Alex Auld
Encyclopedia
Alexander Auld is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
goaltender
currently playing for the Ottawa Senators
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). Auld has also played for the New York Rangers
, Vancouver Canucks
, Florida Panthers
, Phoenix Coyotes
, Boston Bruins
, Montreal Canadiens
and Dallas Stars
of the NHL. He has appeared internationally for Team Canada on three occasions – the 2001 World Junior Championships
, the 2004 Spengler Cup
, and the 2006 World Championships
.
and Jason Jaspers
and their Kings team was runner-up in the All Ontario Bantam AAA championships in 1997 played in Richmond Hill, Ontario
.
of the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL) at the tail end of the 1997–98 season, appearing in six games without registering a win. After appearing in 38 games the following season, Auld was selected in the second round, 40th overall, of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
, by the Florida Panthers
. Auld would finish out his junior career with the Centennials, spending two more seasons as their starting netminder. In his final season, Auld was named to Team Canada
for the 2001 World Juniors
, where he backed up Maxime Ouellet
. Later that same season, Auld was traded to the Vancouver Canucks
for a third round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
and a compensatory pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
.
(AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose
. An ankle sprain sidelined Auld during training camp, however, and upon his return he was assigned to the Columbia Inferno
of the East Coast Hockey League. Solid play in six games at that level returned Auld to the AHL, where he showed steady improvement, despite competition for playing time from veterans Alfie Michaud
and Wade Flaherty
. Following injuries to Canucks goaltenders Dan Cloutier
and Peter Skudra, Auld got a start at the NHL level, a 4–2 victory over the Dallas Stars
on January 23, 2002, after which he returned to the AHL.
The 2002–03 season afforded Auld more opportunity for growth, although he again split playing time at the AHL level, this time with Tyler Moss
. With Cloutier and Skudra entrenched at the NHL level, Auld still managed to appear in seven games as an injury-replacement, and even played one playoff game in relief. Most importantly, he received extensive playing time, and improved his statistics considerably.
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During the off-season, backup Pēteris Skudra
signed with a Russian team, raising the possibility that Auld might claim the backup role for the Canucks. As the 2003–04 season approached, however, Canucks GM Brian Burke traded a draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins
for Johan Hedberg
, all but ensuring Auld another season in the minors. Again, Auld began the season sharing netminding duties with Tyler Moss. Auld again saw brief NHL action, appearing in six games. However, during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
, Dan Cloutier was injured early on in the Canucks' first round series with the Calgary Flames
. Hedberg, who had been shaky as a backup, failed to impress coach Marc Crawford
in two appearances, and Auld claimed the starting role in Game 5, pushing Calgary the distance in the series, eventually losing in the seventh game.
Auld spent the 2004–05 NHL lockout back with the Manitoba Moose
, this time pairing with veteran netminder Wade Flaherty
. Despite holding on to the starting role for much of the season, Auld disappointed in the playoffs, and Flaherty took over as starter, helping the team reach the third round of the Calder Cup
playoffs. He also appeared for Canada at the Spengler Cup
in December 2004, carrying the team to a third place finish.
Auld returned to the NHL when play resumed for the 2005–06 season, initially as the backup to Dan Cloutier. However, on November 20, 2005, Cloutier injured an ACL
in a collision with Mighty Ducks of Anaheim forward Rob Niedermayer
. The hope initially was that the injury would heal during the season, but on December 15, Cloutier opted for surgery, leaving Auld as Vancouver's starting goaltender. He would not play in another game for the Moose, leaving the AHL team as its franchise leader in wins and shutouts.
As the Canucks' starter, Auld was re-united with former World Junior teammate Maxime Ouellet
, who was one of three goaltenders the Canucks used to back him up (Mika Noronen
and Rob McVicar
were the others). Filling in admirably, Auld went on to capture the Cyclone Taylor
trophy as team MVP, although the Canucks would miss the playoffs. Auld then joined Team Canada again, this time at the 2006 World Championships
, where Canada finished a disappointing 4th, losing the bronze medal game to Finland.
