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Alex Auld

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Alex Auld
Alex Auld.jpg
Auld with the Boston Bruins in 2007
Born (1981-01-07) January 7, 1981 (age 43)
Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 223 lb (101 kg; 15 st 13 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Vancouver Canucks
Florida Panthers
Phoenix Coyotes
Boston Bruins
Ottawa Senators
Dallas Stars
New York Rangers
Montreal Canadiens
Red Bull Salzburg
National team  Canada
NHL draft 40th overall, 1999
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2001–2013

Alexander James Auld (born January 7, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.[1] Auld played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens. He has also appeared internationally for Team Canada on three occasions: the 2001 World Junior Championships, the 2004 Spengler Cup, and the 2006 World Championships.

Playing career

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Minor

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Auld played most of his minor hockey in his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario, with the Thunder Bay Kings program. He was a minor hockey teammate of future NHLers Taylor Pyatt, Patrick Sharp, Jason Jaspers and Aaron MacKenzie. Their Kings team won gold in the All Ontario Bantam AAA championships in 1997 played in North Bay, Ontario.[2]

Junior

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Auld started junior career with the North Bay Centennials of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the tail end of the 1997–98 season, appearing in six games without registering a win.[3] After appearing in 38 games the following season, Auld was selected in the second round, 40th overall, of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers.[4] He would finish out his junior career with the Centennials, spending two more seasons as their starting goaltender.[3] In his final season, Auld was named to Team Canada for the 2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he backed up Maxime Ouellet, winning a bronze medal.[5][6] Later that same season, Auld was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for a third round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and a compensatory pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.[7]

Professional

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Alex Auld during his tenure with Vancouver.
Auld during his time with the Dallas Stars.

Auld turned professional in the 2001–02 season, joining the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. An ankle sprain sidelined Auld during training camp, however, and upon his return, he was assigned to the Columbia Inferno of the East Coast Hockey League. Solid play in six games at that level returned Auld to the AHL,[8] where he showed steady improvement, despite competition for playing time from veterans Alfie Michaud and Martin Brochu.[9] Following injuries to Canucks goaltenders Dan Cloutier and Peter Skudra, Auld earned a start at the NHL level, a 4–2 victory over the Dallas Stars on January 23, 2002, after which he returned to the AHL.[7] The 2002–03 season afforded Auld more opportunity for growth, although he again split playing time at the AHL level, this time with Tyler Moss.[8] With Cloutier and Skudra entrenched at the NHL level, Auld still managed to appear in seven games as an injury replacement, and even played one Stanley Cup playoff game in relief. In his fourth career start, Auld notched his first career shutout versus the Washington Capitals on March 23, 2003.[10]

During the off-season, backup Peter Skudra signed with a Russian team, raising the possibility that Auld might claim the backup role for the Canucks. As the 2003–04 season approached, however, Canucks general manager Brian Burke traded a draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Johan Hedberg, all but ensuring Auld another season in the minors.[11] Again, Auld began the season sharing netminding duties with Tyler Moss. Auld again saw brief NHL action, appearing in six games. However, during the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, Cloutier was injured early on in the Canucks' first round series with the Calgary Flames. Hedberg, who had been shaky[12] as a backup, failed to impress head coach Marc Crawford in two appearances, and Auld claimed the starting role in Game 5, pushing Calgary the distance in the series, eventually losing in Game 7.[13]

Auld spent the 2004–05 NHL lockout back with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL, this time pairing with veteran netminder Wade Flaherty. Despite holding on to the starting role for much of the season, Flaherty took over as starter at the beginning of the Calder Cup playoffs, helping the team reach the third round.[14] Auld also appeared for Canada at the Spengler Cup in December 2004, carrying the team to a third-place finish.[15]

Auld returned to the NHL when play resumed for the 2005–06 season, initially as the backup to Cloutier. However, on November 20, 2005, Cloutier injured an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a collision with Mighty Ducks of Anaheim forward Rob Niedermayer.[16] The hope initially was that the injury would heal during the season, but on December 13, Cloutier opted for surgery, leaving Auld as Vancouver's starting goaltender.[17] He would not play in another game for the Moose, leaving the AHL team as its franchise leader in wins and shutouts.

