Corey Crawford

Corey Crawford was born on December 31, 1984, in Montréal, Quebec, Canada. His journey in professional ice hockey began when he was drafted 52nd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2003 NHL Draft. Prior to his NHL debut, Crawford honed his skills over four seasons with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2001 to 2005. During his time in Moncton, he achieved a league-high 35 wins in the 2003-04 season, helping his team reach the President’s Cup final. He also led the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) with 22 wins in 2005-06, demonstrating early consistency and talent. His first NHL appearance came in relief on January 22, 2006, against the Minnesota Wild, followed by his first NHL start against the St. Louis Blues on February 2, 2006, marking the beginning of a distinguished career.

Crawford’s career with the Chicago Blackhawks, which spanned from 2005 to 2020, was marked by significant achievements. He became an integral part of the team’s success, emerging as the starting goaltender and contributing to two Stanley Cup championships in 2013 and 2015. Over his tenure, he became the eighth goaltender to win 100 games for the Blackhawks and the first Chicago goalie since Ed Belfour to have back-to-back 30-win seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12). In the 2012-13 season, he shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Ray Emery, an award recognizing goaltenders with the fewest goals allowed. He earned this trophy again in 2014-15 with Carey Price. Throughout his career, Crawford maintained a strong presence in the net, recording 260 career wins and 26 shutouts in the regular season.

Notable milestones in Crawford’s career include leading the NHL with seven shutouts in the 2015-16 season and being selected for the NHL All-Star Game in 2015 and 2017. He consistently demonstrated resilience, returning from injuries and maintaining high performance levels. After 17 years with the Blackhawks, where he set franchise records for postseason wins (52) and multiple Stanley Cups, Crawford signed with the New Jersey Devils in 2020. However, he announced his retirement shortly after, citing ongoing struggles with concussions, concluding a successful and impactful career in professional ice hockey. His impact on the Blackhawks organization was further recognized with the retirement of his No. 29 jersey by the Moncton Wildcats in 2023 and the Rockford IceHogs in 2024.