Kelly Guard
Guard with the Binghamton Senators in 2006
Born (1983-06-10) June 10, 1983
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 20042008

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.

Career

Playing career

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 2008 Guard announced his retirement from professional hockey.[1]

Post-playing career

Coaching

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4][5]

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLOTLMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASO GAASV%
2002–03 Kelowna Rockets WHL 533910330189761.93.911 1916312333641.75.917
2003–04 Kelowna Rockets WHL 6244144365295131.56.925 1711610423111.78.919
2004–05 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 26122014537403.06.901 20034101.52.933
2005–06 Binghamton Senators AHL 5125201270913953.08.908
2006–07 Binghamton Senators AHL 4211243233012723.42.895
2007–08 China Sharks ALIH 2110120603.00
AHL totals 9336444503926673.17.902
WHL totals 115832476670192191.73.915 3627922756751.77.918

Awards

Award Year(s) Ref.
WHL
West First All-Star Team 2003 and 2004
Memorial Cup
Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy - Memorial Cup MVP 2004 [6]
Hap Emms Memorial Trophy - Memorial Cup Outstanding Goaltender

Records

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 [7]
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 [8][9]

References

  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. "Hockey Canada names 21 WHL players to three U17 rosters for Capital City Challenge". Hockey Canada. Western Hockey League. November 21, 2022.
  3. "Canada Black 5, Canada Red 4 (OT)". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  4. "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.
  5. D'Andrea, Jeff (June 15, 2022). "Raiders' Guard going back to coaching with Hockey Canada for another tournament". paNOW. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  6. "History - Awards - Memorial Cup". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  7. "Kelowna Rockets Record Book". Kelowna Rockets. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  8. "History - Records". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  9. "Mastercard Memorial Cup flashback: Guard's record-setting performance". The Canadian Press. Sportsnet. May 22, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
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