Michael McNiven
Michael McNiven (born July 9, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the ECHL. He has previously played with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL).
| Michael McNiven | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
July 9, 1997 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| ECHL team Former teams |
Greenville Swamp Rabbits Montreal Canadiens | ||
| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||
Early life
McNiven was born on July 9, 1997, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[1] His parents were unable to take care of him, and he was raised by his paternal grandparents, Jim and Christine McNiven.[2] Although he had limited contact with his mother, McNiven's relationship with his father improved throughout his adolescence.[3] He spent the 2012–13 minor ice hockey season as a goaltender for the Halton Hurricanes of the South-Central Triple A Hockey League, where he posted an 11–9 record and 1.48 goals against average (GAA).[4]
Playing career
Junior
McNiven joined the Georgetown Raiders of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) for the 2013–14 season; at 16 years old, he was younger than many other players in the league, who were around the age of 20. McNiven finished the season with a 21–10 record and a .915 save percentage; despite not being expected to make the OJHL playoffs, the Raiders defeated both the Milton Menace and the Buffalo Jr. Sabres before falling to the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots in the West conference finals.[2]
The Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) selected McNiven in the fourth round of the 2013 OHL Priority Selection, and he signed with the team that year.[4] On February 16, 2017, McNiven stopped all 16 shots he faced for his 10th career junior ice hockey shutout, passing Jordan Binnington for the most in Attack history.[5] That May, he was awarded both the Jim Rutherford Trophy for the best goaltender in the OHL, as well as the CHL Goaltender of the Year award.[6] He finished the season with a 41–9–4 record, 2.30 GAA, .915 save percentage, and six shutouts in 54 games.[7]
Professional
After going undrafted in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) signed McNiven to a three-year, entry-level contract on September 24, 2015.[8] He made his NHL debut on January 24, 2022, relieving Cayden Primeau in the third period of an 8–2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Primeau left the game after allowing five goals on 32 shots, while McNiven allowed an additional three on seven shots.[9] On March 2, 2022, McNiven was traded to the Calgary Flames in exchange for future considerations.[10] Before he made an appearance within the Flames organization, McNiven was again traded by the Flames to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for future considerations on March 21, 2022.[11]
As a free agent from the Senators at the conclusion of his contract, McNiven went un-signed over the summer. Approaching the 2022–23 season without an NHL or AHL offer, McNiven was signed to a contract with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL on October 10, 2022.[12]
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 2013–14 | Georgetown Raiders | OJHL | 35 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 1,891 | 82 | 5 | 2.60 | 890 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 778 | 35 | 0 | 2.70 | .908 | ||
| 2014–15 | Owen Sound Attack | OHL | 24 | 15 | 8 | 0 | 1,334 | 62 | 2 | 2.79 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Owen Sound Attack | OHL | 53 | 21 | 18 | 10 | 2,964 | 145 | 3 | 2.94 | .902 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 360 | 22 | 1 | 3.67 | .875 | ||
| 2016–17 | Owen Sound Attack | OHL | 54 | 41 | 9 | 4 | 3,184 | 122 | 6 | 2.30 | .915 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 992 | 46 | 2 | 2.78 | .908 | ||
| 2017–18 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 25 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 1,407 | 82 | 0 | 3.50 | .884 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Brampton Beast | ECHL | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 201 | 14 | 1 | 4.19 | .868 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 30 | 11 | 12 | 6 | 1,619 | 68 | 2 | 2.52 | .902 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Brampton Beast | ECHL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 1.94 | .935 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 7 | 0 | 2.33 | .919 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Adirondack Thunder | ECHL | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 240 | 7 | 2 | 1.75 | .941 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Jacksonville IceMen | ECHL | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 559 | 26 | 1 | 2.79 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Norfolk Admirals | ECHL | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 476 | 33 | 0 | 4.16 | .889 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 787 | 34 | 1 | 2.59 | .895 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Laval Rocket | AHL | 11 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 520 | 35 | 1 | 4.04 | .869 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 9.00 | .571 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Belleville Senators | AHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 6 | 0 | 3.61 | .878 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Greenville Swamp Rabbits | ECHL | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 472 | 20 | 0 | 2.54 | .913 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 9.00 | .571 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| OHL | ||
| CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game | 2014–15 | [13] |
| F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy | 2014–15 | [14] |
| First All-Rookie Team | 2014–15 | [15] |
| Dave Pinkney Trophy | 2016–17[lower-alpha 1] | [16] |
| Jim Rutherford Trophy | 2016–17 | [6] |
| CHL Goaltender of the Year | 2016–17 | [6] |
- Split with Emanuel Vella as a team award for the Owen Sound Attack.
References
- "Michael McNiven Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- Dumont, Marc (April 2, 2020). "In his goal crease, Canadiens prospect Michael McNiven found a sanctuary from pain". The Athletic. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- Godin, Joanie; Braverman, Dan (February 2, 2018). "A short look up high with plenty of meaning". National Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "Halton Hurricanes grad Michael McNiven commits to Owen Sound Attack". Ontario Hockey League. August 16, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "Attack's McNiven becomes new franchise shutouts leader". Ontario Hockey League. Owen Sound Attack. February 16, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "Michael McNiven named CHL Goaltender of the Year". National Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens. May 27, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "Owen Sound's Michael McNiven named OHL's top goaltender". Campbell River Mirror. May 3, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "Canadiens agree to terms on a three-year contract with goaltender Michael McNiven". National Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens. September 24, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- Pierce, Jessi (January 25, 2022). "Wild score eight against Canadiens, extend point streak to seven". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "Michael McNiven traded to Calgary for future considerations". NHL.com. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- "Sens make two more moves at deadline". Ottawa Senators. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- "McNiven signs with Swamp Rabbits". ECHL. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- "Attack's McNiven added to Team Cherry". Ontario Hockey League. January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "OHL 2014–15 Regular Season Awards". Ontario Hockey League. March 23, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "DeBrincat named OHL Rookie of the Year". Ontario Hockey League. April 8, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- "Attack's McNiven and Vella win Dave Pinkney Trophy". Ontario Hockey League. March 22, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or ESPN.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database, or TSN.ca