Jamie McLennan

**Jamie McLennan** (born on June 30, 1971 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the NHL for the New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, Calgary Flames, New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers.

McLennan was drafted 48th overall by the Islanders in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing Career

Following a productive season with the Western Hockey League's Lethbridge Hurricanes (in which he backstopped the Hurricanes to the WHL Finals), Jamie was drafted in the third round, 48th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.

After a two and a half-year stint playing for the Islanders' minor league affiliates in the American, International and East Coast Hockey Leagues, he backed-up veteran Ron Hextall in the 1993–94 season, posting a winning record. He spent the following two seasons with the Islanders organization, alternating between the NHL club and the Islanders' IHL affiliate.

A few weeks after the 1995–96 NHL season had been completed, Jamie drove from Salt Lake City, Utah to Lethbridge, Alberta, on his way home to Edmonton. While visiting family in Lethbridge, he fell ill. He went to a hospital on May 6, 1996, after feeling sick all evening with immobility setting in and was later diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. After nearly dying that day, he spent the following week in intensive care.

The Islanders declined to renew Jamie's contract on July 1st and on July 15, 1996, The St. Louis Blues signed him to a new contract.

After a relatively quick recovery he spent the following season in the AHL. He returned to the NHL as the Blues' back-up goaltender for the 1997–98 NHL season; that year, he played 30 games, posting 16 wins, two shutouts and a 2.17 goals against average.

Jamie was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL player who best displays perseverance and dedication to hockey. He was picked off the Blues' roster by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. After a season playing for the expansion Wild, he played the following season in the AHL.

The Calgary Flames acquired him in a trade at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, where he again played the role of NHL backup, achieving two wins in 17 decisions. Despite his 2–11–4 record, he remained with the team as Roman Turek's backup.

When Turek became injured in the 2003–04 season, McLennan was thrust into the starting role. He played well, but as the season wore on, Miikka Kiprusoff (who had been acquired earlier in the season by the Flames) had taken over the starting job. Turek returned and Jamie was traded to the New York Rangers in March 2004.

Following the season, Jamie was signed to a contract by the Florida Panthers. During the cancelled 2004–05 NHL season he played for the British National League's Guildford Flames. He was brought back to Calgary in 2006, once again as backup to Miikka Kiprusoff.

The following season, he had a five-week stint in Russia with Metallurg Magnitogorsk before returning to Canada.

On April 21, 2007, during a playoff game versus the Detroit Red Wings (which turned out to be his last NHL game of his career), Jamie slashed Johan Franzen twice in the leg. He was due to be assessed a minor penalty; however, after play was stopped, He violently slashed Franzén in the stomach, resulting in a game misconduct for Jamie.

Jamie had entered the game after Kiprusoff had allowed 5 goals. The NHL suspended him for five games and fined coach Jim Playfair $25,000 and the team $100,000 for actions late in Game 5 of the Flames' first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings.

On November 21, 2007, Jamie signed with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2007–08 season.

## Coaching Career

On July 10, 2008, Jamie was named as the director of goaltender development and as a professional scout for the Calgary Flames.

On June 23, 2009, he moved into the coaching staff of the Flames after he was named as an assistant coach to Brent Sutter.

## Broadcasting Career

Jamie is a full-time NHL analyst on TSN and is a colour commentator for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Winnipeg Jets. He is also a co-host on "Overdrive" on TSN 1050 and TSN2.