Mike Vernon (ice hockey)
Two-time Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
Mike Vernon, born February 24, 1963, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who spent 19 seasons in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, and Florida Panthers. He won over 300 games and captured two Stanley Cup championships—one with the Flames in 1989 and another with the Red Wings in 1997. Vernon appeared in five NHL All-Star Games, was named a second-team All-Star in 1989, shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Chris Osgood in 1996, and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1997.
Vernon first made a name for himself in junior hockey with the Calgary Wranglers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he was named both goaltender of the year and league MVP in 1982 and 1983. He was loaned to the Portland Winterhawks for the 1983 Memorial Cup, leading the team to the championship and being named the tournament's top goaltender. The Calgary Flames selected him in the third round, 56th overall, of the 1981 NHL entry draft. He 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 the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023. Internationally, Vernon represented Canada twice, winning a bronze medal at the 1983 World Junior Championship and a silver at the 1991 World Championship.
Quick Facts
- Halloffame
- 2023
- Birth Date
- 1963-02-24
- Birth Place
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Height Ft
- 5
- Height In
- 9
- Weight Lb
- 167
- Position
- Goaltender
- Catches
- Left
- Played For
- Calgary Flames / Detroit Red Wings / San Jose Sharks / Florida Panthers
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 56th overall
- Draft Year
- 1981
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Vernon began playing hockey at age six at South Calgary Community Association outdoor rinks. He played junior hockey for the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and then the Calgary Wranglers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). In his first WHL season, 1980–81, he posted a 33–17–1 record and led the Wranglers to the WHL finals. He was named WHL Top Goaltender and most valuable player in 1982 and 1983. He was loaned to the Portland Winterhawks for the 1983 Memorial Cup, where he was named top goaltender of the tournament and led Portland to the championship, making them the first American team to win the Memorial Cup.
Selected by the Flames in the third round, 56th overall, in the 1981 NHL entry draft, Vernon made his NHL debut on December 12, 1982, against the Detroit Red Wings. He became the Flames' starting goaltender in 1986–87, finishing third in the NHL with 30 wins. In the 1989 playoffs, he made a spectacular glove save on a Stan Smyl breakaway in a seventh-game overtime, later called 'the save that won the Cup,' as the Flames went on to win their first Stanley Cup. He also won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1997 and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.
Reader's Guide
Vernon's significance lies in his consistent excellence as a goaltender over 19 NHL seasons, culminating in two Stanley Cup championships. His 1989 save against Stan Smyl is a defining moment in Calgary Flames history, helping the franchise secure its first Cup. He shared the William M. Jennings Trophy in 1996 with Chris Osgood, recognizing the fewest goals allowed. His Conn Smythe Trophy in 1997 highlighted his playoff performance for the Red Wings. Vernon was a five-time NHL All-Star and a second-team All-Star in 1989. His number 30 was retired by the Flames in 2007, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023. He also represented Canada internationally, winning a bronze medal at the 1983 World Junior Championship and a silver medal at the 1991 World Championship.
Did You Know?
- He was loaned to the Portland Winterhawks for the 1983 Memorial Cup and led them to the championship as the first American team to win it.
- Vernon's glove save on Stan Smyl in the 1989 playoffs was called 'the save that won the Cup.'
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