As the Canucks' starter, Auld was reunited with former World Junior teammate Maxime Ouellet,[17] who was one of three goaltenders the Canucks used to back him up (Mika Noronen[18] and Rob McVicar[19] were the others). Filling in admirably, Auld went on to capture the Cyclone Taylor trophy as team MVP,[4] although the Canucks would miss the playoffs.[4] Auld then joined Team Canada again, this time at the 2006 World Championships, where Canada finished a disappointing fourth, losing the bronze medal game to Finland.[20]

In June 2006, Auld was involved in a multi-player trade that sent him, Todd Bertuzzi and Bryan Allen to Florida in exchange for Roberto Luongo, Lukáš Krajíček and a sixth-round draft pick.[21] Initially, Auld was expected to be the undisputed starter in Florida. However, the July 25 signing of Ed Belfour introduced some competition, and Belfour eventually won the job as starting goalie. Controversially, in October, Auld was hospitalized while "horsing around" with Belfour, with suspicions that Belfour had assaulted him.[22]

Auld with the Senators in 2011.

After an unsuccessful season with Florida, Auld signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes on August 13, 2007.[23] However, on a team with already with a wealth of goaltenders — Auld would compete for a job with David Aebischer and Mikael Tellqvist at the beginning of the season — Phoenix would pick up Ilya Bryzgalov off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks, leaving Auld as one of the odd goaltenders out. After nine appearances with Phoenix, on December 6, 2007, Auld was traded to the Boston Bruins for right winger Nate DiCasmirro and the Bruins' fifth-round pick in 2009.[24] Playing backup to Tim Thomas for the majority of 2007–08, he played well for the Bruins, especially after an injury sidelined Thomas.[25]

On July 1, 2008, Auld signed a two-year, $2 million deal with the Ottawa Senators as an unrestricted free agent.[26] He came within one second of recording a shutout in his Senators debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Stockholm, Sweden, surrendering a powerplay goal in the final moments of the game.[27] Though Senators' management expected him to serve primarily as a backup to Martin Gerber, Auld's strong play combined with Gerber's struggles resulted in Auld assuming the starting position early in the season. As the season progressed, Gerber was placed on waivers[28] and ultimately was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs,[29] while rookie Brian Elliott would split the goaltending duties with Auld in Ottawa.[28] He was expected to challenge for the starting position in 2009–10 with Pascal Leclaire, acquired by Ottawa from the Columbus Blue Jackets late at the 2008–09 trade deadline, but was traded in the off-season on July 8, 2009, to the Dallas Stars in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2010.[30] During the season he struggled with the Stars and with Marty Turco and Kari Lehtonen in net for Dallas, Auld again was the odd man out and was placed on waivers and assigned to the AHL's Texas Stars on February 25, 2010.[31]

However, on February 27, 2010, Auld was claimed off re-entry waivers by the New York Rangers.[32] The Rangers had sought a veteran backup for Henrik Lundqvist after using two inexperienced goalies for the majority of the season.[33] An unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, on July 1, 2010, he signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens as backup to Carey Price, replacing Jaroslav Halák who had been traded to St. Louis.[34] He finished the season with a 6–2–2 record, a 2.64 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Again an unrestricted free agent at season's end, on July 1, 2011, Auld re-joined the Ottawa Senators, signing a one-year, $1 million contract, replacing Curtis McElhinney as backup to Craig Anderson.[35]

On July 23, 2012, Auld left the NHL and signed as a free agent with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL).[36] He retired from hockey at the end of the season.

