# Steve Valiquette
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Steve_Valiquette
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Steve_Valiquette.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Valiquette
> Source revision: 1356182579
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1977)}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image= Steve Valiquette.jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Valiquette with the [Hartford Wolf Pack](/source/Hartford_Wolf_Pack) in 2006
| position = [Goaltender](/source/Goaltender)
| catches = Left
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 210
| played_for =
{{plainlist |
* [New York Islanders](/source/New_York_Islanders)
* [Edmonton Oilers](/source/Edmonton_Oilers)
* [New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers)
* [Lokomotiv Yaroslavl](/source/Lokomotiv_Yaroslavl)
* [HC CSKA Moscow](/source/HC_CSKA_Moscow)
* [HC Valpellice](/source/HC_Valpellice)
}}
| ntl_team =
| ntl_team_2 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|8|20}}
| birth_place = [Etobicoke, Ontario](/source/Etobicoke%2C_Ontario), Canada
| career_start = 2000
| career_end = 2012
| draft = 190th overall
| draft_year = 1996
| draft_team = [Los Angeles Kings](/source/Los_Angeles_Kings)
}}
'''Stephen Valiquette''' (born August 20, 1977) is a Canadian former professional [ice hockey](/source/ice_hockey) [goaltender](/source/goaltender). Valiquette played 46 games in the [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League), nearly all for the [New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers), before finishing his playing career in Europe.[{{cite web|title=Steve Valiquette|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8465161|work=Players|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}]
Valiquette is currently employed as a studio analyst for [MSG Network](/source/MSG_(TV_network)) covering the Rangers.[{{cite web|last1=Ashmore|first1=Mike|title=Valiquette helping bring analytics to goaltending|url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20150318/SPORTS/150319753|website=The Trentonian|access-date=October 18, 2016|date=March 18, 2015}}]
==Professional career==
While playing junior hockey for the [Sudbury Wolves](/source/Sudbury_Wolves) of the [Ontario Hockey League](/source/Ontario_Hockey_League) (OHL), Valiquette was drafted by the [Los Angeles Kings](/source/Los_Angeles_Kings) of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the [1996 NHL entry draft](/source/1996_NHL_entry_draft) in the eighth round.[{{cite web|title=Notes|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8465161&view=notes|work=Steve Valiquette|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}] Valiquette played in six NHL games for the Islanders in [1999-2000](/source/1999%E2%80%932000_NHL_season), but otherwise played for a variety of teams in the [East Coast Hockey League](/source/East_Coast_Hockey_League) (ECHL) and [American Hockey League](/source/American_Hockey_League) (AHL) through 2003. When Valiquette made his playing debut in 2000, he was the tallest goaltender[{{cite web|title=2006 NHL draft review|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/allan_muir/06/25/west.grades/1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628095712/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/allan_muir/06/25/west.grades/1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2006|publisher=Sports Illustrated.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}] to ever play a game in the NHL at 6-foot-6.[{{cite web | url=http://www.hockeygoalies.org/news/oldnews.html | title=News Archives | access-date=2008-02-09 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070501123437/http://www.hockeygoalies.org/news/oldnews.html | archive-date=2007-05-01 }}] [Ben Bishop](/source/Ben_Bishop), standing 6-foot-7, has since surpassed Valiquette as the tallest NHL goaltender.[{{cite news | url=http://blues.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=388511 | title=Home Sweet Home for Blues' Bishop | publisher=[St. Louis Blues](/source/St._Louis_Blues) | last=Pinkert | first=Chris | date=2008-10-24 | access-date=2009-01-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030021128/http://blues.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=388511 | archive-date=2008-10-30 }}]
In July 2003, Valiquette signed as a free agent with the [Edmonton Oilers](/source/Edmonton_Oilers).[{{cite web|title=HARRY "HAP" HOLMES MEMORIAL AWARD|url=http://ahlhalloffame.com/harry-hap-holmes-memorial-award-p139052|work=Trophy case|publisher=American Hockey League Hall of Fame|access-date=5 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116104435/http://ahlhalloffame.com/harry-hap-holmes-memorial-award-p139052|archive-date=16 November 2010}}] In fact, Valiquette owned the league's lowest goals against average with 1.77.[{{cite magazine|last=Williams|first=Patrick|title=Top 10 developments of the decade|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/30460-Top-10-developments-of-the-decade.html|magazine=The Hockey News|access-date=5 August 2012}}] He then signed with [Lokomotiv Yaroslavl](/source/Lokomotiv_Yaroslavl) of the [Russian Superleague](/source/Russian_Superleague) on April 26, 2005.[{{cite news|last=Zinser|first=Lynn|title=Lundqvist Gets Rest, and Backup Saves Rangers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/sports/hockey/04rangers.html|access-date=5 August 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 March 2007}}] With the departure of starting goalie [Kevin Weekes](/source/Kevin_Weekes) to the [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils), in July 2007, Valiquette became the back-up to [Henrik Lundqvist](/source/Henrik_Lundqvist).