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Brad Thiessen

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Brad Thiessen
Thiessen with the Penguins in 2012.
Born (1986-03-19) March 19, 1986 (age 38)
Aldergrove, BC, CAN
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Pittsburgh Penguins
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2009–present

Brad Thiessen (born March 19, 1986) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Thiessen played three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League before playing three seasons of collegiate ice hockey at Northeastern University. In his junior season at Northeastern, Thiessen was named Hockey East Player of the Year and a conference all-star, NCAA first-team All-American, and a Hobey Baker Award "hat trick" finalist. At the end of the 2008–09 season, Thiessen signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an undrafted free agent.

Career

Thiessen with the Northeastern University Huskies in 2008.

Amateur career

Thiessen played three seasons in the junior A British Columbia Hockey League. In 2003–04 with the Penticton Panthers, Thiessen appeared in 42 games, finishing with a record of 13–17–1. The following season with the Prince George Spruce Kings, he finished 12–22–1. In his final season of junior hockey with the Prince George Spruce Kings and Merritt Centennials in 2005–06 (he was traded during the season), Thiessen achieved career best statistics with a 22–21–4 record, a 2.88 goals against average, and a .922 save percentage.[1]

After junior hockey, Thiessen played for Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts for three seasons, from 2006 to 2009.

During his freshman season in 2006–07, Thiessen was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team. That season he appeared in 33 games, earning a 11–17–5 record. The next season, he was 16–17–3.

In Thiessen's junior year during the 2008–09 season, he led the team to one of its most successful seasons, including its first trip to the NCAA tournament in over 15 years. He was the 2008–09 Hockey East Player of the Year, a Hockey East all-star, an NCAA All-American, and a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.[2] That season, Thiessen set school records for wins (25), goals against average (2.12), save percentage (.931), saves (1,195), games (41) and minutes played (2,495:44).[3] He led the NCAA in saves, was third in minutes played, and fourth in save percentage.[4] He also became Northeastern's all-time top goaltender in goals against average (2.40), save percentage (.922) and shutouts (9).[3]

Professional career

After his third year at Northeastern, rather than play his senior season, Thiessen signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins and joined the organization's American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, though appeared in no games that season.[2] After the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins season ended, Thiessen was among a number of players who participated with the Pittsburgh Penguins in practice during the Stanley Cup playoffs. Though he never dressed for a game, Thiessen was with the team when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in game seven to win the Stanley Cup.[3]

Thiessen split time during the 2009–10 season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and their ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers. In 30 regular season appearances with the Penguins, Thiessen earned a 14-14-1 record, while he was 8–3–0 with Wheeling.

During the 2010–11 season, Thiessen was named as the Eastern Conference's starting goaltender for the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic. At the time of the All-Star break, Thiessen led the AHL with 17 wins. He became the second Penguin to be named to the All-Star team after Dany Sabourin in 2006.[5] On his 25th birthday, he became the third Penguins goaltender to record 30 wins in a single season, joining Dany Sabourin (2005-06) and John Curry (2007-08).

On March 24, 2011, Thiessen was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins[6] due to an injury to backup goalie Brent Johnson, but did not play in an NHL game.

On February 24, 2012, Thiessen was recalled by the Penguins again and on February 26 he played in his first NHL game, registering his first career NHL win, 4-2 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

On March 7, 2012, Thiessen recorded his second career win in just as many starts. The Penguins overcame a 2-0 deficit to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2.

Awards

2006–07
  • Hockey East All-Rookie Team
2008–09
2010–11

AHL First All-Star Team[7]

Career statistics

   
Season Team League GP Minutes GA GAA Saves SV% W L T SO
2006-07 Northeastern University NCAA 33 1985 82 2.48 957 .921 11 17 5 4
2007-08 Northeastern University NCAA 37 2180 96 2.64 1014 .914 16 17 3 2
2008-09 Northeastern University NCAA 41 2496 88 2.12 1195 .931 25 12 4 3
2009-10 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 30 1763 72 2.45 769 .914 14 14 1 4
2009-10 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 12 674 30 2.67 340 .919 8 3 1 1
2010-11 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 46 2567 83 1.94 982 .922 35 8 1 7
NCAA totals 111 6661 266 2.40 3166 .923 52 46 12 9
AHL totals 30 1763 72 2.45 769 .914 14 14 1 4

References

  1. ^ Brad Thiessen hockey statistics & profile at hockeydb.com
  2. ^ a b "Player Bio - Brad Thiessen". Forecaster.thehockeynews.com. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  3. ^ a b c "Raising the Cup | Northeastern University News". Northeastern.edu. 2009-06-17. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  4. ^ Inside College Hockey | INCH Goaltender of the Year: Brad Thiessen
  5. ^ "Northeastern University Athletics - Thiessen named a starter for the AHL All-Star Classic". Gonu.com. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
  6. ^ Pittsburgh Penguins (2011-03-24). "Penguins Recall Goaltender Brad Thiessen". PittsburghPenguins.com.
  7. ^ 2010-11 First and Second All-Stars named

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