In June 2006, Auld was involved in a multi-player trade that sent him, Todd Bertuzzi
, and Bryan Allen
to Florida for Roberto Luongo
and Lukáš Krajíček
, and a sixth round draft pick. Initially, Auld was expected to be the undisputed starter in Florida. However, the July 25 signing of Ed Belfour
introduced some competition, and Belfour eventually won the job as starting goalie. Controversially, in October, Auld was hospitalized while "horsing around" with Belfour, with suspicions that Belfour had assaulted him.
After an unsuccessful season with Florida, Auld signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes
on August 13, 2007. However, on a team with already with a wealth of goaltenders — Auld would compete for a job with David Aebischer
and Mikael Tellqvist
at the beginning of the season — Phoenix would pick up Ilya Bryzgalov
off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks
, leaving Auld as one of the odd goalies out. After nine appearances with Phoenix, on December 6, 2007, Auld was traded to the Boston Bruins
for right winger Nate DiCasmirro
and the Bruins' 5th round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
.
Playing backup to Tim Thomas
for the majority of 2007–08, Auld would post the best statistics of his career (excluding his first few seasons with the Canucks, in which he appeared in no more than seven games in a season) with a personal-best 3 shutouts.
On July 1, 2008, Auld signed a two-year, $2 million deal with the Ottawa Senators
as an unrestricted free agent. He came within one second of recording a shutout in his Senators debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins
in Stockholm, Sweden
, surrendering a powerplay goal in the final moments of the game. Though Senators' management expected him to serve primarily as a backup to Martin Gerber
, Auld's strong play combined with Gerber's struggles resulted in Auld assuming the starting position early in the season. As the season progressed, Gerber was placed on waivers and ultimately was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs
, while rookie Brian Elliott
would split the goaltending duties with Auld in Ottawa. He was expected to challenge for the starting position in 2009–10
with Pascal Leclaire
, acquired by Ottawa from the Columbus Blue Jackets
late at the 2008–09 trade deadline, but was traded in the off-season on July 8, 2009, to the Dallas Stars
in exchange for a 6th round draft pick in 2010
.
On February 27, 2010 Auld was claimed off of re-entry waivers by the New York Rangers
of the NHL. On July 1, 2010, Auld signed a one-year $1 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
On July 1, 2011, Auld re-joined the Ottawa Senators, signing a one-year, $1 million contract.
when his father was stationed out of CFB Cold Lake
; however, he spent the majority of his adolescence in Thunder Bay
, Ontario
.
Auld's wife is celebrity handbag and jewellery designer Melanie Auld. The couple's first child, a son, Sam Alexander Auld, was born on January 5, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. Melanie gave birth to the couple's second child, a daughter, Ella Grace Auld was born on July 26, 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
. The couple owns a home in the Thunder Bay area.
in:
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing for the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). Auld has also played for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
, Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
, Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
of the NHL. He has appeared internationally for Team Canada on three occasions – the 2001 World Junior Championships
2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Group B:All times local .-Relegation round: was relegated to Division I for the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.-Final round:† Overtime victory.-Quarterfinals:January 2-Consolation round:...
, the 2004 Spengler Cup
Spengler Cup
The Spengler Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held in Davos, Switzerland. First held in 1923, the Spengler Cup is often cited as the oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in the world. The event is hosted by the Swiss team HC Davos and played each year in Davos, Switzerland, between...
, and the 2006 World Championships
2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition...
.
Minor Hockey
Auld played most of his minor hockey in his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario with the Thunder Bay Kings program. He was a minor hockey teammate of future NHLers Taylor PyattTaylor Pyatt
Taylor William Pyatt is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League , he played major-junior with the Sudbury Wolves...
and Jason Jaspers
Jason Jaspers
Jason Jaspers is a professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing for Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.-Playin career:...
and their Kings team was runner-up in the All Ontario Bantam AAA championships in 1997 played in Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
.
Junior career
Auld started his junior career with the North Bay CentennialsNorth Bay Centennials
The North Bay Centennials were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, who played from 1982–2002. The team was based in North Bay, Ontario.-History:...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL) at the tail end of the 1997–98 season, appearing in six games without registering a win. After appearing in 38 games the following season, Auld was selected in the second round, 40th overall, of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...