[{{cite news| url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/01172009/sports/rangers/lundqvist_understudy_could_become_best_n_150609.htm | title=Lundqvist understudy could become best No. 2 goalie in Rangers history | newspaper=[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post) | last=Brooks | first=Larry | date=2009-01-17 | access-date=2009-01-22}}] On January 31, 2008, against the [Philadelphia Flyers](/source/Philadelphia_Flyers), Valiquette recorded the first [shutout](/source/shutout) of his NHL career, as the Rangers won 4-0.[{{cite news|last=Zinser|first=Lynn|title=Rangers Help Valiquette Claim First N.H.L. Shutout|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/sports/hockey/01rangers.html?_r=1|access-date=5 August 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 February 2008}}] Ten days later, on February 9, he recorded his second consecutive shutout in a 2–0 win, also against the Flyers.[{{cite news| url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2008020915 | title=NY Rangers 2, Philadelphia 0 | publisher=[Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press) | last=Maaddi | first=Rob | date=2008-02-09 | access-date=2008-02-09}}] He went on to finish the season 5-5-2. The following year, in a February 6, 2009 game against the [Dallas Stars](/source/Dallas_Stars), he let 10 goals in a single game, a league worst for the season.[{{cite web|title=Rangers 2 Stars 10|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=290206009|work=ESPN.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}]
Valiquette appeared in his first career NHL playoff games with the Rangers during the first round of the [2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs](/source/2009_Stanley_Cup_Playoffs) against the [Washington Capitals](/source/Washington_Capitals) when he relieved starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist for the third period of games five and six, playing 40 minutes and allowing no goals on nine shots.[{{cite news| url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2512697296apr24,0,5164776.story | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501132538/http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2512697296apr24,0,5164776.story | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 1, 2009 | title=Capitals blank Rangers, cut deficit to 3-2 | newspaper=[Newsday](/source/Newsday) | last=Zipay | first=Steve | date=2009-04-25 | access-date=2009-04-30}}][{{cite news| url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2712701315apr26,0,2875599.story | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501221503/http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang2712701315apr26,0,2875599.story | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 1, 2009 | title=Rangers pushed to the brink after losing Game 6 | newspaper=[Newsday](/source/Newsday) | last=Zipay | first=Steve | date=2009-04-26 | access-date=2009-04-30}}] Over the span of five seasons with the Rangers, Valiquette recorded 14 wins, 4 of them as shutouts.[{{cite news|last=Botte|first=Peter|title=New York Rangers put backup goalie Steve Valiquette on waivers, acquire Anaheim's Erik Christensen|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-12-03/sports/17941269_1_undisclosed-ailment-backup-goalie-steve-valiquette-brandon-dubinsky|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130085739/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-12-03/sports/17941269_1_undisclosed-ailment-backup-goalie-steve-valiquette-brandon-dubinsky|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2013|access-date=5 August 2012|newspaper=New York Daily News|date=3 December 2009}}] He did not play for the Rangers again, and on July 15 Valiquette signed with the [KHL](/source/Kontinental_Hockey_League) side [HC CSKA Moscow](/source/HC_CSKA_Moscow),[{{cite news| url=http://www.hockeysverige.se/news_show_lundqvists-backup-valjer-khl.html?id=10302662 | title=Lundqvists backup väljer KHL | publisher=HockeySverige | date=2010-07-16 | access-date=2010-07-20}}] who bought out his contract after one season.[{{cite news|last=Berlett|first=Bruce|title=Former Wolf Pack Valiquette Returns to Ice|publisher=Connecticut Whale|date=20 November 2011}}]
During the summer of 2011, Valiquette turned down an offer to return to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, due to a lack of guaranteed playing time. This proved fortunate for him, in light of the [2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash](/source/2011_Lokomotiv_Yaroslavl_plane_crash), which killed nearly the entire team and staff.[{{cite web|title=Valiquette Joins Bobcats Staff|work=ECAC Hockey |url=http://www.ecachockey.com/men/members/quinnipiac/20111611_ValiquetteQuinnipiacStaff|access-date=5 August 2012|date=16 November 2011}}] However, a couple of days later, the AHL's [Bridgeport Sound Tigers](/source/Bridgeport_Sound_Tigers), for whom Valiquette had played while in the Islanders' system, put out a call for an emergency backup, as they were shorthanded due to injuries with their Islanders parent club.[{{cite web|title=Steve Valiquette Calls it a Career|url=http://www.ohlalumnicentral.com/steve-valiquette-retired/|publisher=OHL Alumni Central|access-date=5 August 2012|date=2012-07-14}}][{{cite web|title=Statistics Serie A 2011-2012|url=http://eurohockey.com/stats/league/2012/136-serie-a.html?is_order=1&order=9&dir=2&position=1&type=1&season=2012&list_number=&|publisher=Euro Hockey.com|access-date=5 August 2012}}]
After his season at HC Valpellice, Valiquette signed with Swedish club [Djurgården](/source/Djurg%C3%A5rdens_IF_Hockey) of the [HockeyAllsvenskan](/source/HockeyAllsvenskan) league,[{{cite web|title=Sound Tigers notebook: Gallant back, Valiquette retires|work=Connecticut Post |url=http://www.ctpost.com/sports/article/Sound-Tigers-notebook-Gallant-back-Valiquette-3705943.php|publisher=ctpost.com|access-date=5 August 2012|date=2012-07-14}}] but instead retired due to injury.