Darcy Kuemper

Darcy Kuemper
Born	May 5, 1990 Saskatoon, SK, CAN
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team	Minnesota Wild
NHL Draft	161st overall, 2009 Minnesota Wild
Playing career	2010–present

Darcy Kuemper (also spelled Kümper) (born May 5, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Wild in the sixth round, 161st overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Kuemper played three seasons with the Red Deer Rebels, winning the Del Wilson Trophy in the 2010–11 season as the WHL's top goaltender with 45 wins, a goals against average (GAA) of 1.86 and a save percentage of .933.^[1]

On May 26, 2011, Kuemper signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild.^[2] On October 13, 2011, he was loaned to the Ontario Reign of the ECHL.^[3] Kuemper was later recalled by the Wild on November 12, 2011.^[4]

Kuemper was recalled by the Wild on February 12, 2013. After then-backup goaltender Josh Harding stated that he had been feeling ill symptoms due to complications from his multiple sclerosis treatment, the Wild recalled Kuemper to start in net the same night to relieve Harding and the team's starting goaltender, Niklas Bäckström.^[5] Five days later, on February 17, Kuemper made 29 saves on 31 shots to earn his first career NHL win against the Detroit Red Wings.^[6]

On May 1, 2013, Kuemper was again recalled by the Wild to serve as a backup for Josh Harding, who was starting as a result of an injury to Niklas Bäckström.^[7] On May 7, Kuemper made his Stanley Cup playoff debut when he replaced Harding, who had suffered a left leg injury in the first period of a game against the Chicago Blackhawks.^[8][9]

In the next season's playoffs, in 2014, Kuemper started in Game 3 of the Wild's Western Conference Quarter-finals matchup against the Colorado Avalanche, replacing Ilya Bryzgalov. Kuemper recorded a shutout in the game, and continued to start for the Wild until sustaining an injury in the third period of Game 7 of the same series. Bryzgalov replaced Kuemper again and was credited with the win upon Minnesota's overtime victory later that game. The following season, Kuemper opened as Minnesota's starter with Bryzgalov departed and Harding unable to play. However Kuemper struggled, and Minnesota traded for Devan Dubnyk, who immediately became the starter. Kuemper and Niklas Bäckström finished out the season splitting time as Dubnyk's backup.

Career statistics

				Regular season										Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T/OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2006–07	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	.000
2008–09	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		55	21	25	8	3167	156	3	2.96	.898		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		61	28	23	4	3234	147	3	2.73	.908		2	0	2	61	6	0	5.86	.806
2009–10	Houston Aeros	AHL		4	2	1	0	199	8	0	2.41	.886		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		62	45	12	5	3685	114	13	1.86	.933		7	4	3	403	19	0	2.83	.896
2011–12	Ontario Reign	ECHL		8	7	1	0	484	14	0	1.74	.941		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Houston Aeros	AHL		19	6	6	4	1070	42	1	2.36	.923		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Houston Aeros	AHL		21	13	8	0	1210	38	4	1.88	.934		2	1	1	119	3	1	1.51	.957
2012–13	Orlando Solar Bears	ECHL		3	0	2	1	184	8	0	2.61	.929		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Minnesota Wild	NHL		6	1	2	0	288	10	0	2.08	.916		2	0	0	73	4	0	3.29	.879
2013–14	Iowa Wild	AHL		17	7	10	0	997	41	1	2.47	.929		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Minnesota Wild	NHL		26	12	8	4	1480	60	2	2.43	.915		6	3	1	325	11	1	2.03	.913
2014–15	Minnesota Wild	NHL		31	14	12	2	1569	68	3	2.60	.905		1	0	0	23	0	0	0.00	1.000
2014–15	Iowa Wild	AHL		5	2	3	0	279	15	1	3.22	.891		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Minnesota Wild	NHL		21	6	7	5	1064	43	2	2.43	.915		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				84	33	29	11	4,401	181	7	2.47	.912		9	3	1	422	15	1	2.13	.911

Awards and honours

• Del Wilson Trophy WHL's Top Goaltender (2010–11)^[10]
• Four Broncos Memorial Trophy WHL's Player of the Year (2010–11)^[10]
• WHL Eastern Conference First All-Star Team (2010–11)^[11]

References

1. "Rebels Darcy Kuemper named WHL player of the year". Red Deer Advocate. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
2. "Wild Signs Darcy Kuemper To Entry Level Deal". May 27, 2011.
3. "Kuemper to guard Reign's net". Ontario Reign. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
4. "Wild recalls Kuemper from Aeros". Minnesota Wild. 2011-11-12. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
5. "Josh Harding feeling "off" as he searches for right course of treatment for MS". Minnesota Star Tribune. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
6. "Zucker scores first NHL goal, Kuemper wins first NHL game as Wild rallies to beat Detroit". Minnesota Star Tribune. 2013-02-17. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
7. "With Niklas Backstrom's status uncertain, Wild recalls Darcy Kuemper". ESPN. 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2013-05-01.
8. "Wild's goaltending situation in a truly tenuous spot now". Fox Sports. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
9. "Kuemper replaces Harding in goal". Minnesota Star Tribune. 2013-05-07. Retrieved 2013-05-07.
10. "Kuemper award Del Wilson Trophy". Canadian Press. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2011-04-01.
11. "WHL East All-Stars and Awards". Western Hockey League. Mar 23, 2011.

External links

• Darcy Kuemper's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
• Darcy Kuemper's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database