Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes ( born April 4, 1975 in Toronto, Ontario ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goalie who during his active career, among other things for the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers and New jersey Devils played in the National Hockey League. Currently working as an analyst for Hockey Night in Canada.
Career
Kevin Weekes, one of the few colored hockey player, was NHL Entry Draft 1993 selected in the second round by the Florida Panthers at position 41. Weekes played two years in the Ontario Hockey League before joining the AHL farm team for the Panthers, where he completed two seasons. In 1997 he went to the International Hockey League to another farm team from Florida and played in the same season eleven games for the Florida Panthers in the NHL.
In January 1999, Weekes was transferred as part of a large swap transaction with Ed Jovanovski and Dave Gagner to the Vancouver Canucks, the Pavel Bure for it, Bret Hedican and Brad Ference sent to Florida. He played at the same time in the IHL with the Detroit Vipers, where he held the James Norris Memorial Trophy was awarded for the fewest goals together with Andrei Trefilow. In December 1999, he was then transferred from Vancouver to the New York Islanders, where he held the number 1 in an NHL team for the first time. However, after only half a year later, in July 2000 moved Weekes in a transfer business to the Tampa Bay Lightning. There, immediately took over the post as goalkeeper, but could not reach the play-offs with the Lightnings. In the 2001 / 02 season, Weekes was only the number 2 because they had committed a star goaltender Nikolai Chabibulin.
Weekes joined shortly before the transfer deadline in March 2002 to the Carolina Hurricanes, denied there two more games in the regular season and played for the first time in his career in the NHL Playoffs. Carolina reached the finals for the Stanley Cup, but Detroit had to concede defeat. Weekes played as a back-up goalie Artūrs Irbe eight play-off games and was absolutely convinced, so he was in season 2002/ 03 the number 1, but the Play Offs missed. The following year, was also concluded after the regular season.
The contract with the Hurricanes ran out in the summer of 2004 and Weekes signed with the New York Rangers a one-year contract. However, the was worthless, since the NHL season was canceled because of the lockout. But in the summer of 2005, he signed with the Rangers a new three-year contract. However, Weekes found again in the role of back-up goalies again, because the number 1 in the team was Henrik Lundqvist and Weekes graduated only 32 games. In the play offs he came against the New Jersey Devils for use, but was unable to convince four goals against.
In the 2006/07 season he played with the Rangers as a backup goalie Henrik Lundqvist of, but he lost during the playing time this post to Stephen Valiquette, since he did not show the hoped-for benefits.
In the summer of 2007, he joined the New Jersey Devils and spent the next two years, the number two behind Martin Brodeur. In September 2009, he declared his career over.