Jimmy Howard James " Jimmy " Russell Howard III ( born March 26 , 1984 ) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League . He was runner up in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy following the 2009 - 10 NHL Season as the NHL ' s rookie of the year . Playing career . Jimmy Howard began his junior career playing for the Westport Rideaus of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League , where he played from ages 14 – 16 before joining the U . S . National Team Development Program . He played with the U . S . National Under - 17 and U . S . National Under - 18 teams during the 2001 – 02 season , playing 9 games with the Under - 17 team and 26 games with the Under - 18 team for a total record of 22 - 11 - 1 with four shutout s . In April 2002 , Howard played for the United States in the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships in Slovakia . Playing in six tournament games , he led his team to a Gold Medal and was subsequently named USA goaltender of the year . Howard then attended the University of Maine and played for their men ' s ice hockey team , the Maine Black Bears , for three seasons . While at UMaine , Howard led the Black Bears to the 2003 - 2004 Frozen Four championship game , losing 1 - 0 to the University of Denver . While Howard was playing for the Black Bears , he was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings . During his three seasons with the Black Bears , Howard set team and league records . Beginning with the 2005 – 06 season , Howard began his career in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins where he was occasionally called up to play for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League . Howard ' s inaugural season in the AHL became what is still one of his best in professional ice hockey . During this season he set many personal records as well as franchise records , including being the first Griffin named to the AHL ' s All - Rookie Team and helping establish the Griffins franchise win streak record of 12 . He was in net for the Red Wings four times in the 2005 – 06 season posting a 1 - 2 - 0 record , a GAA of 2 . 99 and a save percentage of . 904 . In the 2007 – 08 season during the month of February , Howard was in net for the Red Wings an additional four times , and called up once during the 2008 – 09 season , bringing his total NHL games played to 9 . Howard only played four games in the 2007 – 08 regular season and therefore did not qualify to have his name engraved on the cup . However , he was included in the 2008 Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup picture , given the Cup for a day , and awarded a Stanley Cup ring by the Red Wings ' management . With the retirement of Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek in June 2008 , Howard was expected to compete with Ty Conklin for the position beside Chris Osgood for the 2008 – 09 NHL season , despite Conklin ' s noticeable advantages in terms of experience and contract . Although Howard did not earn a permanent spot on the Red Wing ' s roster for the 2008 – 09 season , he was expected to make the roster in the near future . 2009 – 10 season . Howard ' s roster spot turned official during 2009 off - season when Detroit did not offer Conklin a new contract , instead electing to promote Howard to Osgood ' s full time backup . He recorded his first win of the 2009 - 10 NHL Season on October 27 in relief of Chris Osgood against the Vancouver Canucks , making 20 saves . On December 17 , 2009 , Howard recorded his first career shutout in a 3 - 0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning . Jimmy Howard won the starting position in mid - season and kept the role until the end of the season . Jimmy Howard finished the 2009 - 10 season with excellent stats , ranking him in the top 5 in GAA and Save % , and finishing with a 37 - 15 - 10 record and a nomination for the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year . Howard gained more fame in the March 22 , 2010 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins when he grabbed Sidney Crosby from behind and put his glove in Crosby ' s face , after Crosby repeatedly cross - checked Howard ' s teammate Henrik Zetterberg . On April 14 , 2010 , Howard played in his first NHL playoff game , a 3 - 2 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes . On April 20 , he recorded his first career playoff shutout , making 29 saves in a 3 - 0 win over the Coyotes . The Coyotes were eliminated by the Red Wings when Howard ' s first NHL playoff series went to seven games . The Detroit Red Wings were then eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in five games . Howard recorded a 2 . 75 goals against average with a . 915 save percentage during the postseason . Howard was also a 2010 Calder Trophy finalist , but was runner - up to Buffalo ' s Tyler Myers . Howard won the 2010 Detroit Red Wings - Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association Rookie of the Year Award . 2010 - 11 season . Howard recorded a 21 save shutout in Detroit ' s season opener against the Anaheim Ducks to kick off the 2010 – 11 NHL season . On February 28 , 2011 , Howard signed a 2 - year contract extension with the Red Wings worth $ 2 . 25 million per season . The Red Wings lost in seven games to the San Jose Sharks in the 2nd round of the playoffs . Personal Life . Jimmy Howard was born in 1985 to an Ogdensburg teacher . He is married to Rachel Howard . On October 23 , 2011 , Rachel gave birth to the couple ' s first son , James Russell Howard IV .