Jay McKee
Encyclopedia
Jay McKee is an ice hockey
defenceman
who is currently serving as an assistant coach for the Rochester Americans
. He last played for the Pittsburgh Penguins
of the National Hockey League
, and was previously with the Buffalo Sabres
and the St. Louis Blues
. Throughout his career he has been noted among the NHL's best shot-blockers.
by the Buffalo Sabres
. McKee played his junior hockey with the Niagara Falls Thunder
, where he was an OHL
second team all-star in 1996.
McKee parlayed his solid junior career into a steady pro career, becoming one of the Sabres top defenceman in his 9 years with the club. McKee played in 582 regular season games with the Sabres, amassing 98 points and 470 penalty minutes. During the 2005–06 NHL season with the Buffalo Sabres
he served as an alternate captain under co-captains Danny Briere and Chris Drury
.
McKee was part of the Sabres' Eastern Conference
Championship run in 1999 (before losing to the Dallas Stars
in the Stanley Cup Finals
). McKee was injured during the Sabres's two subsequent playoff runs. In 2001, he missed the team's final five games of the playoffs after a vicious collision with the Pittsburgh Penguins
's Mario Lemieux
during game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and in 2006 McKee missed the deciding seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes
when he was sidelined with a severe infection in his leg, reportedly caused by a cut or bruise that McKee sustained blocking a shot in an earlier round of the playoffs. All totaled, McKee appeared in 51 playoff games with the Sabres, recording 9 points and 60 penalty minutes.
On July 1, 2006, McKee signed with the St. Louis Blues for a four-year, $16 million contract. His first season with the Blues, in 2006–07, was cut short due to various injuries including a knee injury, a broken finger, and two lower body injuries. On June 30, 2009, at the conclusion of the 2008–09
season, McKee became a free agent after he was bought out from the final year of his contract by the Blues.
On July 9, 2009, McKee signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After going unsigned through the 2010 off-season, it was announced on October 14, 2010 that McKee would serve as a volunteer assistant coach for Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey
, while not ruling out a return to the NHL.
On August 31,2011, McKee was hired as an assistant coach of the Rochester Americans
hockey team who is affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres
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...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who is currently serving as an assistant coach for the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
. He last played for 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...
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...
, and was previously with the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
. Throughout his career he has been noted among the NHL's best shot-blockers.
Playing career
McKee was drafted in the first round, 14th overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft1995 NHL Entry Draft
The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. Instead, a draft lottery was instituted in which the winner of the lottery could move...
by the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
. McKee played his junior hockey with the Niagara Falls Thunder
Niagara Falls Thunder
The Niagara Falls Thunder was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1988 to 1996. The team was based in Niagara Falls, Ontario.-History:...
, where he was an 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....
second team all-star in 1996.
McKee parlayed his solid junior career into a steady pro career, becoming one of the Sabres top defenceman in his 9 years with the club. McKee played in 582 regular season games with the Sabres, amassing 98 points and 470 penalty minutes. During the 2005–06 NHL season with the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
he served as an alternate captain under co-captains Danny Briere and Chris Drury
Chris Drury
Christopher Drury is an American retired professional ice hockey player. Drury is a Hobey Baker Award-winner with Boston University, a Calder Trophy winner with the Colorado Avalanche, a Stanley Cup champion with the Avalanche, a two-time Olympic silver medalist with the United States, and a...
.
McKee was part of the Sabres' Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NHL)
The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Western Conference....
Championship run in 1999 (before losing 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 the Stanley Cup Finals
Stanley Cup Finals
The Stanley Cup Finals is the championship series to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup, emblematic of the professional club championship of ice hockey. Although the Cup itself has existed since 1893, an annual championship series between professional teams was not established until 1913...
). McKee was injured during the Sabres's two subsequent playoff runs. In 2001, he missed the team's final five games of the playoffs after a vicious collision with 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...
's Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
during game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and in 2006 McKee missed the deciding seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
when he was sidelined with a severe infection in his leg, reportedly caused by a cut or bruise that McKee sustained blocking a shot in an earlier round of the playoffs. All totaled, McKee appeared in 51 playoff games with the Sabres, recording 9 points and 60 penalty minutes.
On July 1, 2006, McKee signed with the St. Louis Blues for a four-year, $16 million contract. His first season with the Blues, in 2006–07, was cut short due to various injuries including a knee injury, a broken finger, and two lower body injuries. On June 30, 2009, at the conclusion of the 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...
season, McKee became a free agent after he was bought out from the final year of his contract by the Blues.
On July 9, 2009, McKee signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After going unsigned through the 2010 off-season, it was announced on October 14, 2010 that McKee would serve as a volunteer assistant coach for Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey
Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey
The Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Niagara University. The Purple Eagles are a member of Atlantic Hockey...
, while not ruling out a return to the NHL.
On August 31,2011, McKee was hired as an assistant coach of the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
hockey team who is affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
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 | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1993–94 1993–94 OHL season The 1993–94 OHL season was the 14th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 66 games. The North Bay Centennials won the J... |
Sudbury Wolves Sudbury Wolves The Sudbury Wolves are the name of the ice hockey team from Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the "Wolves" nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Wolves, the senior men's AAA team, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World... |
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.... |
51 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 51 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 OHL season The 1994–95 OHL season was the 15th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 66 games. The Detroit Junior Red Wings won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm... |
Sudbury Wolves | OHL | 39 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Niagara Falls Thunder Niagara Falls Thunder The Niagara Falls Thunder was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1988 to 1996. The team was based in Niagara Falls, Ontario.-History:... |
OHL | 26 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 60 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | ||
| 1995–96 1995–96 AHL season The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions... |
Rochester Americans Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
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... |
4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
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 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 1996–97 AHL season The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division... |
Rochester Americans | AHL | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 43 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98 1997–98 AHL season The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western... |
Rochester Americans | AHL | 13 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 56 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 72 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 75 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 24 | ||
| 1999–00 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 78 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 74 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 76 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2001–02 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 81 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 59 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 43 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 75 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 57 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 30 | ||
| 2006–07 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 66 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 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... |
St. Louis Blues | NHL | 69 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 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... |
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... |
NHL | 62 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| NHL totals | 802 | 21 | 104 | 125 | 622 | 60 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 66 | ||||