Ken Wregget facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ken Wregget
Born	(1964-03-25) March 25, 1964 (age 61) Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Calgary Flames Detroit Red Wings
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	45th overall, 1982 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	1984–2001

Kenneth Lee Wregget (born March 25, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender, also known as a goalie. He played nearly 20 years in the National Hockey League (NHL). Ken played for five different NHL teams during his career. He is most famous for winning the Stanley Cup in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Ken Wregget's Hockey Journey

Ken Wregget started his hockey career playing for the Lethbridge Broncos in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was a fantastic goalie and even won the WHL Top Goaltender Award in 1984. The Toronto Maple Leafs noticed his talent and drafted him in 1982. He was the 45th player picked overall that year.

Starting with the Maple Leafs

Ken made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1983-84 season. In his very first game, he stopped an amazing 48 shots! This helped him get his first NHL win. For a couple of seasons, he split his time between the Maple Leafs and their minor league team, the St. Catharines Saints.

By the 1986–87 season, Ken became the main starting goalie for the Maple Leafs. He played in 56 games for two years in a row. In 1989, the Maple Leafs traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers gave up two first-round draft picks to get him.

Joining the Flyers

When Ken joined the Philadelphia Flyers, their star goalie, Ron Hextall, was often injured. This meant Ken had to play a lot of games. In his first full year with the Flyers, he played 51 games. He then became the backup goalie when Hextall got healthy again. In 1992, Ken was part of a big trade that sent him to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins

Ken Wregget joined the Pittsburgh Penguins when they were already champions. He usually played as the backup goalie to Tom Barrasso. However, Ken was a very good goalie himself. He often played well for long periods when Barrasso was injured.

Ken won his only Stanley Cup in 1992 as a member of the Penguins. This was a huge achievement for him! His best season came in 1994–95. He played in 38 games and led the NHL in wins with 25 victories.

In 1996, Ken faced a rare moment in hockey history. He stopped the first-ever penalty shot awarded in overtime during an NHL playoff game. This helped the Penguins win a very long game in the fourth overtime period. Ken is still one of the top goalies in Penguins' history for games played and wins.

Adventures with the Flames and Red Wings

After his time with the Penguins, Ken was traded to the Calgary Flames in 1998. He brought valuable experience to the team. He played 27 games for the Flames and had the best goals-against average of his career. This means he let in fewer goals per game.

After one season, Ken became a free agent. He signed a two-year deal with the powerful Detroit Red Wings. He played as the backup goalie to Chris Osgood and helped the team win 14 games.

Final Season with the Moose

In 2000, Ken Wregget played his final season of professional hockey. He played for the Manitoba Moose in the International Hockey League. Ken was born in Brandon, Manitoba, so playing for the Moose was like coming home. He won 11 games and had two shutouts before retiring at age 37.

Awards and Recognition

• WHL East First All-Star Team – 1984
• WHL Top Goaltender Award – 1984
• Stanley Cup Champion - 1992
• Inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009

Life Off the Ice

Ken Wregget grew up in Cold Lake, Alberta, for some time. After his hockey career, he became a business owner. He owns a restaurant called "31" Bar and Grille in Collier Township, Pennsylvania. He has a daughter, Courtney, and a son, Matthew.