From Cradle to Cup will be a series running throughout July 2013
looking back at players on the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks roster for their
Stanley Cup-winning campaign. Part 7 talks about backup goaltender Ray Emery.
Ray Emery was born on September 28th, 1982 in Hamilton, Ontario. He began his playing career in the Ontario Junior C league with the Dunnville Terriers, appearing in twenty-two games to an appalling 3-19 win-loss record and a 6.36 goals-against average in the 1998-1999 season. In 1999-2000, Emery improved in the Ontario Junior B league with the Welland Cougars, playing in twenty-three games with a 13-10 record and a 2.81 GAA, along with one shutout. For the 1999-2000 to the 2001-2002 seasons, Emery played in the Ontario Hockey League, compiling a 60-49-11 record in 127 games played, with a 3.10 GAA and six shutouts for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Between his second and third seasons with the Greyhounds, Emery was drafted 99th overall in the 2001 Entry Draft as a prospect for the Ottawa Senators. Then, at the end of the 2002-2003 season, Emery made three appearances with the Senators in Ottawa, winning in his only start while the other appearances came in relief, and he had a solid 1.42 GAA. Before that, Emery had played with the American Hockey League Binghamton Senators, posting 27-17-6 record in fifty games, while playing to a 2.42 GAA and shutting out the opponent seven times. Emery still played in Binghamton in the 2003-2004 season, appearing fifty-three times with 21-23-7 record while allowing goals at a 2.47 GAA rate but only three shutouts. In three more games in Ottawa, Emery had two wins and a 2.38 GAA. Emery likely would have played in the NHL for 2004-2005, but due to the season-cancelling lockout, stayed in Binghamton and had a 2.65 GAA an 28-18-5 record in fifty-one games. Emery got the NHL to stay in 2005-2006, starting thirty-eight games while making one relief appearance, with three shutouts, a 2.82 GAA, and a 23-11 record, as well as ten games in the playoffs that saw him have a 5-5 record and 2.88 GAA. Emery improved his NHL numbers in a larger role in 2006-2007, playing to a 33-16 record and 2.47 GAA with five shutouts in fifty-eight games, followed by twenty playoff games with a 13-7 record and a 2.26 GAA as the Senators fell short against the Anaheim Ducks for the Stanley Cup. Emery had his struggles off the ice though, including traffic violation and legal issues, which came to a head in 2007-2008, as the Senators soured on his behavior. He played in thirty-one games while making a 12-13 record and a 3.13 GAA before returning to Binghamton. There he had a solid 3.00 GAA and 1-1 record in two games while dealing with injuries. Emery's contract was up in the 2008 offseason, but with personality questions and a drop in production, no one offered him an NHL contract. On July 9th, Atlant Mytishchi of the Kontinental Hockey League of Russia and Eastern Europe signed Emery. In the 2008-2009 season, Emery posted a 22-8 record and a 1.86 GAA with Atlant, followed by seven playoff games with a matching GAA and a 3-3 record. This earned him some NHL interest again, when he was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers on June 10th, 2009. For 2009-2010, Emery played in twenty-nine games, all starts, and he had a 16-11 record and a 2.64 GAA, with three shutouts during the season. However, Emery's season was cut short by a disease called Avascular Necrosis, which required surgery to cure, as well as hip issues. The Flyers chose not to gamble on Emery again, but the Ducks that had previously beaten Emery in the Stanley Cup came calling with a one-year contract signed on February 7th, 2011 after his rehabilitation was complete. They assigned him to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, where he played in three games with a 2.62 GAA and a 2-1 record, followed by two later wins that brought his GAA under two. With the Ducks, he played in ten games with a 2.28 GAA and a 7-2 record as a backup to Jonas Hiller. Due to the remarkable recovery from Avascular Necrosis, Emery was nominated by the NHL for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which honors the player who shows the most dedication and perseverance to hockey, but he didn't win it. Emery signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on October 3rd, 2011 to back up Corey Crawford. Emery actually ended up starting twenty-seven of his thirty-four appearances in 2011-2012 after Crawford struggled, playing to a 2.81 GAA and a 15-9 record. He did not play in the playoffs during that postseason. Emery returned to the Blackhawks for the lockout-shortened 2013 season, playing in 21 games with a fabulous 1.94 GAA and a 17-1 record on the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. This means that Emery and Crawford shared the William M. Jennings trophy. Crawford took the reins during the playoffs though, meaning Emery watched from the bench as the Blackhawks won the 2013 Stanley Cup. However, Emery was not brought back by the Blackhawks for 2013-2014, and will play in a platoon with Steve Mason in the Philadelphia Flyers crease.