, by the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
. Auld would finish out his junior career with the Centennials, spending two more seasons as their starting netminder. In his final season, Auld was named to Team Canada
Canada national junior hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January...
for the 2001 World Juniors
2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Group B:All times local .-Relegation round: was relegated to Division I for the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.-Final round:† Overtime victory.-Quarterfinals:January 2-Consolation round:...
, where he backed up Maxime Ouellet
Maxime Ouellet
Maxime Ouellet is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Ouellet was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, 22nd overall at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He later was traded with a first, second, and third round draft choice in 2002 NHL Entry Draft to the...
. Later that same season, Auld was traded to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
for a third round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002 NHL Entry Draft
The 2002 NHL Entry Draft was held June 22–23 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. 291 players were drafted in total: 35 from the OHL; 23 from the QMJHL; 43 from the WHL; 41 from the NCAA; 6 from U.S high schools and 110 from outside North America....
and a compensatory pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
.
Professional career
Auld turned professional in the 2001–02 season, joining the Canucks' American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
. An ankle sprain sidelined Auld during training camp, however, and upon his return he was assigned to the Columbia Inferno
Columbia Inferno
The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the...
of the East Coast Hockey League. Solid play in six games at that level returned Auld to the AHL, where he showed steady improvement, despite competition for playing time from veterans Alfie Michaud
Alfie Michaud
Alfie Michaud is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played briefly in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks...
and Wade Flaherty
Wade Flaherty
Wade Flaherty is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who has played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and the Nashville Predators, as well as several teams in the American Hockey League and East Coast...
. Following injuries to Canucks goaltenders Dan Cloutier
Dan Cloutier
Dan Cloutier is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender. In his 10-year National Hockey League career, Cloutier played with the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings, spending the majority of his career in Vancouver...
and Peter Skudra, Auld got a start at the NHL level, a 4–2 victory over the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
on January 23, 2002, after which he returned to the AHL.
The 2002–03 season afforded Auld more opportunity for growth, although he again split playing time at the AHL level, this time with Tyler Moss
Tyler Moss
Tyler Moss is a professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing for the Hannover Scorpions in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga...
. With Cloutier and Skudra entrenched at the NHL level, Auld still managed to appear in seven games as an injury-replacement, and even played one playoff game in relief. Most importantly, he received extensive playing time, and improved his statistics considerably.
Peteris Skudra
Pēteris "Peter" Skudra is a retired Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League for six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Vancouver Canucks....
signed with a Russian team, raising the possibility that Auld might claim the backup role for the Canucks. As the 2003–04 season approached, however, Canucks GM Brian Burke traded a draft pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
for Johan Hedberg
Johan Hedberg
Johan "Moose" Hedberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, all but ensuring Auld another season in the minors. Again, Auld began the season sharing netminding duties with Tyler Moss. Auld again saw brief NHL action, appearing in six games. However, during the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League began on April 7, 2004, following the 2003–04 regular season. The playoffs ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning securing the Stanley Cup with a seven-game series win over the Calgary Flames on June 7. It was Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup...
, Dan Cloutier was injured early on in the Canucks' first round series with the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. Hedberg, who had been shaky as a backup, failed to impress coach Marc Crawford
Marc Crawford
Marc Joseph John Crawford is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach, most recently employed by the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. He was previously the head coach of three other organizations and won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche...
in two appearances, and Auld claimed the starting role in Game 5, pushing Calgary the distance in the series, eventually losing in the seventh game.
Auld spent the 2004–05 NHL lockout back with the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
, this time pairing with veteran netminder Wade Flaherty
Wade Flaherty
Wade Flaherty is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who has played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and the Nashville Predators, as well as several teams in the American Hockey League and East Coast...
. Despite holding on to the starting role for much of the season, Auld disappointed in the playoffs, and Flaherty took over as starter, helping the team reach the third round of the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
playoffs. He also appeared for Canada at the Spengler Cup
Spengler Cup
The Spengler Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held in Davos, Switzerland. First held in 1923, the Spengler Cup is often cited as the oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in the world. The event is hosted by the Swiss team HC Davos and played each year in Davos, Switzerland, between...
in December 2004, carrying the team to a third place finish.
