Mike Vernon (ice hockey)

For other people of the same name, see Mike Vernon (disambiguation).

Mike Vernon
Born	February 24, 1963 (1963-02-24) Calgary, AB, CAN
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight	167 lb (76 kg; 11 st 13 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Calgary Flames Detroit Red Wings San Jose Sharks Florida Panthers
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	56th overall, 1981 Calgary Flames
Playing career	1982–2002

Michael "Mike" Vernon (born February 24, 1963) is a retired professional ice hockey player. Throughout his 19-year National Hockey League career, he played as a goaltender for the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and the Florida Panthers. He won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Flames in 1989 and then again in 1997 with the Red Wings, where he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He retired in 2002.

Playing career

Mike Vernon was drafted 56th overall at the 1981 Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames after percolating through the Calgary junior hockey system and then starring for the WHL's Calgary Wranglers. He was added to the roster of the Portland Winter Hawks in the 1983 Memorial Cup Championship Series against league champions Lethbridge (WHL), Oshawa (OHL) and Verdun (QMJHL). His performance during the series helped the Hawks become the first team from outside Canada to win the Cup, defeating Oshawa 8–3 in the final. He was awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the outstanding goaltender for the series.

Vernon made his professional debut in 1982 when Calgary sent him to the Oklahoma City Stars of the Central Hockey League, then their top farm team, in a last-ditch effort to salvage a playoff series against the Salt Lake Golden Eagles. Vernon played in game 4 of the series in Oklahoma City, and the Stars lost in what turned out to be the very last game the team played. The following year, the Stars' assets and affiliation were transferred to Denver, and the team became known as the Colorado Flames. Ironically one of the players Vernon fended off in that first game was Joe Mullen, who later became Captain of the Calgary Flames, and one of their offensive leaders.

After turning professional, he spent most of the next three seasons with the Flames's top minor league affiliates in Colorado and Moncton before getting called up for good in January 1986. Although he was initially called up to back up incumbent Réjean Lemelin, Vernon's play down the stretch earned him the starting job for the playoffs. That spring, he backstopped the Flames to an upset victory over the hated Edmonton Oilers in the second round. The Flames eventually lost in the Final to the Montreal Canadiens and fellow rookie netminder Patrick Roy.

The following year, the Flames were beaten by the Winnipeg Jets in the opening round. Another playoff disappointment was to follow in the 1987–88 season where he won 39 games to help the Flames to the President's Trophy. However, their playoff campaign was prematurely ended by the Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division Final. Success was to come in the next season, however, as he led the Flames to the President's Trophy again with 117 points and to the 1989 Stanley Cup with three shutouts in the playoffs. It was also in the first round of that successful campaign that the hometown hero had his most famous moment, stopping the Vancouver Canucks's Stan Smyl on a breakaway in overtime of the deciding game. In the Final, Vernon and the Flames avenged their 1986 loss to Roy and the Canadiens, though Roy edged out Vernon for the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender.

Although the Flames remained a strong regular season team over the next several years, they could not repeat their playoff success of 1989. After failing to win another playoff series, Vernon was traded in 1994 to the Detroit Red Wings, where he helped them to the Stanley Cup finals in 1995. However, they were swept 4–0 by the New Jersey Devils. The 1995–96 season saw him help the Red Wings to 62 wins, an NHL record, while splitting goaltending duties with Chris Osgood. They lost in the Conference Finals to Patrick Roy and the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

In 1996–97, he found himself relegated to a backup role as Osgood took over as the starting goaltender. However, he did earn his 300th NHL victory in March 1997 in a 6–5 overtime win over Colorado and his long-time nemesis, Patrick Roy. The game was punctuated by an enormous brawl, in which Vernon and Roy slugged it out against each other. Vernon was given the starting job in the playoffs, where he starred. In the Conference Final, Vernon and the Wings beat Roy and the Avalanche in six games to advance to the Final, where Detroit swept the Philadelphia Flyers. The Red Wings won their first Stanley Cup since 1955 and Vernon won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

The next season found Vernon playing for the San Jose Sharks as the Red Wings traded him, choosing to go with the young talent of Osgood (who helped Detroit repeat as Stanley Cup Champion). He helped them to the playoffs before being traded to the Florida Panthers in 1999, bringing them much-needed experience. After taking the Panthers to the playoffs, the Minnesota Wild franchise claimed him in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft, then turned around and traded him to Calgary and his second stint with the Flames. He played a further 59 games for the Flames, recording three shutouts, before announcing his retirement on September 13, 2002. Vernon has been eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame since 2005, but has yet to gain induction. He is currently the winningest eligible goalie that isn't in the Hall.

