Kelly Hrudey

Kelly Hrudey
Hrudey in 2006
Born (1961-01-13) January 13, 1961
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for New York Islanders
Los Angeles Kings
San Jose Sharks
National team  Canada
NHL draft 38th overall, 1980
New York Islanders
Playing career 1981–1998

Kelly Hrudey (/ˈruːdi/; born January 13, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and former broadcaster with Sportsnet as a studio analyst for Hockey Night in Canada and colour commentator for Calgary Flames regional broadcasts. During his playing career, Hrudey played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks from 1983 to 1998.

Playing career

Hrudey played junior ice hockey for three years with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), being named to WHL Second All-Star Team in 1980–81. On June 11, 1980, Kelly was drafted in the second round (38th overall) of the 1980 NHL entry draft by the New York Islanders.[1] Hrudey played for the Indianapolis Checkers, New York's Central Hockey League (CHL) affiliate, before joining the Islanders.

New York Islanders

1983 photo of Hrudey for New York Islanders

With Hall of Famer Billy Smith entrenched in the Islanders net, Hrudey managed to begin splitting the goaltending duties starting in the 1984–85, his first full season with the club. Hrudey's arrival allowed the Islanders to trade goaltender Roland Melanson to the Minnesota North Stars for a first-round pick.[2]

Hrudey was the Islanders' goaltender during the seventh game of the division semifinals series against the Washington Capitals on April 18, 1987, when New York defeated the Capitals in the longest game in franchise history, a four-overtime game seven known as the "Easter Epic", which was won on a goal by Pat LaFontaine after 68:47 minutes of overtime.[3] Hrudey made 73 saves in a 3–2 victory.[4] Hrudey's 73 saves in a single game was an NHL record until Joonas Korpisalo's 85-save performance for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 3–2 five-overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first round series of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs on August 11, 2020.[5][6]

Later in 1987, he was the third string goaltender on Canada senior team during the 1987 Canada Cup, but did not appear in a game.

Los Angeles Kings

Despite finishing in the top five in voting for the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender in two of his final three seasons in New York,[7] Hrudey was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on February 22, 1989.[8]

Hrudey was initially angry about the trade, because he had always dreamt of playing his career with one club,[9] but he quickly adjusted and became an important part of the Wayne Gretzky-era Kings. Since his usual number #30 was retired by the Kings in honor of Rogie Vachon, Hrudey switched to number #32; he would wear this number for the rest of his playing career. His most notable moment with Los Angeles was playing in the 1993 Stanley Cup Final where the Kings lost to the Montreal Canadiens.[10] In the 1994 NHL entry draft, the Kings selected goaltender Jamie Storr with a seventh overall pick,[11] and with him projected as the Kings' goaltender of the future, they let Hrudey test free agency when his contract ended. While it was time for him to move on, Hrudey appreciated his time with the Kings, saying "It was maybe the best eight years of my life playing hockey. I loved the management and the ownership. Just a wonderful place to spend eight seasons."[9]

San Jose Sharks

On July 18, 1996, in what Hrudey called "a pretty easy decision,"[12] he signed a two-year deal with the San Jose Sharks.[13] Hrudey served as the Sharks' starting goaltender for the 1996–97 season until late January 1997, when the club traded for All-Star goaltender Ed Belfour.[14] With Belfour on the roster, Hrudey was pushed into the backup role.[15] Belfour left as a free agent at the end of the season,[16] but the Sharks acquired another veteran in Mike Vernon,[17] and once again Hrudey played a support role, making 28 appearances, and managing just four wins. After the 1997–98 season, Hrudey retired on July 30, 1998,[18] and joined CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada as an analyst.[19]

Broadcasting career

During the latter years of his playing career, he often joined Hockey Night in Canada as a studio analyst to supplement their playoff coverage if his team missed or was eliminated from Stanley Cup playoffs. After retiring, he joined the show full-time as a studio analyst.[20] He was featured in the "Behind the Mask" segment with hosts Scott Russell and later Scott Oake during the first intermission of the second game of Saturday night doubleheaders. In 2007, Hrudey helped debut Hockey Night in Canada Radio. The show originating from Toronto with host Jeff Marek is a three-hour program dedicated to ice hockey. The show is broadcast on Sirius XM Channel 122 and 97. Hrudey co-hosts Monday and Wednesday from his home studio in Calgary. For the 2008–09 season, he began working alongside host Ron MacLean and Elliotte Friedman on HNIC's lead studio team.

Hrudey also made a weekly appearance on the TSN 1040 in Vancouver with Rick Ball.

With Rogers Media, the parent company of Sportsnet, gaining the sole national rights to the NHL beginning in the 2014–15 season, in August 2014, Hrudey joined Sportsnet full-time to participate in their ice hockey coverage. In addition to his Hockey Night in Canada role, he along with Ball became the new announcers for the Calgary Flames regional broadcasts.[21] In August 2026, Hrudey announced on X that Sportsnet was not renewing his contract, and thanked the viewers as well as his colleagues both in front of and behind the camera. He stated that he was not retiring.[22]

