Michael McNiven

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael McNiven
Born (1997-07-09) July 9, 1997 (age 26)
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 199 lb (90 kg; 14 st 3 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
Ligue Magnus team
Former teams
Rapaces de Gap
Montreal Canadiens
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2018–present

Michael McNiven (born July 9, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Rapaces de Gap of the Ligue Magnus. He has previously played with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

Junior[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[a] [16]
Jim Rutherford Trophy 2016–17 [6]
CHL Goaltender of the Year 2016–17 [6]
  1. ^ Split with Emanuel Vella as a team award for the Owen Sound Attack.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Michael McNiven Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Dumont, Marc (April 2, 2020). "In his goal crease, Canadiens prospect Michael McNiven found a sanctuary from pain". The Athletic. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "Halton Hurricanes grad Michael McNiven commits to Owen Sound Attack". Ontario Hockey League. August 16, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  5. ^ "Attack's McNiven becomes new franchise shutouts leader". Ontario Hockey League. Owen Sound Attack. February 16, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Michael McNiven named CHL Goaltender of the Year". National Hockey League. Montreal Canadiens. May 27, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  7. ^ "Owen Sound's Michael McNiven named OHL's top goaltender". Campbell River Mirror. May 3, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ Pierce, Jessi (January 25, 2022). "Wild score eight against Canadiens, extend point streak to seven". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "Michael McNiven traded to Calgary for future considerations". NHL.com. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Sens make two more moves at deadline". Ottawa Senators. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  12. ^ "McNiven signs with Swamp Rabbits". ECHL. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  13. ^ "Attack's McNiven added to Team Cherry". Ontario Hockey League. January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  14. ^ "OHL 2014–15 Regular Season Awards". Ontario Hockey League. March 23, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  15. ^ "DeBrincat named OHL Rookie of the Year". Ontario Hockey League. April 8, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  16. ^ "Attack's McNiven and Vella win Dave Pinkney Trophy". Ontario Hockey League. March 22, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2022.

External links[edit]