Kirk McLean

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 182
played_for = AHL
Maine Mariners
NHL
New Jersey Devils
Vancouver Canucks
Carolina Hurricanes
Florida Panthers
New York Rangers
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1966|6|26
birth_place = Willowdale, ON, CAN
draft = 107th overall
draft_year = 1984
draft_team = New Jersey Devils
career_start = 1986
career_end = 2001

Kirk Alan McLean (born June 26, 1966) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender most known for his long and successful stint with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Drafted in the sixth round, 107th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, McLean spent parts of his sixteen-year NHL career with the Devils, the Canucks, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Florida Panthers, and the New York Rangers. He has also suited up for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League (AHL)

Presently, McLean is part-owner of the BCHL's Burnaby Express and does colour commentary for the Canucks' pay-per-view broadcasts.

Personal life

As a young hockey player, McLean looked up to NHL star Bernie Parent as a role model and dreamed of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. [cite news|last=MacIntyre|first=Ian|title=McLean beats his team of dreams|publisher="The Vancouver Sun"|date=1993-01-07|page=D6|accessdate=2008-08-03]

McLean has an interest in thoroughbred horse racing. Along with his ex-wife Lesley and her parents Anne and Ron Shaddock, McLean owned Regal Discovery, a colt who won the 136th Queen's Plate in 1995. [cite news|last=Mallozzi|first=Vincent|title=Harness racing; bad foot, bad post, lost shoe, big victory|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7D7103BF933A25754C0A963958260|publisher="The New York Times"|date=1995-07-10|accessdate=2008-08-03]

Playing career

McLean played junior hockey for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. The New Jersey Devils drafted him in 1984 with their 6th pick (107th Overall), but he only appeared in six games over two seasons for the Devils before Vancouver Canucks' general manager Pat Quinn spotted a diamond in the rough and acquired McLean, along with sniper Greg "Gus" Adams, for star winger Patrik Sundström and the Canucks' 1988 fourth-round draft pick (Matt Ruchty), on September 15, 1987.

It was from there that McLean's career took off, as he set a number of franchise records for the Canucks, and appeared in NHL All-Star Games in 1990 and 1992. He was nominated for the Vezina Trophy in 1989, finishing third in voting, and again in 1992, where he finished second. In that 1991–92 season, he led the league in wins and shutouts, and was named the Canucks MVP for the second time (he had previously been honoured in 1990, as well) as he backstopped them to their first division title in seventeen years. He became known to fans as 'Captain Kirk,' in reference to the Star Trek protagonist.

His peak with the Canucks undoubtedly came during the 1994 playoffs, when he backstopped them to within two goals of the Stanley Cup, displaying arguably the best run of goaltending in Canucks' history. A heartbreaking seventh-game loss to the New York Rangers eventually ended the run for the Cup, but not before a series of personal highlights. These included a series-saving highlight-reel save in overtime against the Calgary Flames in the seventh game of the first round, as well as a 52-save performance in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Rangers, which Quinn would later quip ought to have been put on videocasette and used as a tutorial for young goaltenders.

Prior to the 1994 playoffs, McLean became a part of hockey history, albeit not in a manner he might have hoped. On March 23, 1994, he was the goaltender that Wayne Gretzky scored on for his 802nd career NHL goal breaking Gordie Howe's record of 801. ["Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings." National Hockey League. Great Western Forum, Los Angeles, California. 23 March 1994.] [ [http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/history/gretzky/99reasons.html NHL.com - History ] ]

After several declining seasons for the Canucks, general manager Pat Quinn was dismissed by the club, and as new management took over, so too was McLean. He would be traded to the newly relocated Carolina Hurricanes franchise along with Martin Gelinas for Sean Burke, Geoff Sanderson, and Enrico Ciccone on January 3, 1998. His tenure in Carolina was brief, as the Hurricanes swapped him later that season to the Florida Panthers for Ray Sheppard, on March 24, 1998.

He signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers on July 13, 1999, where he would end his career in 2001. McLean will always be remembered for his stellar play as a Vancouver Canuck and perhaps being the greatest Canuck goalie of all-time.