International play

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Auld first played for Team Canada at the junior level in the 2001 World Junior Championships helping claim the bronze medal.[5][6] He made a senior competitive debut with Team Canada at the Swiss-based 2004 Spengler Cup, finishing in 3rd place.[37][38] He made his full IIHF debut for Canada at the 2006 World Championships, losing the bronze medal game to place fourth.[20]

Post-playing career

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Auld became a broadcaster with Sportsnet 650 in Vancouver following his retirement, working weekend Canucks games for the station.[39]

Personal life

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Auld was born in Cold Lake, Alberta, when his father was stationed out of CFB Cold Lake; however, he spent the majority of his adolescence in Thunder Bay, Ontario.[40] Auld's wife is celebrity handbag and jewellery designer Melanie Auld. The couple have two children together.[41][42] The couple splits their time between Vancouver and Thunder Bay.[43]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1997–98 Sturgeon Falls Lynx NOJHL 11 4 6 0 — 611 46 0 4.52 — — — — — — — — —
1997–98 North Bay Centennials OHL 6 0 4 0 — 206 17 0 4.95 .872 — — — — — — — —
1998–99 North Bay Centennials OHL 37 9 20 1 — 1894 106 1 3.36 .899 3 0 3 170 10 0 3.53 —
1999–00 North Bay Centennials OHL 55 21 26 6 — 3047 167 2 3.29 .891 6 2 4 374 12 0 1.93 .950
2000–01 North Bay Centennials OHL 40 22 11 5 — 2319 98 1 2.54 .917 4 0 4 240 15 0 3.75 .883
2001–02 Columbia Inferno ECHL 6 3 1 2 — 375 12 0 1.92 .927 — — — — — — — —
2001–02 Manitoba Moose AHL 21 11 9 0 — 1104 65 1 3.53 .881 1 0 0 20 0 0 0.00 1.000
2001–02 Vancouver Canucks NHL 1 1 0 0 — 60 2 0 2.00 .909 — — — — — — — —
2002–03 Manitoba Moose AHL 37 15 19 3 — 2209 97 3 2.64 .908 — — — — — — — —
2002–03 Vancouver Canucks NHL 7 3 3 0 — 382 10 1 1.57 .939 1 0 0 20 1 0 3.00 .800
2003–04 Manitoba Moose AHL 40 18 16 4 — 2329 99 4 2.55 .915 — — — — — — — —
2003–04 Vancouver Canucks NHL 6 2 2 2 — 348 12 0 2.07 .929 3 1 2 222 9 0 2.43 .898
2004–05 Manitoba Moose AHL 50 25 18 4 — 2763 118 2 2.56 .909 3 0 2 128 7 0 3.29 .860
2005–06 Vancouver Canucks NHL 67 33 26 — 6 3859 189 0 2.94 .902 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Florida Panthers NHL 27 7 13 — 5 1470 82 1 3.34 .888 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 9 3 6 — 0 508 30 1 3.54 .880 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 San Antonio Rampage AHL 2 1 1 — 0 119 5 1 2.53 .906 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 Boston Bruins NHL 23 9 7 — 5 1213 47 2 2.32 .919 — — — — — — — —
2008–09 Ottawa Senators NHL 43 16 18 — 7 2449 101 1 2.47 .911 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 Dallas Stars NHL 21 9 6 — 0 1181 59 0 3.00 .894 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 New York Rangers NHL 3 0 1 — 0 119 5 0 2.53 .904 — — — — — — — —
2010–11 Montreal Canadiens NHL 16 6 2 — 2 749 33 0 2.64 .914 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Ottawa Senators NHL 14 2 4 — 2 645 36 0 3.35 .884 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 16 — — — — 844 46 1 3.27 .892 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 237 91 88 2 30 12,985 606 6 2.80 .904 4 1 2 242 10 0 2.48 .892

