Keith Aucoin

Keith Aucoin
Aucoin with the Islanders during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Born	(1978-11-06) November 6, 1978 (age 45) Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight	171 lb (78 kg; 12 st 3 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Right
Played for	Carolina Hurricanes Washington Capitals New York Islanders St. Louis Blues HC Ambrì-Piotta EHC München
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2001–2018

Keith M. Aucoin (born November 6, 1978) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, and St. Louis Blues.

Playing career

He was raised in Waltham and then Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and attended Chelmsford High School.^{[ citation needed ]} Aucoin spent four seasons with Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, where he was the leading scorer in the 1999 NCAA Division III men's ice hockey tournament, ^[1] before turning professional in 2001. Aucoin made his NHL debut during the 2005–06 NHL season with the Carolina Hurricanes. It was at the end of this season that he was a member of the "Black Aces," a group of players kept on the roster as healthy scratches for the Hurricanes' playoff run that ended with the Hurricanes being crowned Stanley Cup champions. Aucoin did not have his name added to the cup as he did not play in any of the playoff games, but can be seen on the ice during the celebration and did receive a championship ring. He would go on to play 53 regular season games for the Hurricanes over three seasons, scoring 5 goals and 15 points.

Aucoin in action with the Chicago Wolves in 2014.

On July 3, 2008, Aucoin signed with the Washington Capitals. After attending the Capitals training camp for the 2008–09 season, the Capitals sent Aucoin to their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. Aucoin's presence with Hershey had an immediate impact as he won the Reebok Player of the Week honors on October 12, 2008, and then the AHL Player of the Month for October 2008. In his first 20 games of 2008, he scored 8 goals with 21 assists. In December 2008, Aucoin was called up to the NHL with the Capitals, playing in 12 games, scoring two goals and assisting on four. He was reassigned back to the Bears for the playoffs where he won the Calder Cup in six games over the Manitoba Moose.

During the 2009–10 season, Aucoin was re-signed to a two-year contract extension on March 8, 2010. In helping the Bears capture a second consecutive Calder Cup, he was awarded the Les Cunningham Award as the league's most valuable player during the regular season. ^[2]

For the 2011–12 season, Aucoin made the Capitals opening night roster due to injuries of other forwards. ^[3] He played in 27 games for 11 points over the course of the season and was a regular in the playoffs. It was the most time he spent in the NHL since 2008.

On July 21, 2012, Keith signed a one-year two-way deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. ^[4] With the intention to bolster the offense of Maple Leafs affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, Aucoin was directly assigned to the AHL to start the 2012–13 season. After the resolution of the NHL lockout, Aucoin was recalled to the Maple Leafs training camp. On reassignment to the Marlies, he was claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders on January 17, 2013. ^[5] Despite the shortened season, Aucoin played his first full season in the NHL. In 41 games, he produced 6 goals and 12 points in a checking line role and helped the Islanders return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

On July 5, 2013, Keith signed as a free agent to a one-year deal with the St. Louis Blues organization. ^[6] Aucoin's contract with the Blues was not renewed at the end of the season.

Keith Aucoin with Ambrì in 2014

On June 13, 2014, after failing to secure a tryout with any other NHL team, Aucoin signed a two-year deal with Swiss club, HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League A. ^[7] Aucoin enjoyed a successful debut season in Europe with Piotta, contributing with 31 points in 41 regular season games. Unable to progress to the playoffs, Aucoin left Switzerland after one season, to sign a one-year contract in Germany with EHC München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) on June 19, 2015. He remained with EHC München for his final three seasons before officially retiring in 2018. ^[8]

Having played the majority of his career in the AHL, Aucoin finishing seventh all-time in league scoring was later inducted as a part of the 2022 Class to the AHL Hall of Fame. ^[9]

Post playing career

Aucoin returned to Massachusetts following his 17 year professional career, spending four seasons (2018–2022) within the coaching ranks of the EHL with the Boston Jr. Rangers and Worcester Jr. Railers.

