Al Montoya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Al Montoya
Montoya with the New York Islanders in 2011
Born	(1985-02-13) February 13, 1985 (age 40) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Phoenix Coyotes New York Islanders Winnipeg Jets Florida Panthers Montreal Canadiens Edmonton Oilers
National team	United States
NHL Draft	6th overall, 2004 New York Rangers
Playing career	2005–2019

Álvaro Silva Montoya (born February 13, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. A goaltender is the player who tries to stop the puck from going into the net. He played for nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL is the top professional ice hockey league in North America.

Montoya played for teams like the Arizona Coyotes, New York Islanders, and Montreal Canadiens. He was picked early in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers. This draft is where NHL teams choose young players. Before turning pro, he played college hockey at the University of Michigan. Álvaro Montoya is also special because he is the first Cuban-American to play in the NHL.

Montoya's Hockey Journey

Montoya with the Winnipeg Jets in 2013

Álvaro Montoya was born in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up nearby in Glenview. When he was young, he played in a big youth hockey tournament in Quebec. He also played for his high school, Loyola Academy. Later, he joined the Texas Tornado team.

In 2001, Montoya joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. This program helps train young, talented players. The next year, he went to the University of Michigan. He played really well for the Wolverines ice hockey team. In his last college season (2004–05), he won 30 games!

Montoya also played for the U.S. team twice. He helped them win their first gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Finland. He was even named to the tournament's All-Star team. The 2005 tournament was not as successful for the U.S. team.

Starting in the NHL

In 2005, the New York Rangers signed Montoya to a contract. He started his professional career with their minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack. He played there for most of three seasons. He had a great record of 66 wins and 34 losses with the Wolf Pack.

The Rangers already had a star goalie, Henrik Lundqvist. So, Montoya was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008. He made his NHL debut with the Coyotes on April 1, 2009. It was a fantastic start! He stopped every shot and earned a "shutout" in a 3-0 win. A shutout means the goalie didn't let any goals in. He played five games that season and won three of them.

Montoya also played for the U.S. team at the 2009 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland. He won his only game there against France.

In 2011, Montoya was traded to the New York Islanders. Their main goalies were injured, so Montoya got a chance to play a lot. He played 21 games and had a good record of 9 wins, 5 losses, and 5 overtime losses. He also had another shutout. The Islanders were happy and signed him for another year. He played 31 games for them in the 2011–12 season. He also played for the U.S. team again at the 2011 World Championship.

Playing for Other Teams

In 2012, Montoya joined the Winnipeg Jets. He was the "backup" goalie to Ondřej Pavelec. A backup goalie plays when the main goalie needs a rest or is injured. He played 7 games in the 2012–13 season and 28 games in the 2013–14 season.

In 2014, he signed with the Florida Panthers. He played 20 games in the 2014–15 season and 25 games in the 2015–16 season.

In 2016, Montoya joined the Montreal Canadiens. He was the backup to their star goalie, Carey Price. In one game, the Canadiens lost 10-0. It was a tough game, but Montoya stayed positive. He said the experience made him stronger. He signed a new two-year contract with the Canadiens in 2017.

In 2018, Montoya was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He played 9 games for them before his playing career ended in 2019.

After Playing Hockey

After retiring from playing, Montoya continued to be involved in hockey. In 2021, he became the director of community outreach for the Dallas Stars. This means he helps the team connect with and support the local community.

International Hockey Medals

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
World Junior Championships
Gold	2004 Finland

Awards and Honours

See Also

• List of NHL players of Cuban descent