McKenna announces retirement

Photo: Scott Thomas

Mike McKenna, the winningest U.S-born goaltender in AHL history, announced his retirement on Tuesday after 14 seasons of pro hockey.

McKenna, a 36-year-old native of St. Louis, Mo., won 231 games in the American Hockey League, good for eighth-most overall. He retires with a lifetime record of 231-179-39 in 477 games (9th all-time among AHL goaltenders), with a 2.72 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage and 27 shutouts (T-10th all-time).

McKenna made his AHL debut with the Norfolk Admirals on Jan. 22, 2006, stopping 39 shots in a 4-3 shootout win over the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum. In addition to Norfolk (2005-06, 08-09), McKenna played in the AHL for the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (2006-07), Milwaukee Admirals (2006-07), Portland Pirates (2007-08, 14-16), Lowell/Albany Devils (2009-11), Binghamton Senators (2011-12), Peoria Rivermen (2012-13), Springfield Falcons (2013-14), Springfield Thunderbirds (2016-17), Syracuse Crunch (2016-17), Texas Stars (2017-18), Belleville Senators (2018-19) and Lehigh Valley Phantoms (2018-19).

In Calder Cup Playoff action, McKenna ranks seventh all-time in appearances (67) and 10th in wins (34). He made back-to-back trips to the Calder Cup Finals, backstopping Syracuse in 2017 and Texas in 2018.

An AHL All-Star in 2016, McKenna was originally drafted by Nashville in 2002 and made 35 career NHL appearances with Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Columbus, Arizona, Dallas, Ottawa and Philadelphia.