Mike Ayers

Michael Ayers is an American ice hockey coach and former goaltender who was an All-American for New Hampshire.
==Career==
After graduating from Thayer Academy in 1998, Ayers spent another year playing prep school hockey before ending his junior career with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Despite playing for the worst team in the USHL that season, Ayers was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks after the year. That fall, he began attending the University of New Hampshire and served as the team's third goaltender as a freshman. After Ty Conklin left in 2001, Ayers split time in goal with senior Matt Carney and helped the team finish atop the Hockey East standings. The two goalies were platooned through the Hockey East Tournament with Ayers in net for the Wildcats championship game victory. UNH got the top overall seed for the NCAA Tournament and Ayers got in goal for the team's semifinal match. Unfortunately, the team was outplayed by conference rival Maine and Ayers allowed 7 goals on 40 shots.
For his junior season, Ayers took over as the primary netminder and produced his best season yet. He set program records for wins, save percentage and shutouts, leading the team to a second consecutive conference title. Ayers backstopped the Wildcats to a conference championship and the team earned the third overall seed. In his second postseason run, Ayers was a clutch player for UNH, allowing 4 goals through three games, and led the program to only its second championship game. Facing down defending champion Minnesota, Ayers turned aside 29 of 30 shots through 40 minutes and had the Wildcats tied with the Gophers. However, the wheels came off in the third. Ayers surrendered three goals in a just over five minute span and New Hampshire lost the game 1–5. Ayers did return for his senior season, but both he and the team declined. While he finished with respectable numbers, they weren't enough to get him back onto the All-American team. New Hampshire did receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive season, but the team lost its opening match. While the ending was disappointing, Ayers did finish as the program's all-time wins leader (since broken).
After graduating with a degree in kinesiology, Ayers began playing professionally. He spent most of his first season in the ECHL and slowly worked his way up into the AHL. His numbers slid in his third season and he only saw limited minutes before finishing the season in Europe. He returned to the ECHL for one final season before ending his playing career in 2008.
Ayers began his second career after a short time off, becoming the goaltending coach for the Iowa Chops mid-season. He stayed with the team until the end of the year while pulling double-duty as a goaltending director for FHIT, a youth hockey organization in Minnesota. After leaving the Chops, Ayers founded his own goaltending academy, MVP Goaltending. He operated the business for just over two years. In the fall of 2009, he returned to the college ranks as an assistant for St. Cloud State. He attempted to hold three positions simultaneously, but left FHIT in November to focus on the newer positions. He remained an assistant coach and ran his goalie clinic until August 2011 when he joined USA Hockey full time as a goaltending coach. Among other duties, he served as an assistant on the US U-18 teams at the world championships in 2012 and 2013, winning a gold and silver medal respectively.
In 2013, he was lured back to college hockey, this time as an assistant for Boston College under Jerry York. Since then, he's helped develop two NHL goaltenders, Thatcher Demko and Spencer Knight. Prior to the 2020 season, Ayers was promoted to Associate Head coach, a position he continues to hold as of 2021.
==Statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
 	 	 		Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season		Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	W 	L 	T 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV% 		GP 	W 	L 	MIN 	GA 	SO 	GAA 	SV%
1997–98 	Thayer Academy 	US-Prep 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	Trinity-Pawling School 	US-Prep 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	Dubuque Fighting Saints	USHL 		55 	16 	35 	3 	3188 	196 	0 	3.69 	.904 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	New Hampshire 	Hockey East 		5 	0 	0 	0 	26 	2 	0 	4.68 	.875 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	New Hampshire 	Hockey East 		20 	14 	3 	1 	1129 	46 	0 	2.44 	.915 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	New Hampshire 	Hockey East 		41 	27 	8 	6 	2499 	91 	7 	2.18 	.926 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2003–04 	New Hampshire 	Hockey East 		36 	17 	14 	5 	2101 	100 	5 	2.86 	.899 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2004–05 	Dayton Bombers 	ECHL 		51 	15 	28 	6 	2937 	142 	0 	2.90 	.913 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2004–05 	Grand Rapids Griffins 	AHL 		1 	0 	0 	0 	19 	2 	0 	6.02 	.750 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2004–05 	Cincinnati Mighty Ducks	AHL 		2 	1 	0 	1 	3 	0 	0 	1.45 	.952 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2005–06 	Dayton Bombers 	ECHL 		25 	8 	14 	2 	1434 	82 	0 	3.43 	.894 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2005–06 	Syracuse Crunch 	AHL 		23 	12 	8 	1 	1239 	55 	3 	2.66 	.919 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006–07 	Norfolk Admirals 	AHL 		2 	0 	0 	0 	31 	2 	0 	3.86 	.913 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006–07 	Pensacola Ice Pilots 	ECHL 		9 	2 	6 	1 	483 	32 	0 	3.98 	.892 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006–07 	SønderjyskE Ishockey 	Oddset Ligaen		14 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.98 	.901 		13 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	2.10 	.928
2007–08 	Leksands IF 	Allsvenskan 		13 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2007–08 	Charlotte Checkers 	ECHL 		21 	10 	8 	1 	1137 	64 	1 	3.38 	.896 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NCAA totals	NCAA totals 	NCAA totals 		102 	58 	25 	12 	5,755 	239 	12 	2.49 	.914 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
ECHL totals	ECHL totals 	ECHL totals 		106 	35 	56 	10 	5,991 	320 	1 	3.20 	.903 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
AHL totals 	AHL totals 	AHL totals 		28 	13 	8 	2 	1,413 	62 	3 	2.63 	.919 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Awards and honors==
Award 	Year 	
All-Hockey East Second Team 	2001–02	
All-Hockey East First Team 	2002–03	
AHCA East Second-Team All-American	2002–03	
==References==
==External links==
*
Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
Category:American men's ice hockey goaltenders
Category:New Hampshire Wildcats men's ice hockey players
Category:Grand Rapids Griffins players
Category:Dayton Bombers players
Category:Cincinnati Mighty Ducks players
Category:Syracuse Crunch players
Category:Norfolk Admirals players
Category:Pensacola Ice Pilots players
Category:SønderjyskE Ishockey players
Category:Leksands IF players
Category:Charlotte Checkers players
Category:Chicago Blackhawks draft picks