Mike Bales

Michael Raymond Bales (born August 6, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League over four seasons from 1992 to 1997 with the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators, accumulating a record of 2–15–1 and a goals against average of 4.13 in 23 games. He currently serves as goaltending coach for the NHL's Buffalo Sabres.

Playing career

Bales attended Ohio State University, lettering with the Buckeyes from 1990 to 1992, and was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round, 105th overall, of the 1990 NHL entry draft. Bales' entire career as a Boston Bruin consists of 25 minutes played in one game against the New Jersey Devils on January 9, 1993, during which he gave up one goal. His busiest NHL season was 1995–96, when he appeared in 20 games for Ottawa.

In 2001, Bales moved to play in Europe, beginning with the Belfast Giants in the British Ice Hockey Superleague. He then moved to the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany for ERC Ingolstadt and then to the Elitserien in Sweden for Leksands IF. From 2004 to 2010 he played for the Straubing Tigers where he scored his first career goal during the 2005–06 season with the Tigers. On January 29, 2011, he signed a contract with the Iserlohn Roosters as stand-by-goalie but ultimately never played a game for the team.

Transactions Selected by Boston Bruins in fifth round (fourth Bruins pick, 105th overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 16, 1990. Signed as free agent by Ottawa Senators, July 4, 1994. Signed as free agent by Buffalo Sabres, September 9, 1997. Signed as free agent by Dallas Stars (two year contract), July 8, 1998.

Coaching Bales working with Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury during a game in 2016. On July 23, 2011, the Pittsburgh Penguins hired Bales as a goaltender development coach and amateur scout. Bales was promoted to goaltender coach by the Penguins on August 19, 2013. In 2017, he became goaltending coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. On June 12, 2019 Bales resigned from the Hurricanes and became goaltending coach for the Buffalo Sabres.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1988–89 Estevan Bruins SJHL 44 — — — — 2412 197 1 4.90 — — — — — — — — — — 1989–90 Ohio State University CCHA 21 6 13 2 — 1117 95 0 5.11 .863 — — — — — — — — — 1990–91 Ohio State University CCHA 39 11 24 3 — 2180 184 0 5.06 .867 — — — — — — — — — 1991–92 Ohio State University CCHA 36 11 20 5 — 2060 180 0 5.24 .853 — — — — — — — — — 1992–93 Boston Bruins NHL 1 0 0 0 — 25 1 0 2.42 .900 — — — — — — — — — 1992–93 Providence Bruins AHL 44 22 17 0 — 2363 166 1 4.21 .872 2 0 2 — 118 8 0 4.07 — 1993–94 Providence Bruins AHL 33 9 15 4 — 1757 130 0 4.44 .863 — — — — — — — — — 1994–95 Ottawa Senators NHL 1 0 0 0 — 3 0 0 0.00 1.000 — — — — — — — — — 1994–95 PEI Senators AHL 45 25 16 3 — 2649 160 2 3.62 .893 9 6 3 — 530 24 2 2.72 .925 1995–96 Ottawa Senators NHL 20 2 14 1 — 1040 72 0 4.15 .871 — — — — — — — — — 1995–96 PEI Senators AHL 2 0 2 0 — 118 11 0 5.58 .823 — — — — — — — — — 1996–97 Ottawa Senators NHL 1 0 1 0 — 52 4 0 4.64 .778 — — — — — — — — — 1996–97 Baltimore Bandits AHL 46 13 21 8 — 2544 130 3 3.07 .899 — — — — — — — — — 1997–98 Rochester Americans AHL 39 13 19 5 — 2229 127 0 3.42 .893 — — — — — — — — — 1998–99 Michigan K-Wings IHL 32 11 17 3 — 1773 96 1 3.25 .899 — — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Michigan K-Wings IHL 25 9 9 5 — 1341 56 0 2.50 .920 — — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Utah Grizzlies IHL 50 22 19 3 — 2697 111 5 2.47 .915 — — — — — — — — — 2001–02 Belfast Giants BISL 34 — — — — 1996 77 0 2.31 .920 5 1 2 1 205 10 1 2.93 .913 2002–03 Ingolstadt ERC DEL 23 — — — — 1323 58 1 2.63 .920 — — — — — — — — — 2003–04 Leksands IF SEL 23 8 14 4 — 1354 66 0 2.92 .904 — — — — — — — — — 2004–05 Straubing Tigers 2.GBun 45 — — — — 2741 111 3 2.43 — 13 — — — — — — 2.62 — 2005–06 Straubing Tigers 2.GBun 48 — — — — — — — 2.47 — 15 — — — — — — 2.08 — 2006–07 Straubing Tigers DEL 47 — — — — — — — 3.39 .895 — — — — — — — — — 2007–08 Straubing Tigers DEL 47 10 30 — 0 2806 162 1 3.46 .895 — — — — — — — — — 2008–09 Straubing Tigers DEL 32 8 16 — 0 1837 102 1 3.33 .881 — — — — — — — — — 2009–10 Straubing Tigers DEL 33 10 12 — 0 1930 98 1 3.05 .899 — — — — — — — — — NHL totals 23 2 15 1 — 1120 77 0 4.13 .869 — — — — — — — — —