Jay McKee

Jay McKee (born September 8, 1977) is a Canadian coach of the Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League and former professional ice hockey defenceman. He spent the majority of his career with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL), and has also played for the St. Louis Blues and Pittsburgh Penguins. Throughout his career, he has been noted among the NHL's best shot-blockers. McKee was born in Kingston, Ontario, but grew up in Loyalist, Ontario.

After his retirement from playing, he has served as an assistant coach for the NCAA's Niagara Purple Eagles, AHL's Rochester Americans, the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Erie Otters and the OHL's Kitchener Rangers. After one season in Kitchener, he was promoted to head coach of the Rangers, where he served for three-and-a-half seasons. He was then named the head coach of the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs in 2021. He remained with the Bulldogs as they relocated and became the Brantford Bulldogs until 2026. On May 29, 2026, the New York Islanders named McKee the head coach of their new AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Hammers. An early season injury delayed McKee's debut with St. Louis until his first game with the team on October 20, 2006, where McKee played only 1:15 in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Injuries continued to plague McKee during the 2006–07 season as he suffered various injuries including a knee injury, a broken finger, and two lower body injuries. In 23 games with St. Louis, McKee did not record any points.

McKee rebounded in the 2007–08 season, scoring two goals and nine points in 66 games. On October 23, 2007, McKee recorded his first point with the Blues in an assist on a goal scored by Keith Tkachuk during a 4–2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. On November 1, McKee scored his first goal as a member of the team, scoring the game-winning third period goal against Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild in a 3–2 victory. McKee finished the season with two goals and nine points and the Blues did not qualify for the post-season.

In 2008–09, McKee played in 69 games, his highest total since 2005–06, and scored a goal and eight points helping St. Louis reach the post-season for the first time since 2004. On April 15, 2009, McKee skated in his first playoff game with the Blues in a 2–1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. In four playoff games, McKee had no points.

Following the 2008–09 season, the Blues bought out the final year of McKee's contract, making him a free agent.

Pittsburgh Penguins (2009–2010) On July 9, 2009, McKee signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. On October 2, 2009, McKee made his Penguins debut, as he was held to no points in a 3–2 win over the New York Rangers. Ten days later, on October 12, McKee earned his first point as a member of the Penguins, an assist on a goal by Tyler Kennedy, in a 4–1 win over the Ottawa Senators. On November 14, McKee scored his first goal with Pittsburgh as he scored the opening goal in the first period against Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins, as Pittsburgh won the game 6–5 in overtime. In 62 games with the Penguins, McKee scored a goal and ten points, his highest point total since the 2005–06 season with the Sabres. McKee made his post-season debut with the Penguins on April 18, 2010, in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. McKee finished the playoffs appearing in five games and earning no points.

Following the season, McKee became a free agent. McKee went unsigned during the 2010 off-season, in which he announced he would volunteer as a coach with the Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey, while not ruling out a return to the NHL.

Dundas Real McCoys (2012–2014) McKee returned to playing hockey and signed with the Senior "AAA" team, the Dundas Real McCoys of the Allan Cup Hockey league. In the 2012–13 season, McKee appeared in four games, earning an assist. In the playoffs, McKee earned seven assists in ten games for Dundas.

In the 2013–14 season, McKee became a player-coach for the club. In eight games during the regular season, McKee scored a goal and five points. In three playoff games, McKee had a goal and two points, as the team reached the Allan Cup. McKee appeared in four games in the Allan Cup, earning no points, however, the club won the championship.

