Gerald Coleman

Gerald Coleman (born April 3, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He predominantly played in the minor leagues, most notably with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL.[1]

Gerald Coleman
Born (1985-04-03) April 3, 1985
Romeoville, Illinois, United States
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL Draft 224th overall, 2003
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 20052014

Playing career

Coleman was drafted 224th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Selected from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, Coleman was awarded the Dave Pinkney Trophy on his way to capturing the Memorial Cup the following season in 2003–04. He is the first graduate of the NHL Diversity Program to be drafted and to play in the NHL, making his debut for the Lightning, in relief, on November 11, 2005.[2]

On February 24, 2007, Coleman was traded with a 1st round draft pick to the Anaheim Ducks for Shane O'Brien and a 3rd round draft pick.[3] He was then assigned to the Ducks AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates.

Coleman attended the Chicago Wolves training camp for the 2008–09 season, before he was released. After starting the year in the ECHL with the Phoenix RoadRunners, Coleman was recalled to the Worcester Sharks but upon his return was traded to the Trenton Devils on November 21, 2008.[4] Coleman was then credited as a major influence in the turn around Trenton Devils season going 27-8-2 for the remainder of the year.[5]

Coleman was then invited to the New Jersey Devils training camp for the 2009–10 before he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Lowell Devils.[6] Coleman appeared in just three games with Lowell before he returned to Trenton for the season.[7]

After attending the St. Louis Blues training camp, Coleman played the 2010–11 season with the Alaska Aces, posting a 2.19 GAA and a save percentage of .913, earning a record of 30-15-1-0 with 4 shutouts.[8] In the Kelly Cup Playoffs, Coleman, along with the rest of the Aces set a playoff record with a 12-1 record to capture the cup. Coleman earned 11 of those 12 wins and did so with a .938 save percentage and a 1.73 GAA and 3 shutouts. In the end, Coleman lead the Alaska Aces win their second Brabham Cup and second Kelly Cup in franchise history. The Alaska Aces are also the only team to win the Brabham Cup and Kelly cup in the same year twice. He also captured goaltender of the year.

Coleman returned to the Aces the following season and after 23 games was signed to a professional try-out by the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL.[9] Coleman enjoyed a prominent role with the Monsters, winning 11 of 17 games before returning to the Aces to finish a second consecutive year with the lowest goals against average in the ECHL.

With off-season surgery and a forecasted lengthy recovery limiting interest from the AHL, Coleman re-signed with the Aces for his third season with the club on July 12, 2012.[10]

After his fourth season with the Aces, and backstopping the club to their second Kelly Cup Championship in his successful tenure, Coleman retired from professional hockey due to persisting hip injuries on August 1, 2014. He intended to pursue studies in physical therapy.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTOTLMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2002–03 London Knights OHL 2669310745913.30.892
2003–04 London Knights OHL 33248018526852.20.931 8524421912.589.12
2004–05 London Knights OHL 38322222246381.70.941 8714551301.71.935
2005–06 Springfield Falcons AHL 4314213241315623.88.880
2005–06 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 200143202.79.882
2006–07 Springfield Falcons AHL 3210179602.01.940
2006–07 Johnstown Chiefs ECHL 177909145203.41.902
2006–07 Portland Pirates AHL 114506032902.89.895
2007–08 Portland Pirates AHL 188629684722.91.896 10039406.09.789
2007–08 Augusta Lynx ECHL 92505002202.64.902
2008–09 Phoenix RoadRunners ECHL 4211244611.48.950
2008–09 Worcester Sharks AHL 3020112603.23.854
2008–09 Trenton Devils ECHL 40278223229232.38.915 3122461503.66.888
2009–10 Lowell Devils AHL 31201821304.28.873
2009–10 Trenton Devils ECHL 30119715639403.61.887
2010–11 Alaska Aces ECHL 4730151273510042.19.913 121117292131.73.938
2011–12 Alaska Aces ECHL 27185416445311.93.926 10555691912.00.925
2011–12 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 1711429634102.56.922
2012–13 Alaska Aces ECHL 32236319076922.17.918 9455482102.30.911
2013–14 Alaska Aces ECHL 25146515046022.39.910 141048141821.33.942
NHL totals 200143202.79.882

Awards and honors

Award Year
OHL
Dave Pinkney Trophy 2004, 2005
Third All-Star Team 2005
CHL Memorial Cup (London Knights) 2005
ECHL
Second All-Star Team 2009
First All-Star Team 2011 [12]
Goaltender of the Year 2011
Kelly Cup (Alaska Aces) 2011, 2014

References

  1. "Changing the Face of Hockey". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  2. "Granderson: Still a pioneer - ESPN Page 2". Sports.espn.go.com. 2008-01-21. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  3. "Ducks trade O'Brien to Lightning for 1st round pick". Foxsports.com. 2007-02-24. Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
  4. "ECHL transactions". ECHL. 2008-11-23. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  5. "Trenton benefiting from Coleman in goal". New Jersey Devils. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  6. "Pikkarainen hopeful as 2009 camp opens". New Jersey Devils. 2009-09-10. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  7. "Coleman sent down from Lowell". Trenton Devils. 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  8. "Training Camp - St. Louis Blues". St. Louis Blues. 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  9. "Lake Erie find goaltending help in Alaska". The Plain Dealer. 2012-01-20. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  10. "Aces ink Coleman as first off-season signing". Alaska Aces. 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  11. "Alaska Aces stalwart goaltender Gerald Coleman retires". Alaska Dispatch News. 2014-08-01. Retrieved 2014-08-01.
  12. "All-ECHL First-Team announced". ECHL. 2011-04-25. Archived from the original on 2011-04-04. Retrieved 2011-04-25.
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