Ty Conklin

Infobox Ice Hockey Player

---

image_size=200px
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 184
team = Detroit Red Wings
former_teams= Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres Columbus Blue Jackets
Edmonton Oilers
league = NHL
nationality = United States
birth_date = birth date and age|1976|3|30
birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona [ [http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/6152/oilers_qa_with_ty_conklin/ Oilers: Q&A with Ty Conklin - Hockey's Future] ] , USA
career_start = 2001

Ty Conklin (born March 30, 1976) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and a graduate of Shattuck-St. Mary's, he went undrafted but later earned repeated honors in the United States Hockey League as a member of the Green Bay Gamblers, and in the NCAA, while playing for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats.

Professional career

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 Oilers. 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) [ [http://caldercup.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Previous%20Playoffs/2003%20Boxscores/96p.txt AHL Game Report Summary, 5/30/2003] ] 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 Championships, 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, [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2006/02/06/conklin060206.html] ] 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.

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 Final in Raleigh, against the Carolina Hurricanes, and was suddenly called into play late in the third period when Roloson suffered what would prove to be a series-ending knee injury. With the game tied, he and teammate Jason Smith then committed a blunder that allowed Hurricanes forward Rod Brind'Amour to score the winning goal unopposed, into an empty net, with just over 30 seconds of time remaining. [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060606.woilersfinal06/BNStory/NHLPlayoffs/home globeandmail.com: Game 1: Hurricanes 5, Oilers 4 ] ]

It also served as his only experience, to date, in the NHL post-season; Jussi Markkanen played all subsequent six games of the series at head coach Craig MacTavish's discretion; not 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." [ [http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=38237] ]

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. [ [http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=8f328fcb-ef0e-47e3-bae0-0cfcdc286f27&k=69735 Free-Agent Feeding time ] ] "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." [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/sportsline/main10569350.shtml] ]

Columbus Blue Jackets / Buffalo Sabres (2006–2007)

Following the start of free agency 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. [ [http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=197883&hubname=nhl Sabres deal Biron to Flyers, get Conklin ] ] In his first start with the Sabres, Conklin made a then-career high 42 saves in a win over the Florida Panthers.

Pittsburgh Penguins (2007–2008)

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). [ [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=214043&hubname=nhl Penguins sign goaltender Ty Conklin ] ] 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.

quote|"...is it really running up the score when Ty Conklin comes in to replace your starting netminder?"

"Note to Penguins: seek goaltending help."

"After winning five of their past six games, including the Winter Classic, the Penguins move up our list. Ty Conklin. Who knew?"

"Again, we ask, Ty Conklin? Who knew ... really? Seven straight starts, seven straight wins, including two shutouts."

(from [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/teams/ranking?team=pit&seasonType=2&season=2008 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) [ [http://penguins.nhl.com/team/app?gameNumber=951&gameType=2&page=Recap&season=20072008&service=page Rec
] ] and leading the NHL in save percentage.

Conklin helped the team to not only sustain, but advance their position in the standings during Fleury's extended injury. Fleury's noticeably improved play upon return was also partially attributed to the competition and mentoring provided by Conklin, as Penguins goaltending coach Gilles Meloche attested, [Gilles Meloche, " 'Live at the Stanley Cup Final' ", May 23, 2008] cquote|...he's a good vet; he's a good pro, and you know, he's gonna take just as much credit – if I do take any credit, Ty Conklin's going to take the credit for working with Marc-Andre...in the room, between periods...they communicate really well, and I think Marc-Andre's really taken advantage of that. 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, [ [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=363359&page=NewsPage&service=page "Pittsburgh Penguins backup netminder Ty Conklin helped save season",] Canadian Press; May 13, 2008] 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 Final.

Detroit Red Wings (2008)

On July 1, 2008, Conklin signed a one-year, one-way deal as a UFA with the Detroit Red Wings, worth $750,000. [ [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?id=11353 Signing tracker] ] In order to meet his new teammates and familiarize himself, he was one of only six Red Wings to participate in the first optional skate before training camp. [ [http://redwings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=380867 http://redwings.nhl.com/] ]

Achievements

NHL outdoor games

Conklin is one of only two NHL players (along with Georges Laraque) to have participated in both of the NHL's regular-season outdoor games.
*He was the goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers when they lost to the Montreal Canadiens by a score of 4–3, in the Heritage Classic at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, on November 22, 2003.
*He was also the goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins in their 2–1 shootout victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1, 2008.

The Detroit Red Wings are currently scheduled to play against the Chicago Blackhawks at Chicago's Wrigley Field for the 2009 NHL Winter Classic, on New Year's Day.

Records

*Left the University of New Hampshire holding eight goaltending records [ [http://www.unhwildcats.com/index.cfm?id=CA1D6500-9C14-9F72-F17E60B7B6771786&pid=74AE64B6-F331-EB64-6A9ECEEF96A82099&archive=0] ]
*Held the AHL record for most saves in a game with 83 on May 30–31, 2003 (broken by Michael Leighton, 98 saves, April 24–25, 2008)
*Played and won the longest game in AHL history, May 30–31, 2003 (surpassed by Game 5, East Division Semifinals, Albany vs. Philadelphia, 5OT, April 24–25, 2008)
*Holds the Penguins record for single season save percentage, .923 (2007-08) (surpassed Tom Barrasso, .922 (1997–98))

Awards

*Nominee for the Masterton Trophy, Pittsburgh Penguins, 2008
*Top ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award (best male ice hockey player, U.S. college hockey) 2000, 2001
*Co-winner of the Walter Brown Award (with Brian Gionta) (New England's outstanding American-born college player), 2001
*Hockey East Goaltending Leader Award (lowest goals against average), 2001
*Co-winner, Hockey East Player of the Year (with Mike Mottau), 2000

Honors

*Best goaltender, 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
*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 Cup), USHL, 1996, 1997
*USHL playoff championship (Clark Cup), 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 Chimera: "I've met two normal goaltenders in all my years in hockey: Ty Conklin and Pascal Leclaire." ["Leclaire discovers game in Columbus", Aaron Portzline, The Hockey News, March 4, 2008, pg.26]

Although his Phoenix birth 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 [ [http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/051004/spo_conklin.shtml] ] 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. [ [http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=358649&page=NewsPage&service=page] ] His brother Sid is also a goaltender, currently at Shattuck. [ [http://www.eteamz.com/fwcanadiens/news/index.cfm?id=4157176&cat=0] ]

Conklin and his wife Erika have a young daughter and son, and are expecting their third child in November 2008. [ [http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2008/09/goalie_conklin_hoping_to_fit_i.htm] ] They live in central Maine during the offseason.

Career statistics

Regular season

"Records are through the 2007–08 season."

References

External links

*nhlprofile|8469152
*hockeydb|46803
* [http://hockeygoalies.org/bio/conklin.html Biography at HockeyGoalies]