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Kelly Guard

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Kelly Guard
Guard with the Binghamton Senators in 2006, fighting with Justin Peters of the Albany River Rats
Born (1983-06-10) June 10, 1983 (age 41)
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Charlotte Checkers
Binghamton Senators
Junost Minsk
China Sharks
Vienna Capitals
HC Pustertal-Val Pusteria
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2004–2008

Kelly Guard (born June 10, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He last played for HC Pustertal-Val Pusteria in Italy's Serie A. He helped lead the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) to a Memorial Cup championship in 2004. He is currently the goaltending coach for the Edmonton Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Bakersfield Condors.

Career

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Playing career

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Guard was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He spent his entire junior career with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets. In 2002–03, his first of two seasons with the team, he led the Rockets to a WHL Championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup tournament in Quebec City. The Rockets lost 2–1 to the Hull Olympiques in the semi-final. Guard had another stellar season with the Rockets in 2003–04, posting 44 wins in 62 games. Although Kelowna lost in the third round of the WHL playoffs that season, the city was chosen to host the 2004 Memorial Cup and as such the Rockets received an automatic berth in the tournament. Guard helped lead the team to the franchise's first Memorial Cup Championship as they defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 2–1 in the final. For his efforts, Guard was awarded both the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy and the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the Memorial Cup's top goaltender and most valuable player, respectively. He was also named to the tournament's First All-Star Team, and to the WHL's First All-Star Team for that season. In all, Guard posted an 83-24 record over his two seasons with Kelowna.

Guard was never selected in the NHL Entry Draft, but was signed to a professional contract by the National Hockey League's Ottawa Senators in 2004. He made his professional debut during the 2004–05 season playing for Ottawa's ECHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. He spent the following two seasons with Ottawa's top minor league affiliate, the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League. He struggled with the team, posting a 36-44-4 record.

The Senators opted not to offer Guard a new contract after the 2006-07 season and the goaltender became a free agent. In November 2007, Guard signed with the China Sharks of Asia League Ice Hockey, though his stint with the team was brief. He had similarly brief stints with the Vienna Capitals of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga and Junost Minsk of the Belarusian Extraleague before signing with Serie A's HC Pustertal-Val Pusteria.

After sustaining a groin injury in an October 2008 game, Guard's contract with Pustertal-Val Pusteria was terminated by mutual consent. Although he said that "the city, the environment and the teammates were outstanding," Guard was disappointed with the level of play in Serie A and, already contemplating retirement, the injury helped make his decision final. In November, Guard announced his retirement from professional hockey.[1]

Post-playing career

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Coaching

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Junior hockey
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In 2012, Guard joined the Prince Albert Raiders coaching staff as their goaltending coach.[2] He also served as assistant coach from 2014-2016.[2]

On November 12, 2021, Hockey Canada announced the rosters for three men's under-17 teams for the Capital City Challenge. Guard was named goaltending coach for Canada White.[3] The Capital City Challenge served as a one-time event to replace to the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also gave an opportunity to the Canada's National Women's Team to compete as part of its centralization schedule.[4]

On June 15, 2022, Hockey Canada announced 20 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) coaches for their under-17 and under-18 summer programs, camps, and various events. Guard was selected as the goaltending coach for the under-18 side that competed at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.[5][6]

In November 2022, Guard was named goaltending coach for Team Canada at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships[7] where they beat the Czech Republic for the gold.[2]

Professional
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On July 25, 2024, it was announced that Kelly Guard would be joining the Edmonton Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, as their goaltending coach.[2]

Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2002–03 Kelowna Rockets WHL 53 39 10 3 3018 97 6 1.93 .911 19 16 3 1233 36 4 1.75 .917
2003–04 Kelowna Rockets WHL 62 44 14 4 3652 95 13 1.56 .925 17 11 6 1042 31 1 1.78 .919
2004–05 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 26 12 2 0 1453 74 0 3.06 .901 2 0 0 34 1 0 1.52 .933
2005–06 Binghamton Senators AHL 51 25 20 1 2709 139 5 3.08 .908 — — — — — — — —
2006–07 Binghamton Senators AHL 42 11 24 3 2330 127 2 3.42 .895 — — — — — — — —
2007–08 China Sharks ALIH 2 1 1 0 120 6 0 3.00 — — — — — — — — —
AHL totals 93 36 44 4 5039 266 7 3.17 .902 — — — — — — — —
WHL totals 115 83 24 7 6670 192 19 1.73 .915 36 27 9 2275 67 5 1.77 .918

Awards

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Award Year(s) Ref.
WHL
West First All-Star Team 2003 and 2004
Memorial Cup
Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy - Memorial Cup MVP 2004 [8]
Hap Emms Memorial Trophy - Memorial Cup Outstanding Goaltender

Records

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Stat Year(s) Ref.
WHL
Lowest GAA in a season - 1.56 2003-04
Lowest GAA of all-time - 1.73
Kelowna Rockets
Most wins in a season - 44 2003-04 [9]
Most shutouts in a season - 13
Most shutouts of all-time - 19 2002-04
Lowest GAA in a season - 1.56 2003-04
Lowest GAA of all-time - 1.73 2002-04
Memorial Cup
Best GAA - 0.75 Kelowna Rockets, 2004 [10][11]

References

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  1. ^ Potenteau, Doyle (November 4, 2008). "Kelly Guard injured, may hang up skates". Kelowna Daily Courier. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Raiders goalie coach Guard joins Oilers' AHL affiliate". Prince Albert Daily Herald. July 25, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  3. ^ "Hockey Canada names 21 WHL players to three U17 rosters for Capital City Challenge". Hockey Canada. Western Hockey League. November 21, 2022.
  4. ^ "Canada Black 5, Canada Red 4 (OT)". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  5. ^ "Staffs named for Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team and national under-17 program". Hockey Canada. June 15, 2022. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  6. ^ D'Andrea, Jeff (June 15, 2022). "Raiders' Guard going back to coaching with Hockey Canada for another tournament". paNOW. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  7. ^ Lehmann, Logan (November 9, 2022). "Raiders' Guard named to Canada's 2023 World Junior coaching staff". paNOW. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  8. ^ "History - Awards - Memorial Cup". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "Kelowna Rockets Record Book". Kelowna Rockets. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "History - Records". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Mastercard Memorial Cup flashback: Guard's record-setting performance". The Canadian Press. Sportsnet. May 22, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
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