International play

Over the course of his career, McLean only represented Canada in international competition once. On March 28, 1990, McLean was among the players named to Canada's roster for the 1990 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Berne and Fribourg, Switzerland. [cite news|last=Zwolinski|first=Mark|title=Thunder roll to upset over favored Knights|publisher="Toronto Star"|date=1990-03-28|page=F2|accessdate=2008-08-04] For the tournament, McLean was given the role of starting goaltender, with Ken Wregget serving as his backup. [cite news|last=Orr|first=Frank|title=Roster set, Team Canada facing test|publisher="Toronto Star"|date=1990-04-19|page=B4|accessdate=2008-08-04] With McLean in net, Canada went on to win its first four round robin games, including an 8–0 shutout victory versus Norway in which McLean split goaltending duties with Wregget, thus clinching a spot in the medal round. [cite news|last=Stevens|first=Neil|title=Team Canada clinches spot in medal round|publisher="The Globe and Mail"|date=1990-04-21|page=E1|accessdate=2008-08-04] As the round robin continued, Canada immediately added to their perfect record with a 5–3 victory over Czechoslovakia in which McLean stopped 25 of 28 shots for the victory. [cite news|last=Stevens|first=Neil|title=Canadians jolt Czechoslovakia after thunderstorm delays game|publisher="The Globe and Mail"|date=1990-04-23|page=C4|accessdate=2008-08-04] McLean started Canada's next game, a 3–1 victory versus Sweden, but was replaced in the second period by third string goaltender Bob Essensa who had yet to play in the tournament. [cite news|last=Duhatschek|first=Eric|title=Penalties fail to beat Canada in world tourney|publisher="The Vancouver Sun"|date=1990-04-25|page=D11|accessdate=2008-08-04] Following a 3–3 tie with the Soviet Union, Canada clinched first place in the round robin. The game was one of McLean's best of the tournament, as he managed to keep the Soviet Union at bay during the third period in which they had a 14–2 margin in shots on goal. [cite news|last=Orr|first=Frank|title=Late marker lets Soviets tie Canada|publisher="Toronto Star"|date=1990-04-27|page=C1|accessdate=2008-08-04] After suffering a 3–2 loss versus Czechoslovakia in the opening game of the medal round, Canada opted to start Bob Essensa versus the Soviet Union. [cite news|title=Canada turns to Essensa|publisher="Windsor Star"|date=1990-04-30|page=C4|accessdate=2008-08-04] However, this move backfired as Essensa let in four early goals before being replaced by McLean, who let in another three in a 7–1 loss to move Canada out of contention for the gold medal. [cite news|last=Duhatschek|first=Eric|title=Russian Bear mauls Canada|publisher="Calgary Herald"|date=1990-05-01|page=C1|accessdate=2008-08-04] In the final game of the tournament versus Sweden, Canada suffered a 6–4 loss and finished fourth overall for the tournament, missing out on their opportunity for a bronze medal that would have come with a win versus Sweden. [cite news|last=Fisher|first=Matthew|title=No medal for Canada; Soviets take gold|publisher="The Globe and Mail"|date=1990-05-03|page=A17|accessdate=2008-08-04]

Awards & achievements

NHL Awards
* Nominated for the Vezina Trophy in 1988–89 NHL season, finished third in voting.
* Named on the NHL Second All-Star Team, 1991–92 NHL season.
* Named on the Sporting News All-Star Second Team in 1991–92 NHL season.
* Nominated for the Vezina Trophy in 1991–92 NHL season, finished second in voting.

Appearances
* Played in the 1990 NHL All-Star Game and won the goaltenders' competition at the All-Star Skills Competition by allowing the fewest goals-against for the Breakaway Relay and Rapid Fire events.
* Represented Team Canada at the 1990 World Hockey Championships.
* Played in the 1992 NHL All-Star Game.

Vancouver Canucks Awards
* Cyclone Taylor Trophy (MVP) - 1990, 1992
* Molson Cup (3-Stars Leader) - 1988, 1990, 1995

League leader
* NHL Goalie Games-Played Leader in 1989–90 NHL season (63).
* NHL Minutes Leader in 1989–90 NHL season (3,739 minutes)
* NHL Wins Leader in 1991–92 NHL season (38 wins) (tie)
* NHL Shutouts Leader in 1991–92 NHL season (5 shutouts) (tie)
* NHL Playoffs Shutouts Leader in 1992 (Van.) (2) & 1994 (Van.) (4)
* NHL Playoffs Goalie Games-Played Leader in 1994 (Vancouver) (24)
* NHL Playoffs Minutes Leader in 1994 (Vancouver) (1,544 minutes)

Records

* Vancouver Canucks' franchise games played leader (goaltender) - 516
* Vancouver Canucks' franchise wins leader (goaltender) - 211
* Vancouver Canucks' franchise shutouts leader, 20
* Vancouver Canucks' franchise playoff games played (goaltender) - 68
* Vancouver Canucks' franchise playoff wins leader - 34
* Vancouver Canucks' franchise playoff shutouts leader - 6

Transactions

*June 9, 1984 – Drafted in the sixth round, 107th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft
*September 15, 1987 – Traded by the New Jersey Devils with Greg Adams and the Devils' second round selection (Leif Rohlin) in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft to the Vancouver Canucks for Patrik Sundstrom, the Canucks' second round selection (Jeff Christian) in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, and the Canucks' fourth round selection (Matt Ruchty) in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft
*January 3, 1998 – Traded by the Vancouver Canucks with Martin Gelinas to the Carolina Hurricanes for Sean Burke, Enrico Ciccone, and Geoff Sanderson
*March 24, 1998 – Traded by the Carolina Hurricanes to the Florida Panthers for Ray Sheppard
*July 13, 1999 – Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the New York Rangers

Career statistics

Regular season

References

ee also

*List of NHL seasons
*List of NHL players

External links

*hockeydb|3605
*legendsofhockey|18340

Persondata
NAME= McLean, Kirk
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Professional ice hockey player
DATE OF BIRTH= June 26, 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH= Willowdale, Ontario, Canada
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=