Mike Vernon's number 30 was retired by the Calgary Flames on February 6, 2007. Vernon became only the second player in franchise history to receive this honour. The ceremony was held at center ice and featured many members of the 1989 Stanley Cup winning team.

Personal life

Vernon maintains a home in Invermere, British Columbia, as well as Calgary, Alberta.

Awards

• Hap Emms Trophy, Outstanding Goaltender, Memorial Cup Championship - 1983
• William M. Jennings Trophy (shared with Chris Osgood) - 1996
• Conn Smythe Trophy - 1997
• Played in NHL All-Star Game 5 times - 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
• Stanley Cup champion - 1989, 1997
• His number 30 was retired by the Calgary Flames on February 6, 2007.

Records

Mike Vernon holds the following Calgary Flames franchise records:

• Most games played by a goaltender (526)
• Most minutes played by a goaltender (29,649)
• Most playoff games played by a goaltender (81)
• Most playoff minutes played by a goaltender (4,773)
• Most playoff wins (43)

Career statistics

				Regular season									Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
1982–83	Calgary Flames	NHL		2	0	2	0	100	11	0	6.60		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Calgary Flames	NHL		1	0	1	0	11	4	0	21.82		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Calgary Flames	NHL		18	9	3	3	921	52	1	3.39		21	12	9	1229	60	0	2.93
1986–87	Calgary Flames	NHL		54	30	21	1	2956	178	1	3.61		5	2	3	263	16	0	3.65
1987–88	Calgary Flames	NHL		64	39	16	7	3565	210	1	3.53		9	4	4	515	34	0	3.96
1988–89	Calgary Flames	NHL		52	37	6	5	2938	130	0	2.65		22	16	5	1381	52	3	2.26
1989–90	Calgary Flames	NHL		47	23	14	9	2795	146	0	3.13		6	2	3	342	19	0	3.33
1990–91	Calgary Flames	NHL		54	31	19	3	3121	172	1	3.31		7	3	4	427	21	0	2.95
1991–92	Calgary Flames	NHL		63	24	30	9	3684	217	0	3.58		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Calgary Flames	NHL		64	29	26	9	3732	203	2	3.26		4	1	1	150	15	0	6.00
1993–94	Calgary Flames	NHL		48	26	17	5	2798	131	3	2.81		7	3	4	466	23	0	2.96
1994–95	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		30	19	6	4	1807	76	1	2.52		18	12	6	1063	41	1	2.31
1995–96	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		32	21	7	2	1855	70	1	2.26		4	2	2	243	11	0	2.72
1996–97	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		33	13	11	8	1952	79	0	2.43		20	16	4	1229	36	1	1.76
1997–98	San Jose Sharks	NHL		62	30	22	8	3564	146	5	2.46		6	2	4	348	14	1	2.41
1998–99	San Jose Sharks	NHL		49	16	22	10	2831	107	4	2.27		5	2	3	321	13	0	2.43
1999–00	San Jose Sharks	NHL		15	6	5	1	772	32	0	2.49		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Florida Panthers	NHL		34	18	13	2	2019	83	1	2.47		4	0	4	237	12	0	3.04
2000–01	Calgary Flames	NHL		41	12	23	5	2246	121	3	3.23		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Calgary Flames	NHL		18	2	9	1	825	38	1	2.76		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				781	385	273	92	44449	2206	27	2.98		138	77	56	8211	367	6	2.68

External links

• Mike Vernon's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Joe Sakic	Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy 1997	Succeeded by Steve Yzerman
Preceded by Ed Belfour	Winner of the Jennings Trophy 1996 (with Chris Osgood)	Succeeded by Martin Brodeur, Mike Dunham