Auld returned to the NHL when play resumed for the 2005–06 season, initially as the backup to Dan Cloutier. However, on November 20, 2005, Cloutier injured an ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in a collision with Mighty Ducks of Anaheim forward Rob Niedermayer
Rob Niedermayer
Robert W. Niedermayer, Jr. is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for HC Lugano of the National League A in Switzerland. He also played for the Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres...
. The hope initially was that the injury would heal during the season, but on December 15, Cloutier opted for surgery, leaving Auld as Vancouver's starting goaltender. He would not play in another game for the Moose, leaving the AHL team as its franchise leader in wins and shutouts.
As the Canucks' starter, Auld was re-united with former World Junior teammate Maxime Ouellet
Maxime Ouellet
Maxime Ouellet is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Ouellet was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, 22nd overall at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He later was traded with a first, second, and third round draft choice in 2002 NHL Entry Draft to the...
, who was one of three goaltenders the Canucks used to back him up (Mika Noronen
Mika Noronen
Mika Noronen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Lukko of SM-liiga.- Career :...
and Rob McVicar
Rob McVicar
Robert McVicar is a professional ice hockey goalie with one game of NHL experience...
were the others). Filling in admirably, Auld went on to capture the Cyclone Taylor
Cyclone Taylor
Frederick Wellington "Cyclone" Taylor, OBE, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and civil servant. Taylor was one of the earliest professional players. He played professionally for the Portage Lakes Hockey Club, the Ottawa Hockey Club and the Vancouver Millionaires from 1905 to 1923...
trophy as team MVP, although the Canucks would miss the playoffs. Auld then joined Team Canada again, this time at the 2006 World Championships
2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition...
, where Canada finished a disappointing 4th, losing the bronze medal game to Finland.
In June 2006, Auld was involved in a multi-player trade that sent him, Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi
Todd Bertuzzi is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
, and Bryan Allen
Bryan Allen (hockey player)
Bryan Allen is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
to Florida for Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo
Roberto Luongo is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is of Italian and Irish ancestry. He employs the butterfly style of goaltending...
and Lukáš Krajíček
Lukáš Krajícek
Lukáš Krajíček is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for HC Dinamo Minsk of the KHL. He previously played in the National Hockey League for the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers and in the Czech Extraliga for the HC Oceláři...
, and a sixth round draft pick. Initially, Auld was expected to be the undisputed starter in Florida. However, the July 25 signing of Ed Belfour
Ed Belfour
Edward John Belfour is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of North Dakota where he helped the school win the NCAA championship in the...
introduced some competition, and Belfour eventually won the job as starting goalie. Controversially, in October, Auld was hospitalized while "horsing around" with Belfour, with suspicions that Belfour had assaulted him.
After an unsuccessful season with Florida, Auld signed a one-year contract with the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
on August 13, 2007. However, on a team with already with a wealth of goaltenders — Auld would compete for a job with David Aebischer
David Aebischer
David Aebischer , is a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League . Before returning to North America in 2011 Aebischer had spent four seasons with HC Lugano of the Nationalliga A in Switzerland. He has also played for the...
and Mikael Tellqvist
Mikael Tellqvist
Mikael Tellqvist is a professional Swedish ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Modo Hockey in Elitserien.-Playing career:...
at the beginning of the season — Phoenix would pick up Ilya Bryzgalov
Ilya Bryzgalov
Ilya Nikolayevich Bryzgalov is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League after being acquired by the team on June 7, 2011. He was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.In...
off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, leaving Auld as one of the odd goalies out. After nine appearances with Phoenix, on December 6, 2007, Auld was traded to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
for right winger Nate DiCasmirro
Nate DiCasmirro
Nate DiCasmirro is an ice hockey right winger who was born in Atikokan, Ontario but grew up in Burnsville, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. He currently plays for Brunico SG in Italy.- Playing career :...
and the Bruins' 5th round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
2009 NHL Entry Draft
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft was the 47th Entry Draft. It was held on June 26–27, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The Draft was part of the Montreal Canadiens centennial celebrations. National Hockey League teams took turns selecting amateur ice hockey players from junior, collegiate, or...
