Mike Vernon

Michael Vernon (born February 24, 1963) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. As a goaltender, he played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers.

A winner of over 300 NHL games, he is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, with the Flames in 1989 and the Red Wings in 1997. He appeared in five NHL All-Star Games, was named a second team All-Star in 1989, shared the William M. Jennings Trophy in 1996 with Chris Osgood, and was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Vernon was a standout goaltender in junior for the Calgary Wranglers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was named both goaltender of the year and most valuable player in 1982 and 1983. He was loaned to the Portland Winterhawks for the 1983 Memorial Cup and was named the top goaltender of the tournament in leading Portland to the championship.

Selected by the Flames in the third round, 56th overall, in the 1981 NHL entry draft, Vernon began his professional career in 1982 and ended it 20 years later, also in Calgary. The Flames retired his number 30 in 2007, he was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023. Vernon represented Canada internationally on two occasions, winning a bronze medal at the 1983 World Junior Championship and silver at the 1991 World Championship.

Playing career

Junior Vernon began playing hockey at South Calgary Community Association outdoor rinks as a goaltender at the age of six. A native of Calgary, Vernon played his junior hockey in his hometown. First for the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 1979–80, and then the Calgary Wranglers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He appeared in 59 games in his first WHL season, 1980–81, posting a 33–17–1 record before leading the team to the WHL finals where the Wranglers lost the best-of-seven championship to the Victoria Cougars, four games to three. Vernon attracted the attention of the Calgary Flames, who selected him with their third-round pick, 56th overall, at the 1981 NHL entry draft, on June 10, 1981.

Vernon returned to the Wranglers for the 1981–82 season where he posted a 22–14–3 record with three shutouts. He was named a WHL all-star at goal, and was the recipient of the WHL Top Goaltender Award and named WHL most valuable player. Though the Wranglers were eliminated in the playoffs, junior rules of the time allowed the league champion to add an extra goaltender on loan for the Memorial Cup tournament. Vernon accepted an invitation to join the Portland Winter Hawks for the 1983 tournament where the team finished third in the three-team event (all teams had two wins and two losses). Vernon made his professional debut following the tournament, appearing in one playoff game for the Central Hockey League's Oklahoma City Stars. Vernon appeared in one additional game, also a loss, before returning to the WHL where he repeated as the WHL's top goaltender and most valuable player.

Vernon again joined the Winter Hawks, for the 1983 Memorial Cup, but not without controversy. The WHL champion Lethbridge Broncos first requested he join their team for the tournament, but he was unwilling to play under the team's coach and refused. The Broncos were upset by Vernon's refusal, calling it "garbage" that he was allowed to join the rival Winter Hawks, who were hosting the tournament, after turning them down. Winning all three games he started, Vernon led Portland to the championship. He returned to the Flames in 1983-84 but had a loss so he returned to the CHL. Considered at that point to be Calgary's goaltender of the future, he moved up to the Moncton Golden Flames of the American Hockey League (AHL) for 1984–85. The season was a disappointment for Vernon as he struggled throughout the year. He won only 10 of 41 starts and posted a goals against average (GAA) of 3.94.

In the midst of what was ultimately a franchise record losing streak, wishing to rest Lemelin and facing a minor injury to backup Marc D'Amour, the Flames brought Vernon up to play an exhibition game against Soviet club Dynamo Moscow during the 1986 Super Series. Vernon was outstanding in goal, leading the Flames to a 4–3 victory. Following a 9–1 loss to the Hartford Whalers that was Calgary's 11th consecutive defeat, Vernon was given his first regular season start on January 9, 1986, against the Vancouver Canucks. He led the team to a 5–4 overtime victory to end the streak. It was also Vernon's first NHL win. He recorded his first career shutout, also against Vancouver, on February 26 in a 4–0 win during a stretch where Vernon went two months without losing a game in which he started.

Three of Vernon's nine regular season wins came against the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary's first round opponent in the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs. Though he had only 21-games of NHL experience, Vernon was named the starter for the series. He led the Flames to a three-game sweep of Winnipeg, followed by seven-game series victories over the Oilers and St. Louis Blues to lead the Flames into the Stanley Cup Final where the Flames ultimately fell to the Montreal Canadiens and their rookie goaltender Patrick Roy in five games. He played in the 1988 All-Star Game, his first of four consecutive appearances in the event,

The 1988–89 season was one of Vernon's finest. He led all NHL goaltenders in wins with 37 and was second with a 2.65 GAA. He was named to the second All-Star team and helped Calgary post the best record in the League. The Flames entered the 1989 playoffs as heavy favourites to defeat Vancouver in the opening round, but the Canucks forced Calgary to a seventh and deciding game in the series. The game went to overtime, during which Vernon was forced to make a spectacular glove save on a Stan Smyl breakaway. That save came to be a defining moment of Vernon's career, and was later called "the save that won the Cup". The Flames defeated Vancouver when Joel Otto scored the winner, then went on to defeat the Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens to win Calgary's first Stanley Cup championship.