Awards and honours

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References

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  1. ^ Auld, Alex. "Ex-NHL Goalie Alex Auld Breaks Down Maple Leafs". InGoal Magazine. Archived from the original on June 4, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  2. ^ Annelin, Tom (May 27, 2017). "Kings no stranger to Ontario bantam medals". The Chronicle Journal. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Alex Auld". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Panthers Agree to Terms with G Alex Auld and C Stephen Weiss". Florida Panthers. July 19, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Alex Auld catches on with Coyotes". CBC Sports. August 13, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Cox, Damien (December 23, 2011). "Book Excerpt: Damien Cox describes how Canada's juniors took a much-prized bronze medal in the 2000 juniors in Sweden". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Boston Bruins Acquire Goaltender Alex Auld". Boston Bruins. December 6, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Canucks recall Auld; reassign Moss to Moose" (Press release). Manitoba Moose. March 3, 2003. Retrieved June 22, 2023 – via Oursportscentral.com.
  9. ^ "Manitoba Moose roster for 2001–02 Season". Manitoba Moose. Archived from the original on December 11, 2006.
  10. ^ "Bertuzzi not yet ready to talk about goal-scoring title". ESPN. Associated Press. March 24, 2003. Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  11. ^ "Hedberg Heading Off To Be Goalie For Canucks Pittsburgh Goaltender Traded To Vancouver In Exchange For A Second-round Draft Pick". Times Leader. August 26, 2003. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  12. ^ The Sports Forecaster 2005–06, p. 101
  13. ^ McIntyre, Gordon (February 22, 2011). "Alex Auld on the days before Luongo". The Province. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "The team of choice at Portage and Main". The Globe and Mail. May 18, 2005. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Alex Auld: Your questions, his answers" (Press release). Manitoba Moose. February 6, 2005. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006.
  16. ^ Cloutier's injury history Archived April 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ a b "Canucks' Cloutier out for rest of regular season". ESPN. Associated Press. December 13, 2005. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  18. ^ "Canucks trade for goalie, 3 defencemen". CBC Sports. March 9, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  19. ^ Kerr, Graham (February 14, 2006). "Canucks need to go on offence to fix defence". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Canada Finishes Fourth at 2006 Men's World Hockey Championship After Losing to Finland in Bronze Medal Game". Hockey Canada. May 20, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  21. ^ "Canucks Acquire Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek & Sixth Round Pick In 2006 Draft From Florida In Exchange For Allen, Auld & Bertuzzi". Vancouver Canucks. Archived from the original on June 29, 2006.
  22. ^ "Auld Hospitalized". National Post. November 2, 2006. Archived from the original on January 11, 2016.
  23. ^ Paulson, Matt (August 13, 2007). "Coyotes sign backup goalie". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2007.
  24. ^ "Bruins trade for Alex Auld". CBC Sports. December 6, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  25. ^ "Auld regains confidence with Bruins". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. February 10, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  26. ^ "Ottawa Senators Sign Goaltender Alex Auld to Two-Year Contract". The Hockey News. The Canadian Press. July 1, 2008. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  27. ^ "Heatley, Auld give Sens a split in Sweden". CBC. October 5, 2008. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. Retrieved October 5, 2008.
  28. ^ a b "Senators place Gerber on waivers". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. September 13, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  29. ^ "Maple Leafs grab Gerber, Reitz off waiver wire". Sports Illustrated. March 4, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  30. ^ "Stars acquire Auld, sign Fistric". Miami Herald. July 8, 2009. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2009.
  31. ^ "Auld assigned to AHL's Texas Stars". ESPN. Associated Press. February 25, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  32. ^ "Goaltender Auld claimed from Stars". New York Rangers. February 27, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  33. ^ "Rangers Acquire Backup Goalie Alex Auld off Waivers from Dallas Stars". The Hockey News. The Canadian Press. February 27, 2010. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  34. ^ LeBrun, Pierre (July 1, 2010). "Source: Auld signs with Canadiens". ESPN. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  35. ^ Yzerman, Chris (July 1, 2011). "Sens ink backup goalie Alex Auld". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  36. ^ "EBEL: NHL-Star Alex Auld neuer Torhüter der Red Bulls" (in German). July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 11, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  37. ^ "Canadians turning heads". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. December 28, 2004. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  38. ^ "National Men's Team Finish in Third Place at the Spengler Cup". Hockey Canada. December 30, 2004. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  39. ^ "Canucks and Sportsnet Announce 2018-19 Broadcast Schedule". Vancouver Canucks. August 27, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  40. ^ Dunick, Leith (January 7, 2015). "Statistics prove it: Thunder Bay is pound-for-pound greatest hockey city". TBnewswatch.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  41. ^ Rowland, Sarah (March 11, 2014). "Melanie Auld follows jewellery design dreams". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  42. ^ "Updates". Melanie Auld Designs. September 29, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  43. ^ Adami, Hugh (July 24, 2008). "'It has to be a team-first mentality,' Auld says". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on July 29, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2008.
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