Ray Emery was born on September 28th, 1982 in Hamilton, Ontario. He began his playing career in the Ontario Junior C league with the Dunnville Terriers, appearing in twenty-two games to an appalling 3-19 win-loss record and a 6.36 goals-against average in the 1998-1999 season. In 1999-2000, Emery improved in the Ontario Junior B league with the Welland Cougars, playing in twenty-three games with a 13-10 record and a 2.81 GAA, along with one shutout. For the 1999-2000 to the 2001-2002 seasons, Emery played in the Ontario Hockey League, compiling a 60-49-11 record in 127 games played, with a 3.10 GAA and six shutouts for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Between his second and third seasons with the Greyhounds, Emery was drafted 99th overall in the 2001 Entry Draft as a prospect for the Ottawa Senators. Then, at the end of the 2002-2003 season, Emery made three appearances with the Senators in Ottawa, winning in his only start while the other appearances came in relief, and he had a solid 1.42 GAA. Before that, Emery had played with the American Hockey League Binghamton Senators, posting 27-17-6 record in fifty games, while playing to a 2.42 GAA and shutting out the opponent seven times. Emery still played in Binghamton in the 2003-2004 season, appearing fifty-three times with 21-23-7 record while allowing goals at a 2.47 GAA rate but only three shutouts. In three more games in Ottawa, Emery had two wins and a 2.38 GAA. Emery likely would have played in the NHL for 2004-2005, but due to the season-cancelling lockout, stayed in Binghamton and had a 2.65 GAA an 28-18-5 record in fifty-one games. Emery got the NHL to stay in 2005-2006, starting thirty-eight games while making one relief appearance, with three shutouts, a 2.82 GAA, and a 23-11 record, as well as ten games in the playoffs that saw him have a 5-5 record and 2.88 GAA. Emery improved his NHL numbers in a larger role in 2006-2007, playing to a 33-16 record and 2.47 GAA with five shutouts in fifty-eight games, followed by twenty playoff games with a 13-7 record and a 2.26 GAA as the Senators fell short against the Anaheim Ducks for the Stanley Cup. Emery had his struggles off the ice though, including traffic violation and legal issues, which came to a head in 2007-2008, as the Senators soured on his behavior. He played in thirty-one games while making a 12-13 record and a 3.13 GAA before returning to Binghamton. There he had a solid 3.00 GAA and 1-1 record in two games while dealing with injuries. Emery's contract was up in the 2008 offseason, but with personality questions and a drop in production, no one offered him an NHL contract. On July 9th, Atlant Mytishchi of the Kontinental Hockey League of Russia and Eastern Europe signed Emery. In the 2008-2009 season, Emery posted a 22-8 record and a 1.86 GAA with Atlant, followed by seven playoff games with a matching GAA and a 3-3 record. This earned him some NHL interest again, when he was signed by the Philadelphia Flyers on June 10th, 2009. For 2009-2010, Emery played in twenty-nine games, all starts, and he had a 16-11 record and a 2.64 GAA, with three shutouts during the season. However, Emery's season was cut short by a disease called Avascular Necrosis, which required surgery to cure, as well as hip issues. The Flyers chose not to gamble on Emery again, but the Ducks that had previously beaten Emery in the Stanley Cup came calling with a one-year contract signed on February 7th, 2011 after his rehabilitation was complete. They assigned him to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, where he played in three games with a 2.62 GAA and a 2-1 record, followed by two later wins that brought his GAA under two. With the Ducks, he played in ten games with a 2.28 GAA and a 7-2 record as a backup to Jonas Hiller. Due to the remarkable recovery from Avascular Necrosis, Emery was nominated by the NHL for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which honors the player who shows the most dedication and perseverance to hockey, but he didn't win it. Emery signed with the Chicago Blackhawks on October 3rd, 2011 to back up Corey Crawford. Emery actually ended up starting twenty-seven of his thirty-four appearances in 2011-2012 after Crawford struggled, playing to a 2.81 GAA and a 15-9 record. He did not play in the playoffs during that postseason. Emery returned to the Blackhawks for the lockout-shortened 2013 season, playing in 21 games with a fabulous 1.94 GAA and a 17-1 record on the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season. This means that Emery and Crawford shared the William M. Jennings trophy. Crawford took the reins during the playoffs though, meaning Emery watched from the bench as the Blackhawks won the 2013 Stanley Cup. However, Emery was not brought back by the Blackhawks for 2013-2014, and will play in a platoon with Steve Mason in the Philadelphia Flyers crease.
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