Following the season, McKee announced his retirement from playing.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1992–93 Ernestown Jets EOJHL 36 0 17 17 37 — — — — — 1992–93 Kingston Voyageurs MetJHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1993–94 Sudbury Wolves OHL 51 0 1 1 51 3 0 0 0 0 1994–95 Sudbury Wolves OHL 39 6 6 12 91 — — — — — 1994–95 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL 26 3 13 16 60 6 2 3 5 10 1995–96 Niagara Falls Thunder OHL 64 5 41 46 129 10 1 5 6 16 1995–96 Rochester Americans AHL 4 0 1 1 15 — — — — — 1995–96 Buffalo Sabres NHL 1 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 1996–97 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 Rochester Americans AHL 13 1 7 8 11 — — — — — 1997–98 Buffalo Sabres NHL 56 1 13 14 42 1 0 0 0 0 1998–99 Buffalo Sabres NHL 72 0 6 6 75 21 0 3 3 24 1999–2000 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 St. Louis Blues NHL 69 1 7 8 44 4 0 0 0 4 2009–10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 62 1 9 10 54 5 0 0 0 2 2012–13 Dundas Real McCoys ACH 4 0 1 1 2 10 0 7 7 5 2013–14 Dundas Real McCoys ACH 8 1 4 5 0 3 1 1 2 0 2013–14 Dundas Real McCoys AC — — — — — 4 0 0 0 4 NHL totals 802 21 104 125 622 60 3 6 9 66

Coaching career Rochester Americans (2011–2012) On August 31, 2011, McKee was hired as an assistant coach of the Rochester Americans, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. In the 2011–12 season, the Americans finished second in the North Division with a 36–26–10–4 record, earning 86 points. In the post-season, the Americans were swept by the Toronto Marlies in three games. Following the season, McKee left the club to spend more time with his family, and joined the Senior "AAA" Dundas Real McCoys of the Allan Cup Hockey league.

Erie Otters (2014–2015) On June 13, 2014, McKee with hired to be an assistant coach with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In the 2014–15 season, the Otters, led by Connor McDavid, earned a record of 50–14–4, as the team accumulated 104 points and had the best record in the Midwest Division. In the post-season, Erie lost to the Oshawa Generals in the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals in five games. Following the season, McKee left his job with the Otters, as the Kitchener Rangers hired him as an associate coach.

Kitchener Rangers (2015–2019) McKee joined the OHL's Kitchener Rangers as an associate coach for the 2015–16 season. In his first season with the club, McKee helped Kitchener to a 44–17–7 record, earning 95 points, and fourth place in the Western Conference. In the post-season, the Rangers were swept by the London Knights in the second round. Following the season, Rangers head coach Mike Van Ryn stepped down as head coach of the team. On May 12, 2016, McKee was named the new head coach of the Rangers.

McKee made his head coaching debut on September 23, 2016, as he guided the Rangers to a 4–2 victory over the Flint Firebirds for his first career OHL victory. The Rangers finished the 2016–17 season with a 36–27–5 record, earning 77 points and sixth place in the Western Conference. On March 24, 2017, McKee coached his first career playoff game, where Kitchener lost to the Owen Sound Attack 9–1. The next night, McKee earned his first career playoff win as the Rangers defeated the Attack 2–1. The Rangers then lost to Owen Sound in five games in their first round series.

Kitchener had a very strong season in 2017–18 as the club finished in first place in the Midwest Division with a 43–21–4 record, earning 90 points and finished in second place in the Western Conference. This was the first time since 2008 that the Rangers finished in first place in their division. In the post-season, Kitchener defeated the Guelph Storm and Sarnia Sting to face the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Western Conference finals. The two teams played a full seven game series, where the Greyhounds defeated the Rangers in double overtime in the seventh game.

The Rangers slid down the standings in the 2018–19 season as the club finished the season with a 34–30–4 record, earning 72 points and fifth place in the Western Conference. The team was swept by the Guelph Storm in the first round of the post-season.

McKee returned to Kitchener for the 2019–20 season, but was fired on November 25, 2019, after a 7–10–4 start to the season with the Rangers were in last place in the Western Conference.

Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs (2021–2026) On July 6, 2021, McKee was hired as the head coach of the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. In his first season with the Bulldogs in 2021-22, McKee led Hamilton to a 51-12-3-2 record, earning 107 points and winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the team had the best record in the league. In the post-season, the Bulldogs swept the Peterborough Petes, Mississauga Steelheads and North Bay Battalion to earn a berth in the OHL finals. In the final round, Hamilton defeated the Windsor Spitfires in seven games to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup and qualified for the 2022 Memorial Cup. At the Memorial Cup, the Bulldogs finished in third place in the round-robin with a 1-0-0-2 record, earning three points. In the semi-final game, Hamilton defeated the Shawinigan Cataractes 4-3 in overtime. In the final game, Hamilton lost to the Saint John Sea Dogs 6-3 to finish in second place.