Vernon remained among the NHL leaders in wins the following seasons, finishing sixth in 1989–90 with 23 and second in 1990–91 with 31. and was routinely booed by the fans in Calgary when he did so. Some fans chose to direct insults towards his family in the stands, causing his parents to stop attending games. Discussing his relationship with Flames fans later in his career, Vernon said, "You've got to have a pretty thick skin to play goal. Fans at hockey games get very emotional. They're very passionate. They don't enjoy watching their team give up goals." Playing through it all, Vernon became the 38th goaltender in league history to win 200 games, reaching the milestone on November 14, 1992, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in his fifth All-Star Game in 1992–93, After nearly ten seasons with Vernon as Calgary's starting goaltender, the Flames felt it was time to hand the starting goaltender duties to Trevor Kidd. On June 29, 1994, they traded Vernon to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for defenceman Steve Chiasson. The Red Wings had been pursuing a deal for Vernon since the previous season.

Detroit Red Wings Detroit anticipated the veteran Vernon would help develop their young goaltender Chris Osgood. As Detroit's top goaltender in 1994–95, Vernon posted a 19–6–4 record and helped the Red Wings win the Presidents' Trophy. The Red Wings reached the 1995 Stanley Cup Final – their first appearance in the championship series since 1966 – but were swept in four games by the New Jersey Devils. The two sides ultimately agreed on a two-year contract, of which the financial terms were not released.

While Osgood began to establish his position as the Red Wings' starter in 1995–96, Vernon won 21 games against only 7 regulation losses as the Red Wings set an NHL record with 62 victories in the regular season. Both goalies shared goaltending duties during the 1996–97 season, and he became the 13th player in NHL history to win 300 games. He reached the milestone on March 26, 1997, against the Colorado Avalanche in a game in which he also fought Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy.

Head coach Scotty Bowman turned to the veteran Vernon as the team's starter in the 1997 playoffs after Osgood struggled late in the regular season. He recorded a 16–4 record with a 1.76 GAA in the post-season, Placed in a position where the Red Wings had to trade a goaltender due to the waiver draft, Detroit chose to trade Vernon to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for two draft picks on August 18, 1997.

San Jose Sharks

With the Sharks, Vernon formed a tandem with veteran Kelly Hrudey and delivered a solid performance for the team. Vernon played two full seasons with the Sharks, winning 30 games in 1997–98 and leading the team to the playoffs in both 1998 and 1999. Vernon, who was quite content with the Sharks, was caught off guard by the trade: “(Head Coach Darryl Sutter) told me to get ready to play the second half of the season. I was well rested and ready to play,” Vernon said. “I was completely thrown for a loop because I felt like we finally had all the pieces to challenge for the Stanley Cup. I was very disappointed.”

Florida Panthers

The opening for Vernon in South Florida was created when goaltender Trevor Kidd dislocated his shoulder a couple of weeks before the trade. Vernon appeared in 34 games with the Panthers, winning 18, and led them to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Vernon, who left Calgary on acrimonious terms six years before, was shocked to hear he was returning to the Flames. "Oh my God, you're joking," Vernon said. "I'm going where? You have got to be kidding me."

Return to Calgary Vernon's retired number banner hangs alongside Lanny McDonald's in the Scotiabank Saddledome's rafters. alt=Two large white banners with red and yellow trim at the top and bottom. They read "McDONALD 9 1981–1989" and "VERNON 30 1982–2002" respectively Returning to the franchise he began his career with, the 37-year-old Vernon was expected to split goaltending duties with Fred Brathwaite.

Vernon held virtually every Flames franchise goaltending record upon his retirement. His regular season records—games played (526), wins (262) and minutes played (29,650)—were all subsequently broken by Miikka Kiprusoff, but he remains the team leader in playoff games played (81) and wins (43). Vernon was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. Vernon returned to the ice 2011 to play in the alumni game at the Heritage Classic outdoor game.

Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Glenn Hall considered Vernon one of the best goaltenders of his era: "I always thought Grant Fuhr was the best goalie of his time. But I always thought Vernie was very close." Vernon said that playing against the likes of Fuhr and Patrick Roy led him to improve at his position. He was a stand-up goaltender early in his career, but learned to adopt aspects of the butterfly style after watching them play. Standing only tall,

Personal life Vernon was born February 24, 1963, in Calgary. His father Martin worked in construction and was president of the South Calgary community hockey organization where young Mike played his youth hockey. Vernon attended Central Memorial High School and Henry Wise Wood Senior High School. He considered his mother Lorraine his first coach and claimed his introduction to goaltending came from his family: "I had three brothers and when it came time to play hockey, they always said the same thing: 'Get Mikey, he'll play net.'"

