 1999–00 | University of New Hampshire Wildcats | H-East | 37 | 22 | 8 | 6 | — | 2194 | 91 | 2 | 2.49 | — |
| 2000–01 | University of New Hampshire Wildcats | H-East | 34 | 17 | 12 | 5 | — | 2048 | 70 | 5 | 2.05 | — |
| 2001–02 | 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 .... |
NHL | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 148 | 4 | 0 | 1.62 | .939 |
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Hamilton Bulldogs Hamilton Bulldogs The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens... |
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... |
37 | 13 | 12 | 8 | — | 2043 | 89 | 1 | 2.61 | .916 |
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 38 | 19 | 13 | 3 | — | 2140 | 91 | 4 | 2.55 | .914 |
| 2003–04 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 38 | 17 | 14 | 4 | — | 2086 | 84 | 1 | 2.42 | .912 |
| 2004–05 | EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams are a professional ice hockey club of the German professional ice hockey league Deutsche Eishockey Liga. They play their games at Eisarena in Wolfsburg... |
DEL | 11 | — | — | — | — | 623 | 31 | 0 | 2.99 | .920 |
| 2005–06 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 18 | 8 | 5 | — | 1 | 922 | 43 | 1 | 2.80 | .880 |
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 0 | 152 | 8 | 0 | 3.17 | .907 |
| 2005–06 | 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.... |
AHL | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 130 | 5 | 0 | 2.31 | .932 |
| 2006–07 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.... |
Syracuse Crunch Syracuse Crunch The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter... |
AHL | 19 | 3 | 12 | — | 3 | 1085 | 60 | 0 | 3.32 | .902 |
| 2006–07 | Columbus Blue Jackets Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 11 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 491 | 27 | 0 | 3.30 | .871 |
| 2006–07 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
NHL | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | 0 | 227 | 13 | 0 | 3.44 | .892 |
| 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:... |
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza... |
AHL | 18 | 11 | 7 | — | 0 | 1058 | 39 | 2 | 2.21 | .919 |
| 2007–08 | Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
NHL | 33 | 18 | 8 | — | 5 | 1866 | 78 | 2 | 2.51 | .923 |
| 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... |
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
NHL | 40 | 25 | 11 | — | 2 | 2246 | 94 | 6 | 2.51 | .909 |
| 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... |
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 | 26 | 10 | 10 | — | 2 | 1451 | 60 | 4 | 2.48 | .921 |
| 2010–11 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 25 | 8 | 8 | — | 4 | 1285 | 69 | 2 | 3.22 | .881 |
| NHL totals | 200 | 91 | 61 | 4 | 16 | 10722 | 472 | 16 | 2.56 | .908 | ||
Playoffs
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 17 | 8 | 9 | 980 | 56 | 1 | 3.43 | — |
| 2001–02 2002 Calder Cup Playoffs The 2002 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 9, 2002. Twenty teams, the top ten from each conference, qualified for the playoffs. The seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-placed teams in each conference played best-of-3 series in the qualifying round... |
Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 7 | 4 | 2 | 416 | 18 | 0 | 2.60 | .917 |
| 2002–03 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs The 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 9, 2003. Twenty teams, the top ten from each conference, qualified for the playoffs. The seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-placed teams in each conference played best-of-3 series in the qualifying round... |
Hamilton Bulldogs | AHL | 17 | 9 | 6 | 1024 | 38 | 1 | 2.23 | .933 |
| 2004–05 | EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams | DEL | 7 | — | — | 414 | 11 | 2 | 1.59 | — |
| 2005–06 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals... |
Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10.00 | .667 |
| 2008–09 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and... |
Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 |
| NHL totals | 2 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 2.31 | .917 | ||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2004 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held April 24-May 9, 2004, in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. Games for this Ice Hockey World Championships tournament were played at Sazka Arena and ČEZ Aréna... |
United States | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 280 | 10 | 1 | 2.14 | |
| 2005 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2005 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held March 7 - May 15, 2005, in 7 cities in 6 countries: Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria ; Debrecen, Hungary ; Eindhoven, the Netherlands ; Zagreb, Croatia ; Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro ; Mexico City, Mexico... |
United States | WC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 180 | 6 | 0 | 2.00 | |
| Int'l totals | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 460 | 16 | 1 | 2.09 | |||