John Blue (ice hockey)

Last updated
John Blue
Born (1966-02-19) February 19, 1966 (age 57)
Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Right
Played for Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
University of Minnesota
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL Draft 197th overall, 1986
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 1987–1997

John Thomas Blue (born February 19, 1966) is an American former ice hockey goaltender. He played 46 games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres between 1992 and 1996. The majority of his career, which lasted from 1987 to 1995, was spent in various minor leagues. Internationally Blue was part of the American national team at the 1988 Winter Olympics, but he did not play. He also was part of the American team at three World Championships, though only played one game, in the 1990 and 1997 tournaments.

Contents

Playing career

Blue was the starting goaltender for each of his three seasons on the University of Minnesota hockey team (1984–87). He was named a WCHA First Team All-Star in 1986 [1] and won 64 games during his Gopher career, the fourth highest win total in team history. [2]

During the 1983–84 season he played in the USHL for the Des Moines Buccaneers. [3] He was drafted in the tenth round, 197th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. Blue made his NHL debut on January 7, 1993 against the Quebec Nordiques. [4] He played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres and was the first Californian goaltender in the history of the National Hockey League.

International play

He was a backup goalie for the American national team at the 1988 Winter Olympics, but did not play any games. [5] Blue was also part of the American team at the 1990 and 1992 World Championships, only played 5 games in 1990. Named to the national team once more for the 1997 World Championships, he played in one game.

Personal life

Blue was born in Huntington Beach, California, then left for Spokane, Washington at age 5. He began ice skating in Spokane, then after his family moved to San Jose, he became youth goaltender for the Santa Clara Blackhawks [6] in Northern California. [7]

Throughout his career, he called Huntington Beach his offseason home. He currently works as a pastor after having become deeply involved in religious studies during his playing days. [8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1983–84 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 15———7536305.02—————————
1984–85 University of Minnesota WCHA 3423100196411123.39.886————————
1985–86 University of MinnesotaWCHA29206015888023.02.890————————
1986–87 University of MinnesotaWCHA33219118899933.14.889————————
1987–88 United States Intl133415883303.37—————————
1987–88 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 153848476504.60.87410140609.00—
1988–89 Kalamazoo WingsIHL178609706904.27.879————————
1988–89 Virginia Lancers ECHL 10———5703804.00.896————————
1989–90 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL1951039869205.65.853————————
1989–90 Knoxville Cherokees ECHL19610110008505.15.877————————
1989–90Kalamazoo WingsIHL42112321804.65.892————————
1990–91 Maine Mariners AHL 103425452202.42.927101407010.50—
1990–91 Albany Choppers IHL19116010777103.96—————————
1990–91Kalamazoo WingsIHL110064201.88—————————
1990–91 Peoria Rivermen IHL44002401203.00.896————————
1990–91 Knoxville CherokeesECHL31101491305.23.849————————
1991–92 Maine MarinersAHL4311236216816514.57.862————————
1992–93 Boston Bruins NHL 2398413226412.90.89320196503.12.898
1992–93 Providence Bruins AHL19144111596703.47.898————————
1993–94 Boston BruinsNHL185839444702.99.885————————
1993–94 Providence BruinsAHL24711412987613.51.880————————
1994–95 Providence BruinsAHL106305773003.11.8884132191905.19.854
1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL52202551503.52.891————————
1995–96 Phoenix RoadrunnersIHL81503092104.07.866————————
1995–96 Fort Wayne Komets IHL51222491904.58.844————————
1995–96 Rochester Americans AHL144616724103.66.87810127102.24.909
1996–97 Austin Ice Bats WPHL 3317115195511313.47.906202971106.82.836
NHL totals4616187252212613.00.89020196503.12.898

International

YearTeamEventGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
1990 United States WC 52202041704.99—
1997 United StatesWC110060101.00.958
Senior totals63202641804.09—

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-WCHA Second Team 1984–85 [9]
All-WCHA First Team 1985–86 [9]

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References

  1. ↑ "John Blue". NHL Player Search: Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Goaltending Records". Gophersports.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  3. ↑ "John Blue at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com.
  4. ↑ "Quebec Nordiques at Boston Bruins Box Score — January 7, 1993 - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com.
  5. ↑ "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- John Blue". www.legendsofhockey.net.
  6. ↑ "Blackhawks Soaring to New Heights" (PDF). calirubber.com. Good Sport Media. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  7. ↑ "Orange County Register - John Blue spent life as hockey goalie, then God called (June 12, 2013)". 2013-06-12.
  8. ↑ "livinglightnews.org - livinglightnews Resources and Information". www.livinglightnews.org.
  9. 1 2 "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
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