Gerald Coleman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gerald Coleman
Born	(1985-04-03) April 3, 1985 (age 40) Romeoville, Illinois, U.S.
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Tampa Bay Lightning
NHL Draft	224th overall, 2003 Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career	2005–2014

Gerald Coleman (born April 3, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Most of his career was spent in the minor leagues. He was especially known for playing with the Alaska Aces in the ECHL.

Gerald Coleman's Hockey Journey

Gerald Coleman was chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. This meant the Lightning picked him to potentially play for their team. He was the 224th player picked overall that year.

Early Career and Big Wins

Before joining the pros, Coleman played for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In the 2003–04 season, he helped his team win the Memorial Cup. This is a huge championship for junior hockey teams in Canada. He also won the Dave Pinkney Trophy for having the lowest goals-against average in the OHL.

Coleman made history as the first player from the NHL Diversity Program to be drafted and play in the NHL. This program helps bring hockey to more diverse communities. He played his first NHL game for the Lightning on November 11, 2005.

Moving Through the Leagues

On February 24, 2007, Coleman was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. He then played for their minor league team, the Portland Pirates, in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Over the next few years, Coleman played for several teams. These included the Phoenix RoadRunners and the Trenton Devils in the ECHL. He also played briefly for the Worcester Sharks and Lowell Devils in the AHL. He was a big reason for the Trenton Devils' success in the 2008-09 season.

Success with the Alaska Aces

In 2010, Coleman joined the Alaska Aces. This is where he had some of his most successful seasons. In the 2010–11 season, he had a great record of 30 wins and only 15 losses. He also had a low goals-against average of 2.19.

That year, Coleman and the Aces won the Kelly Cup, which is the championship trophy for the ECHL. They set a playoff record with 12 wins and only 1 loss. Coleman won 11 of those games and was named Goaltender of the Year. The Alaska Aces also won the Brabham Cup, which is given to the team with the best regular season record.

He returned to the Aces for the next season. He continued to play well, even spending some time with the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL. He finished his second year with the lowest goals-against average in the ECHL again.

Retirement from Hockey

Coleman played four seasons with the Alaska Aces. He helped them win another Kelly Cup championship in 2014. After this successful time, he decided to retire from professional hockey.

He retired on August 1, 2014, because of ongoing hip injuries. He planned to study physical therapy after his hockey career.

Awards and Honors