.
Playing backup to Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas (ice hockey)
Timothy James Thomas, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . Raised in Davison, MI, Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the...
for the majority of 2007–08, Auld would post the best statistics of his career (excluding his first few seasons with the Canucks, in which he appeared in no more than seven games in a season) with a personal-best 3 shutouts.
On July 1, 2008, Auld signed a two-year, $2 million deal with the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as an unrestricted free agent. He came within one second of recording a shutout in his Senators debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, surrendering a powerplay goal in the final moments of the game. Though Senators' management expected him to serve primarily as a backup to Martin Gerber
Martin Gerber
Martin Gerber is a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Växjö Lakers Hockey of the Elitserien...
, Auld's strong play combined with Gerber's struggles resulted in Auld assuming the starting position early in the season. As the season progressed, Gerber was placed on waivers and ultimately was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, while rookie Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the ninth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, 291st overall...
would split the goaltending duties with Auld in Ottawa. He was expected to challenge for the starting position in 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
with Pascal Leclaire
Pascal Leclaire
Pascal Leclaire is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Leclaire is currently an unrestricted free agent. Leclaire played three years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and was selected eighth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft...
, acquired by Ottawa from the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
late at the 2008–09 trade deadline, but was traded in the off-season on July 8, 2009, to the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
in exchange for a 6th round draft pick in 2010
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
.
On February 27, 2010 Auld was claimed off of re-entry waivers by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of the NHL. On July 1, 2010, Auld signed a one-year $1 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens.
On July 1, 2011, Auld re-joined the Ottawa Senators, signing a one-year, $1 million contract.
Personal life
Auld was born in Cold Lake, AlbertaCold Lake, Alberta
Cold Lake is a city in northeastern Alberta, Canada, named after the lake it is situated near.-Geography:The city is situated in Alberta's "Lakeland" district, 300 km northeast of Edmonton, near the Alberta-Saskatchewan provincial border. The area surrounding the city is sparsely populated,...
when his father was stationed out of CFB Cold Lake
CFB Cold Lake
Canadian Forces Base Cold Lake , commonly referred to as CFB Cold Lake, is a Canadian Forces Base located within the City of Cold Lake, Alberta. It is operated as an air force base by the Royal Canadian Air Force and is one of two bases in the country using the CF-18 Hornet fighter/interceptor...
; however, he spent the majority of his adolescence in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Auld's wife is celebrity handbag and jewellery designer Melanie Auld. The couple's first child, a son, Sam Alexander Auld, was born on January 5, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. Melanie gave birth to the couple's second child, a daughter, Ella Grace Auld was born on July 26, 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
. The couple owns a home in the Thunder Bay area.
Awards
- OHLOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Second All-Rookie Team - 19991998–99 OHL seasonThe 1998–99 OHL season was the 19th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Belleville Bulls won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights.... - OHL Third All-Star Team - 2001
- Cyclone Taylor TrophyCyclone Taylor TrophyThe Cyclone Taylor Award is the award given each year to the most valuable player on the Vancouver Canucks . It is named after Cyclone Taylor, a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who led the Vancouver Millionaires to the Stanley Cup in 1915...