Prior to the 2022–23 season, Aucoin accepted a professional scouting position with the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. ^[10]

Personal

Keith's younger brother, Phil Aucoin (born 1981), also played professional ice hockey. ^[11]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Chelmsford High School	HS–MA
1996–97	Chelmsford High School	HS–MA
1997–98	Norwich University	ECAC East		26	19	14	33	16		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Norwich University	ECAC East		31	33	39	72	14		—	3	7	10	—
1999–2000	Norwich University	ECAC East		31	36	41	77	14		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Norwich University	ECAC East		28	26	30	56	26		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	B.C. Icemen	UHL		44	23	35	58	42		10	3	5	8	4
2001–02	Florida Everblades	ECHL		1	0	2	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		30	6	10	16	8		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Providence Bruins	AHL		78	25	49	74	71		4	0	1	1	6
2003–04	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL		80	18	30	48	64		9	0	3	3	4
2004–05	Memphis RiverKings	CHL		5	4	5	9	10		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Providence Bruins	AHL		72	21	45	66	49		17	4	14	18	18
2005–06	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		72	29	56	85	68		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		6	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Albany River Rats	AHL		65	27	72	99	108		5	1	3	4	7
2006–07	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		8	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Albany River Rats	AHL		38	8	37	45	38		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		38	5	8	13	10		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Hershey Bears	AHL		70	25	71	96	73		21	5	18	23	16
2008–09	Washington Capitals	NHL		12	2	4	6	4		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Hershey Bears	AHL		72	35	71	106	49		21	2	23	25	2
2009–10	Washington Capitals	NHL		9	1	4	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Hershey Bears	AHL		53	18	54	72	49		6	2	6	8	2
2010–11	Washington Capitals	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Washington Capitals	NHL		27	3	8	11	0		14	0	2	2	2
2011–12	Hershey Bears	AHL		43	11	59	70	34		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Toronto Marlies	AHL		34	10	27	37	40		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	New York Islanders	NHL		41	6	6	12	4		6	0	3	3	10
2013–14	Chicago Wolves	AHL		62	11	32	43	24		9	2	4	6	2
2013–14	St. Louis Blues	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	HC Ambrì–Piotta	NLA		41	7	24	31	18		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	EHC München	DEL		51	13	28	41	34		14	2	12	14	2
2016–17	EHC München	DEL		52	15	34	49	52		14	4	8	12	10
2017–18	EHC München	DEL		52	11	52	63	18		17	4	11	15	2
AHL totals				769	244	613	857	675		92	16	72	87	57
NHL totals				145	17	32	49	22		20	0	5	5	12
DEL totals				155	39	115	154	104		45	10	31	41	14

Awards and honors

Award	Year
College
ECAC East First All-Conference Team	2000, 2001
ECAC East Player of the Year	2000, 2001
NCAA Division III Champion	2000
AHL
All-Star Game	2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012
Second All-Star Team	2006, 2007, 2011	[12]
First All-Star Team	2009, 2010, 2012	[13]
Calder Cup Champion	2009, 2010
John B. Sollenberger Trophy	2010	[14]
Les Cunningham Award	2010
DEL
Champion	2016, 2017, 2018
Forward of the Year	2018
Player of the Year	2018

References

1. "Division III Men's Ice Hockey Record Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved Mar 23, 2023.
2. "Keith Aucoin named AHL's Most Valuable Player". Hershey Bears. 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2010-04-09.
3. "2011-12 NHL Opening Rosters". National Hockey League. 2011-10-06. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
4. Carrera, Katie (2012-07-21). "Keith Aucoin signs with Toronto Maple Leafs". Washington Post . Retrieved 2012-07-21.
5. "Islanders claim Aucoin off waivers". New York Islanders. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
6. "Blues sign Aucoin, Lapierre". National Hockey League. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-05.
7. "Keith Aucoin new center for Ambri" (in Italian). HC Ambrì-Piotta. 2014-06-13. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-06-13.
8. "AUCOIN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM PRO HOCKEY". theAHL.com. April 30, 2018.
9. "Long road leads Aucoin to AHL Hall of Fame". American Hockey League. February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
10. "Chelmsfords Keith Aucoin back in pro hockey as scout for Colorado Avalanche". telegram.com. October 29, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
11. "Phil Aucoin profile". eliteprospects.com. 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2012-05-06.
12. "2010-11 First and Second All-Stars named". AHL. 2011-03-28. Archived from the original on 2012-09-21. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
13. "First and Second All-Stars named". American Hockey League. 2012-04-05. Archived from the original on 2012-04-08. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
14. "Aucoin, Giroux win AHL scoring races". American Hockey League. April 11, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2012.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database , or  TSN.ca