Josh Harding

Joshua Joel Harding (born June 18, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Minnesota Wild.

Playing career Harding played three seasons of junior ice hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Regina Pats and Brandon Wheat Kings. He won the Del Wilson and Four Broncos Memorial trophies in 2003 as the WHL's top goaltender and most outstanding player respectively. He was selected in the second round, 38th overall, of the 2002 NHL entry draft by the Minnesota Wild. He began his professional career with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Wild's top minor league affiliate. In the 2004–05 season, his rookie season with the Aeros, he posted a 21–16–3 record with a 2.01 goals against average (GAA). Before being called up, Harding had a 27–8–0 record with a .923% save percentage (second best in the AHL) in the Aeros' 2005–06 season. He finished the season with a 29–8–0 record for the Aeros. He appeared in three games with the Wild in 2005–06, going 2–1–0 with a 2.59 GAA.

Harding began the 2006–07 season with the Aeros, compiling a 17–15–4 record before being recalled by the Wild on January 24, 2007. Harding recorded a 30-save, 5–0 shutout against the Oilers on March 1, 2007.

On October 14, 2007, Harding stopped 37 shots in his first game of the season, shutting-out the Anaheim Ducks 2–0. He compiled an 11–15 record in the 2007–08 NHL season, recording a 2.94 GAA. He played less during the 2008–09 season, going 3–11 but posting an improved 2.21 GAA.

On September 24, 2010, Harding tore the Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee in a pre-season game against the St. Louis Blues that forced him to miss the entire 2010–11 season. Despite this, on July 1, 2011, Harding signed a one-year contract extension with the Wild.

On June 19, 2012, Harding signed a three-year, $5.7 million contract extension with Minnesota. On November 28, during the 2012–13 NHL lockout, it was reported that Harding had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). He kept the ailment, which can cause blurred vision and affect balance and coordination, a secret for over a month after doctors discovered the disease in late September 2012. In his first game back post-diagnosis, on January 20, 2013, Harding stopped all 24 shots he faced in a 1–0 shutout win over the Dallas Stars.

During the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks as the eighth seed, Wild starting goaltender Niklas Bäckström injured himself during warm ups before Game 1. Harding would replace him in a 2–1 overtime loss, stopping 35 shots. This brought praise from his teammates as well as opponents for his incredible play despite being affected by multiple sclerosis. The Wild would lose the series 4–1, but Harding would win the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in recognition of his efforts.

Harding enjoyed an exceptional beginning of the 2013–14 season, leading the league in goals against average and save percentage through December 2013. But his season ended when he had to be placed on the injured reserve due to a modification of his MS treatment protocol.

Harding was expected to compete for the starting goaltender position for the Wild in the 2014–15 season, but a broken foot suffered in the off-season derailed those plans. Months later, upon being activated from injured reserve, the Wild placed Harding on waivers and assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild. In his second game of the season playing for Iowa, Harding suffered from dehydration, which was related to his multiple sclerosis, and had to be hospitalized. He subsequently retired from professional ice hockey and went to work as a high school goaltender instructor for the Edina Hornets in Edina, Minnesota.

International play Harding made his international debut at the junior level for Canada in the 2004 World Juniors, helping claim a championship silver medal. At the completion of the 2008–09 season, Harding was selected to make his full senior debut with the Canada senior team at the 2009 IIHF World Championship. He helped guide the Canadians to capture a silver medal.

Personal life Harding was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November 2012, while training during the 2012–13 NHL lockout. Harding lives in Edina, Minnesota with his wife and their two children. Through his marriage, Harding has a stepson.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2001–02 Regina Pats WHL 42 27 13 1 2,389 95 4 2.39 .906 6 2 4 325 16 0 2.95 .890 2002–03 Regina Pats WHL 57 18 24 13 3,385 155 3 2.75 .914 5 1 4 321 13 0 2.43 .939 2003–04 Regina Pats WHL 28 12 14 2 1,665 67 2 2.41 .927 — — — — — — — — 2003–04 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 27 13 11 3 1,612 65 5 2.42 .920 11 5 6 660 36 0 3.27 .897 2004–05 Houston Aeros AHL 42 21 16 3 2,387 80 4 2.01 .930 2 0 2 119 8 0 4.03 .893 2005–06 Houston Aeros AHL 38 29 8 0 2,215 99 2 2.68 .919 8 4 4 476 30 0 3.79 .886 2005–06 Minnesota Wild NHL 3 2 1 0 185 8 1 2.59 .904 — — — — — — — — 2006–07 Houston Aeros AHL 38 17 16 4 2,270 94 1 2.48 .920 — — — — — — — — 2006–07 Minnesota Wild NHL 7 3 2 1 361 7 1 1.16 .960 — — — — — — — — 2007–08 Minnesota Wild NHL 29 11 15 2 1,571 77 1 2.94 .908 1 0 0 20 0 0 0.00 1.000 2008–09 Minnesota Wild NHL 19 3 9 1 870 32 0 2.21 .929 — — — — — — — — 2009–10 Minnesota Wild NHL 25 9 12 0 1,300 66 1 3.05 .900 — — — — — — — — 2011–12 Minnesota Wild NHL 34 13 12 4 1,855 81 2 2.62 .917 — — — — — — — — 2012–13 Minnesota Wild NHL 5 1 1 0 185 10 1 3.24 .863 5 1 4 245 12 0 2.94 .911 2012–13 Houston Aeros AHL 2 1 1 0 100 5 0 3.00 .918 — — — — — — — — 2013–14 Minnesota Wild NHL 29 18 7 3 1,668 46 3 1.65 .933 — — — — — — — — 2014–15 Iowa Wild AHL 2 0 1 1 107 6 0 3.37 .920 — — — — — — — —NHL totals 151 60 59 11 7,994 327 10 2.45 .918 6 1 4 265 12 0 2.72 .918

Awards and honours Award Year RefWHL East Second All-Star Team 2001–02 WHL Player of the Month (December) 2002–03 WHL East First All-Star Team 2002–03 Four Broncos Memorial Trophy 2002–03 WHL Del Wilson Trophy 2002–03 AHL All-Star Game 2006 NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy 2013

Records Houston Aeros' franchise record for saves in a single game (56)