(Vancouver CanucksVancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
MVP) - 2006 - Molson Cup (Vancouver Canucks three-star selection leader) - 2006
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OT | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1997–98 | Sturgeon Falls Lynx North Bay Skyhawks The North Bay Trappers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from North Bay, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. As the Powassan Hawks, this team won two Dudley Hewitt Cups .-History:... |
NOJHL Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under the supervision of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Hockey Association, and Hockey Canada. The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup with the winners of the Ontario... |
11 | 4 | 6 | 0 | — | 611 | 46 | 0 | 4.52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 1997–98 OHL season The 1997–98 OHL season was the 18th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Eighteen teams each played 66 games. The Guelph Storm won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's. The Toronto St. Michael's Majors name is re-activated when they are awarded a franchise, they would play in the... |
North Bay Centennials North Bay Centennials The North Bay Centennials were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, who played from 1982–2002. The team was based in North Bay, Ontario.-History:... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 206 | 17 | 0 | 4.95 | .872 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 1998–99 OHL season The 1998–99 OHL season was the 19th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Belleville Bulls won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights.... |
North Bay Centennials | OHL | 37 | 9 | 20 | 1 | — | 1894 | 106 | 1 | 3.36 | .899 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 170 | 10 | 0 | 3.53 | — | ||
| 1999–2000 1999–2000 OHL season The 1999–2000 OHL season was the 20th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The Barrie Colts won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Plymouth Whalers.-Eastern Conference:-Western Conference:-Scoring leaders:... |
North Bay Centennials | OHL | 55 | 21 | 26 | 6 | — | 3047 | 167 | 2 | 3.29 | .891 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 374 | 12 | 0 | 1.93 | .950 | ||
| 2000–01 | North Bay Centennials | OHL | 40 | 22 | 11 | 5 | — | 2319 | 98 | 1 | 2.54 | .917 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 240 | 15 | 0 | 3.75 | .883 | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 ECHL season The 2001-02 ECHL season was the 14th season of the East Coast Hockey League. Before the start of the season, the league saw one expansion franchise and five relocations, three of which were through the buying of the franchise rights of former clubs that had ceased operations... |
Columbia Inferno Columbia Inferno The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the... |
ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | — | 375 | 12 | 0 | 1.92 | .927 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Manitoba Moose Manitoba Moose The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
21 | 11 | 9 | 0 | — | 1104 | 65 | 1 | 3.53 | .881 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| 2001–02 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Manitoba Moose | AHL | 37 | 15 | 19 | 3 | — | 2209 | 97 | 3 | 2.64 | .908 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 382 | 10 | 1 | 1.57 | .939 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 | .800 | ||
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
Manitoba Moose | AHL | 40 | 18 | 16 | 4 | — | 2329 | 99 | 4 | 2.55 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 348 | 12 | 0 | 2.07 | .929 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 222 | 9 | 0 | 2.43 | .898 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Manitoba Moose | AHL | 50 | 25 | 18 | 4 | — | 2763 | 118 | 2 | 2.56 | .909 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 128 | 7 | 0 | 3.29 | .860 | ||
| 2005–06 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 67 | 33 | 26 | — | 6 | 3859 | 189 | 0 | 2.94 | .902 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Florida Panthers Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the... |
NHL | 27 | 7 | 13 | — | 5 | 1470 | 82 | 1 | 3.34 | .888 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Coyotes The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena.... |
NHL | 9 | 3 | 6 | — | 0 | 508 | 30 | 1 | 3.54 | .880 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 2007–08 AHL season The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:... |
San Antonio Rampage San Antonio Rampage The San Antonio Rampage are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. They are the top affiliate of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. Their home arena is the AT&T Center.-History:... |
AHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 119 | 5 | 1 | 2.53 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
NHL | 23 | 9 | 7 | — | 5 | 1213 | 47 | 2 | 2.32 | .919 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 43 | 16 | 18 | — | 7 | 2449 | 101 | 1 | 2.47 | .911 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Dallas Stars Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The... |
NHL | 21 | 9 | 6 | — | 0 | 1181 | 59 | 0 | 3.00 | .894 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL | 3 | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | 119 | 5 | 0 | 2.53 | .904 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
NHL | 16 | 6 | 2 | — | 2 | 749 | 33 | 0 | 2.64 | .914 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 223 | 89 | 84 | 2 | 28 | 12,340 | 570 | 6 | 2.77 | .905 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 242 | 10 | 0 | 2.48 | .892 | ||||
International play
Played for Team CanadaCanadian national men's hockey team
The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...
in:
- 2001 World Junior Championships2001 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships-Group B:All times local .-Relegation round: was relegated to Division I for the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.-Final round:† Overtime victory.-Quarterfinals:January 2-Consolation round:...
(bronze medal) - 2004 Spengler CupSpengler CupThe Spengler Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament held in Davos, Switzerland. First held in 1923, the Spengler Cup is often cited as the oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in the world. The event is hosted by the Swiss team HC Davos and played each year in Davos, Switzerland, between...
(3rd place) - 2006 World Championships2006 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition...
(4th place)