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, a conference all-star, an 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.
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]
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 an 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
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. He was included on the team picture, and awarded a Stanley Cup ring before playing his first pro game.[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.
Thiessen is interviewed following his first career NHL win.
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.
On July 15, 2013, Thiessen opted to leave North America and signed his first European contract with HIFK of the FinnishLiiga. After only 8 games, Thiessen opted to end his HIFK career and was mutually released on November 19, 2013. On November 28, 2013, he signed a contract with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL for the remainder of the season.[7]
On July 3, 2014, Thiessen was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames.[8] At the tail end of the season, on April 5, 2015, Thiessen was called up by the Calgary from the Adirondack Flames and served as backup without making his debut for the club.
As a free agent at the conclusion of his contract with the Flames, Thiessen went un-signed over the summer before accepting a professional try-out contract to attend the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp on September 16, 2015. On September 23, he was reassigned by the Blue Jackets to attend AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, training camp.[9] He was later signed by the Monsters to a two-way AHL/ECHL contract and was assigned to affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones.
He announced his retirement on June 3, 2021, after finishing his sixth season within the Cleveland Monsters organization.[10]
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. They play at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, just outside the city of Wilkes-Barre. They have won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy twice for having the best record in the regular season.
Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks. Deslauriers was selected by the Oilers in the second round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft with the 31st overall pick.
Thomas George Kostopoulos is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He most notably played in the National Hockey League (NHL) before playing his career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). Kostopoulos was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, and the 2017–18 season was his 19th year as a professional hockey player.
John Clifford Curry is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the Hamburg Freezers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, and with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was also part of the Penguins team when they won the Stanley Cup in 2009.
Jeff Zatkoff is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He most recently played for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Mark Letestu is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played in eleven seasons of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets.
Todd Michael Richards is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently an assistant coach for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).
John Roger Muse is a goaltending coach with the China National Hockey Team. Muse was an American ice hockey goaltender who played professionally for a number of teams, including Rødovre Mighty Bulls in the Danish Metal Ligaen, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League and the Worcester Railers of the ECHL.
Joshua Jooris is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). An undrafted player, Jooris signed with the Calgary Flames organization in 2013 after playing three seasons of college hockey for the Union College Dutchmen. He holds a Swiss player-license as he made his junior debut in Switzerland.
Tristan Raymond Jarry is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jarry was selected by the Penguins in the second round of the 2013 NHL entry draft. During the 2023–24 season, Jarry scored an empty net goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Will O'Neill is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who most recently played with EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL). O'Neill was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 7th round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Louis Boileau-Domingue is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Kevin Roy is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with Graz99ers of the ICE Hockey League (ICEHL). Roy was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 4th round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He played with the NCAA Men's Division I Northeastern Huskies in the Hockey East conference from 2012 to 2016.
Garret Sparks is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played under contract for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL). Sparks was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the seventh round, 190th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. As of 2021, he is one of only 26 goaltenders in league history, and the third most recent, to record a shutout in his NHL debut; Sparks was also the third Maple Leafs goaltender to do so. In 2018, Sparks was awarded the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award as the AHL goaltender with the lowest goals against average, which helped lead the Toronto Marlies to their first Calder Cup.
Radim Zohorna is a Czech professional ice hockey player for HC Lugano of the National League (NL).
Emil Larmi is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Växjö Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).
Carter Rowney is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently under contract with Löwen Frankfurt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Rowney has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings.
Casey DeSmith is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He holds the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins record for most saves in a playoff game. DeSmith was named to the AHL's 2016–17 All-Rookie Team and was a co-recipient of the 2017 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award.
Joel Blomqvist is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract as a prospect to for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Penguins with the 52nd overall pick.
Jonathan Gruden is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL).
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