Vernon and his wife Jane were married three days after his 1994 trade to Detroit. The couple have four children: daughter Amelia and three sons, Matthew, John and William. Matthew is currently a goalie with HC TWK Innsbruck of the ICE Hockey League in Austria. The couple live in Calgary, but maintain a home in Invermere, British Columbia. Following his hockey career, Vernon has become involved in real estate development in the Windermere region near Invermere.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1979–80 Calgary Canucks AJHL 31 21 7 0 1796 88 0 2.95 — 7 3 4 399 22 0 3.30 — 1980–81 Calgary Wranglers WHL 59 33 17 1 3154 198 1 3.77 .880 22 14 8 1271 82 1 3.87 — 1981–82 Calgary Wranglers WHL 42 22 14 2 2329 143 3 3.68 .887 9 5 4 527 30 0 3.42 — 1981–82 Portland Winter Hawks MC — — — — — — — — — 3 1 2 171 16 0 5.61 .868 1981–82 Oklahoma City Stars CHL — — — — — — — — — 1 0 1 70 4 0 3.43 — 1982–83 Calgary Wranglers WHL 50 29 18 2 2856 155 3 3.26 — 16 9 7 925 60 0 3.89 — 1982–83 Calgary Flames NHL 2 0 2 0 100 11 0 6.60 .761 — — — — — — — — 1982–83 Portland Winter Hawks MC — — — — — — — — — 3 3 0 180 14 0 4.67 — 1983–84 Colorado Flames CHL 46 30 13 2 2648 148 1 3.35 — 6 2 4 347 21 0 3.63 — 1983–84 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 1 0 11 4 0 21.82 .333 — — — — — — — — 1984–85 Moncton Golden Flames AHL 41 10 20 4 2050 134 0 3.92 .874 — — — — — — — — 1985–86 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 10 6 4 0 600 34 1 3.39 — — — — — — — — — 1985–86 Moncton Golden Flames AHL 6 3 1 2 374 21 0 3.37 .883 — — — — — — — — 1985–86 Calgary Flames NHL 18 9 3 3 921 52 1 3.39 .875 21 12 9 1229 60 0 2.93 .897 1986–87 Calgary Flames NHL 54 30 21 1 2956 178 1 3.61 .883 5 2 3 263 16 0 3.65 .882 1987–88 Calgary Flames NHL 64 39 16 7 3565 210 1 3.53 .877 9 4 4 515 34 0 3.96 .838 1988–89 Calgary Flames NHL 52 37 6 5 2938 130 0 2.65 .897 22 16 5 1381 52 3 2.26 .905 1989–90 Calgary Flames NHL 47 23 14 9 2795 146 0 3.13 .870 6 2 3 342 19 0 3.33 .873 1990–91 Calgary Flames NHL 54 31 19 3 3121 172 1 3.31 .878 7 3 4 427 21 0 2.95 .897 1991–92 Calgary Flames NHL 63 24 30 9 3684 217 0 3.58 .883 — — — — — — — — 1992–93 Calgary Flames NHL 64 29 26 9 3732 203 2 3.26 .887 4 1 1 150 15 0 6.00 .815 1993–94 Calgary Flames NHL 48 26 17 5 2798 131 3 2.81 .892 7 3 4 466 23 0 2.96 .895 1994–95 Detroit Red Wings NHL 30 19 6 4 1807 76 1 2.52 .893 18 12 6 1063 41 1 2.31 .889 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings NHL 32 21 7 2 1855 70 1 2.26 .903 4 2 2 243 11 0 2.72 .864 1996–97 Detroit Red Wings NHL 33 13 11 8 1952 79 0 2.43 .899 20 16 4 1229 36 1 1.76 .927 1997–98 San Jose Sharks NHL 62 30 22 8 3564 146 5 2.46 .896 6 2 4 348 14 1 2.41 .899 1998–99 San Jose Sharks NHL 49 16 22 10 2831 107 4 2.27 .911 5 2 3 321 13 0 2.43 .924 1999–00 San Jose Sharks NHL 15 6 5 1 772 32 0 2.49 .911 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Florida Panthers NHL 34 18 13 2 2019 83 1 2.47 .919 4 0 4 237 12 0 3.04 .912 2000–01 Calgary Flames NHL 41 12 23 5 2246 121 3 3.23 .883 — — — — — — — — 2001–02 Calgary Flames NHL 18 2 9 1 825 38 1 2.76 .899 — — — — — — — — NHL totals 781 385 273 92 44,449 2,206 27 2.98 .889 138 77 56 8,211 367 6 2.68 .896

International Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA 1983 Canada WJC 4 2 0 0 180 10 1 3.33 1991 Canada WC 2 0 2 0 74 6 0 4.91 Senior totals 2 0 2 0 74 6 0 4.91

Awards and honours Award Year Junior WHL Most Valuable Player 1982, 1983 WHL Top Goaltender Award 1982, 1983 WHL first All-Star team 1982, 1983 Hap Emms Memorial Trophy 1983 CHL Second-team All-Star 1984 Calgary Flames Molson Cup 1992