Jim Carey (ice hockey) facts for kids

James Michael Carey (born May 31, 1974) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for teams like the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, and St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). Jim Carey was a top player, even winning the Vezina Trophy in 1996. This award goes to the best goalie in the NHL.

Playing Ice Hockey

Starting His Hockey Journey

Jim Carey began his college hockey career with the Wisconsin Badgers in 1992. He was a highly-rated goalie, picked by the Washington Capitals in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. This meant he was chosen early by an NHL team.

Before joining the Capitals, Jim played in the IIHF World U20 Championship in 1993. He also played for the Portland Pirates in the AHL. The AHL is a league where players often develop their skills before reaching the NHL. In the AHL, Jim won several awards. He was named the top rookie and the best goalie in the league. He was also chosen for the AHL's First All-Star Team.

Becoming an NHL Star

In the 1994–95 season, Jim Carey made his big debut in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. He had an amazing start, not losing any of his first seven games! He finished that season with a great record of 18 wins, 6 losses, and 3 ties. Because of his success, he was chosen for the NHL All-Rookie team, which highlights the best new players.

The next season, 1995–96, was Jim's best in the NHL. He became the Capitals' main goalie. He played in 71 games, won 35 of them, and had nine shutouts. A shutout means the goalie didn't let the other team score any goals in a whole game. Jim's excellent play earned him the Vezina Trophy for the NHL's best goaltender. He was also selected for the NHL first All-Star team.

Winning Gold for Team USA

In the fall of 1996, Jim Carey joined Team USA for the World Cup of Hockey. He was the backup goalie to Mike Richter. Team USA had a fantastic tournament and won the championship! They beat their rivals, Team Canada, in three exciting games.

Moving Teams and Retirement

During the 1996–97 NHL season, Jim Carey was traded to the Boston Bruins. This was a big trade involving several players. After his time with the Bruins, he played for the Providence Bruins in the AHL for a year. He then signed with the St. Louis Blues and played four games before he retired at the end of the 1998–99 season.

Fun Nicknames

Jim Carey shared a name with a famous actor, Jim Carrey. Because of this, he earned some fun nicknames. People called him "The Mask," "Ace," and "Net Detective." These nicknames were inspired by the actor's movies from 1994, The Mask and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

Life After Hockey

After retiring from professional hockey, Jim Carey started a new career. He is now the president and CEO of OptiMED Billing Solutions, Inc. This company helps with medical billing and is based in Boston and Sarasota, Florida.

Awards and Honors

Jim Carey received many awards and honors during his hockey career:

• Gold Medal at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey with Team USA.
• Named WCHA Rookie of the Year in 1993.
• Selected to the AHL First All-Star Team in 1995.
• Won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award in 1995 (for top rookie in the AHL).
• Won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award in 1995 (for top goalie in the AHL).
• Selected to the NHL All-Rookie team in 1995.
• Selected to the NHL first All-Star team in 1996.
• Won the Vezina Trophy in 1996 (for the NHL's best goalie).
• Inducted into the Portland Pirates Hall of Fame in 2008.

Washington Capitals Records

Jim Carey holds some records for the Washington Capitals:

• He has the lowest career GAA (2.37). GAA measures how many goals a goalie lets in per game.
• He had the lowest GAA in a single season (2.13 in 1995). This record was later beaten by Braden Holtby.
• He is tied for the most penalty minutes by a goalie in a playoff season (4 in 1995).
• He is tied for the most shutouts in a single season (9 in 1996).

Career Statistics

International Play