Personal life

Hrudey and his wife have three children and live in Alberta. Hrudey does advocacy work in the field of mental health, inspired in part by his daughter's struggles with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.[23] He received an honorary degree from Mount Royal University on November 3, 2017, for his mental health advocacy efforts.[24] He is of Ukrainian descent.[25]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1978–79 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 57123473,09331806.17— ————————
1979–80 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 57252343,04921214.17.899 13666384804.51—
1980–81 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 55321913,02320043.97.895 4132441704.18—
1980–81 Indianapolis Checkers CHL ————————— 2——135803.56—
1981–82 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 51271943,03314912.95.900 131128423412.42—
1982–83 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 47261712,74413923.04.894 10736372802.64—
1983–84 New York Islanders NHL 127205352803.14.903 ————————
1983–84 Indianapolis Checkers CHL 63213702103.40— ————————
1984–85 New York Islanders NHL 41191732,33514123.62.886 513281801.71.946
1985–86 New York Islanders NHL 45191582,56313713.21.906 202120603.00.898
1986–87 New York Islanders NHL 46211572,63414503.30.881 14778423802.71.918
1987–88 New York Islanders NHL 47221752,75115333.34.896 6243802303.62.851
1988–89 New York Islanders NHL 50182432,80018303.92.874 ————————
1988–89 Los Angeles Kings NHL 1610429744712.90.904 10465663503.71.881
1989–90 Los Angeles Kings NHL 52222162,86019424.07.873 9445393903.62.853
1990–91 Los Angeles Kings NHL 47261362,73013232.90.900 12667983702.78.903
1991–92 Los Angeles Kings NHL 602717133,50919713.37.897 6243552203.72.877
1992–93 Los Angeles Kings NHL 50182162,71817523.86.897 2010101,2617403.52.887
1993–94 Los Angeles Kings NHL 64223173,71322813.68.897 ————————
1994–95 Los Angeles Kings NHL 25141351,8949903.14.910 ————————
1995–96 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 101050505.95.828 ————————
1995–96 Los Angeles Kings NHL 36715102,07711303.26.907 ————————
1996–97 San Jose Sharks NHL 481624526,3114003.19.889 ————————
1997–98 San Jose Sharks NHL 2841621,3606212.74.897 10020103.00.833
NHL totals 6772712658838,0812174173.43.893 8536465,16128303.29.891

International

Year Team Event GPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
1986 Canada WC 5——02992204.41—
Senior totals 5——02992204.41—

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Jonathan (February 11, 2011). "'If I can make it to the NHL, anybody can': Kelly Hrudey". Whitehorse Daily Star. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  2. ↑ Dupont, Kevin (November 20, 1984). "Melanson traded to North Stars". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ Beneteau, Josh (April 18, 2020). "Remember When? Kelly Hrudey makes 73 saves in Easter Epic". Sportsnet.ca. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  4. ↑ Farrell, Sean (August 11, 2020). "Lightning defeat Blue Jackets in 5OT in Game 1 of Eastern First Round". NHL.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ Cowley, Ryan (August 14, 2020). "Hrudey on Korpisalo's 85-Save Record: 'I was cheering for him to break the 100-save mark'". calisportsnews.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ Kaplan, Emily (August 11, 2020). "Brayden Point gives Lightning win over Blue Jackets after 5 overtimes; Joonas Korpisalo makes 85 saves". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  7. ↑ Larkin, Matt (November 9, 2018). "Top 100 Goalies: No. 68 – Kelly Hrudey". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  8. ↑ Finn, Robin (February 22, 1989). "Hrudey Is Traded by Islanders In an Effort to Bolster Future". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Kelly Hrudey Recalls Being Traded to the LA Kings 30 Years Ago". NHL.com. February 20, 2019. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  10. ↑ Matsuda, Gann (March 9, 2013). "Kelly Hrudey Says Time With Los Angeles Kings Was His "Best Eight Years of Hockey"". frozenroyalty.net. Archived from the original on December 25, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  11. ↑ Norwood, Robyn (June 29, 1994). "After Ducks Pass, Kings Bolster Their Goal : NHL draft: Storr taken with seventh pick after Anaheim selects Tverdovsky". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  12. ↑ Elliott, Helene (July 19, 1996). "Hrudey Joins the Sharks in a 'Pretty Easy Decision'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  13. ↑ Cooper, Tony (July 19, 1996). "Sharks Sign Goaltender Hrudey / Free agent from Kings agrees to 2-year deal". SFGATE. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Sharks Get Belfour in 1-for-3 Deal". Los Angeles Times. January 26, 1997. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  15. ↑ McKeon, Ross (February 4, 1997). "Ex-Sharks prove to be unfriendly foes". SFGATE. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Belfour Signs With Stars". The New York Times. July 3, 1997. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Vernon Traded to Sharks". The New York Times. August 19, 1997. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  18. ↑ "PLUS: HOCKEY -- SAN JOSE; Hrudey Retires After 15 Seasons". The New York Times. July 31, 1998. Archived from the original on November 21, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Hrudey retires". Tampa Bay Times. July 31, 1998. Archived from the original on November 24, 2024. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  20. ↑ Cooper, Tony (July 31, 1998). "Sharks Goaltender Hrudey Retires / Backup calls it quits after 15-year career". SFGATE. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Flames 2014-15 Sportsnet broadcast teams announced". NHL.com. August 28, 2014. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  22. ↑ McGran, Kevin (August 6, 2026). "Kelly Hrudey a free agent after Sportsnet declines to renew his contract. 'This is not a retirement'". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Kaitlin and Kelly Hrudey on enduring mental health struggles as a family". CBC.ca. May 6, 2016. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  24. ↑ Anderson, Jonathan (November 3, 2017). "Champions for change — reducing the stigma around mental health". mtroyal.ca. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  25. ↑ Korniienko, Artur (November 26, 2020). "Gretzky, Sawchuk and more: 'Uke" film documents Ukrainian NHL heritage". Kyiv Post. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
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