The Bulldogs underwent a rebuilding season in 2022-23, trading away some top ranked players for draft picks and prospects. The club finished the year with a 33-30-5-0 record, earning 71 points and sixth place in the Eastern Conference. In the post-season, the Bulldogs lost to the Barrie Colts in six games in the conference quarter-finals. During the season, the Bulldogs announced they were moving to Brantford, Ontario beginning in the 2023-24 season.

In their first season in Brantford, McKee remained the head coach of the Bulldogs. In the 2023-24 season, the Bulldogs finished third in the Eastern Conference with a 37-20-9-2 record, earning 85 points. In the playoffs, Brantford was upset by the sixth seeded Ottawa 67's in six games in the conference quarter-finals.

The Bulldogs improved in the 2024-25 season, finishing the season in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 44-19-5-0 record, earning 93 points. In the post-season, the Bulldogs defeated the North Bay Battalion in five games in the conference quarter-finals before falling to the Oshawa Generals in six games in the conference semi-finals.

Brantford had an excellent 2025-26 season, winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the club finished with the best record in the league at 48-10-10, earning 106 points. In the playoffs, the Bulldogs swept the Sudbury Wolves and North Bay Battalion in the conference quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, however, Brantford was upset by the Barrie Colts in the conference finals, losing in seven games.

Hamilton Hammers (2026-pres) On May 29, 2026, McKee was named the head coach of the Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League.

Coaching Season Team League Regular season Postseason G W L OTL Pts Division rank Result 2016–17 Kitchener Rangers OHL 68 36 27 5 77 4th, Midwest Division Lost in conference quarter-finals (1–4 vs. OS) 2017–18 Kitchener Rangers OHL 68 43 21 4 90 1st, Midwest Division Won in conference quarter-finals (4–2 vs. GUE) Won in conference semi-finals (4–2 vs. SAR) Lost in conference finals (3–4 vs. SSM) 2018–19 Kitchener Rangers OHL 68 34 30 4 72 3rd, Midwest Division Lost in conference quarter-finals (0–4 vs. GUE) 2019–20 Kitchener Rangers OHL 21 7 10 4 18 5th, Midwest Division Fired 2021–22 Hamilton Bulldogs OHL 68 51 12 5 107 1st, East Division Won in conference quarter-finals (4-0 vs. PBO) Won in conference semi-finals (4-0 vs. MIS) Won in conference finals (4-0 vs. NB) Won J. Ross Robertson Cup (4-3 vs. WSR) Finished 3rd at 2022 Memorial Cup (1-2) Won 2022 Memorial Cup semi-final (4-3 vs. SHA) Lost 2022 Memorial Cup final (3-6 vs. SJS) 2022–23 Hamilton Bulldogs OHL 68 33 30 5 71 3rd, East Division Lost in conference quarter-finals (2-4 vs. BAR) 2023–24 Brantford Bulldogs OHL 68 37 20 11 85 2nd, East Division Lost in conference quarter-finals (2-4 vs. OTT) 2024–25 Brantford Bulldogs OHL 68 44 19 5 93 1st, East Division Won in conference quarter-finals (4-1 vs. NB) Lost in conference semi-finals (2-4 vs. OSH) 2025–26 Brantford Bulldogs OHL 68 48 10 10 106 1st, East Division Won in conference quarter-finals (4-0 vs. SBY) Won in conference semi-finals (4-0 vs. NB) Lost in conference finals (3-4 vs. BAR) Kitchener Rangers totals 225 120 88 17 257 1 division title 12–16 (0.429) - 0 J. Ross Robertson Cups Hamilton/Brantford Bulldogs totals 340 213 91 36 462 3 division titles 37–20 (0.649) - 1 J. Ross Robertson Cup 2-3 (0.400) - 0 Memorial Cups OHL totals 565 333 179 53 719 4 division titles 49–36 (0.557) - 1 J. Ross Robertson Cup 2-3 (0.400) - 0 Memorial Cups