Ben Bishop

Ben Bishop
Born	(1986-11-21) November 21, 1986 (age 25) Denver, CO, USA
Height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Ottawa Senators St. Louis Blues
NHL Draft	85th overall, 2005 St. Louis Blues
Playing career	2008–present

Ben Bishop III (born November 21, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey player. Bishop currently plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bishop previously played in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues and in the AHL with the Peoria Rivermen. Nicknamed "Big Ben", Bishop is the tallest goalie to ever play in the NHL at 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m).

Personal

Bishop is the son of Ben Bishop, Jr. and Cindy Bishop. Bishop's grandfather was a tennis professional who played in the US Open.^[1] Neither of Bishop's parents are nearly as tall as he is; his father is 6' 1" and his mother is 5' 3" tall.^[1]

Playing career

Bishop played youth hockey for the Kirkwood Stars in suburban St. Louis as well as the St. Louis Junior Blues. Bishop attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri.^[2] Bishop played forward until eight years of age when he was converted to a goaltender.^[1]

Bishop played for the Texas Tornado of North American Hockey League during the 2004–05 season. He appeared in 45 games and posted a league-best record of 35 wins, eight losses, with five shutouts. His goals against average of 1.93 was second in the league. Most notably, he led the Texas Tornado to their second consecutive National Championship and Gold Cup, given to the best junior A hockey team in North America. Bishop was named to the first team of the NAHL All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.

As a freshman for the University of Maine during the 2005–06 season, Bishop finished the regular season with a record of 21 wins, 8 loses and 2 ties, and a 2.28 goals against average. In October 2005 and February 2006 he was awarded Rookie of the Month as well as Goaltender of the Month by Hockey East. He was also named Rookie of the Week four separate times. Bishop led the Black Bears to the 2006 Frozen Four, losing to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the semifinals despite playing strongly. He led the Black Bears to the Frozen Four once again in 2007, but lost to Michigan State University, in the semi-finals 4–2. As a junior in the 2007–08 NCAA Men's Division 1 hockey competition, Bishop played behind a less than stellar team, but he had a stellar season, as he posted a 2.43 GAA with a .920 save percentage.

Bishop was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, 85th overall and became one of their top prospects. It was announced on March 11, 2008 that he had signed with the St. Louis Blues, and he played with Peoria for the remainder of that AHL season. In five games in 2008 with Peoria he posted a 2.39 GAA, as well as receiving a fighting major in his second career game.

It was announced on October 19, 2008 that Bishop was recalled from Peoria to join the Blues in St. Louis.^[3]

Bishop made his NHL debut October 24, 2008 against the Los Angeles Kings. He came into the game at the beginning of the second period after an injury to Manny Legacé.^[4] Legace tripped on the carpet that was laid out for Vice-Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, who dropped the first puck. Bishop ultimately appeared in six games with the Blues in 2008-09 and was the back-up goalie for all 4 of the team's playoff games that season.

After Jaroslav Halak was injured in the 2010-2011 season, Bishop was called up from Peoria. In his third game played of the season he would record his first NHL shutout, against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on February 25, 2011, stopping all 39 shots in a 5-0 win.

On July 5, 2011, Bishop signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.^[5]

On February 26, 2012, Bishop was traded to the Ottawa Senators for a second-round draft pick in the 2013 draft.^[6] A kitchen accident resulted in Senators' starting goalie Craig Anderson being injured indefinitely with a hand laceration, a situation which may have hastened Bishop's move to Ottawa^[7]. At the time of the trade, Bishop was the American Hockey League's top goaltender with a 24-14-0 record, a 2.26 goals against average, a 0.928 save percentage, and a league-leading six shutouts through 38 games^[8]. Bishop made his Senators debut against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 6, 2012, a game Ottawa won 7-3. He earned his second win in as many starts in a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers.

Career statistics

Awards and achievements

• Won 2005 NAHL National Championship
• Winning goaltender in 2005 NAHL All-Star Game
• Named to first All-Rookie NAHL team, 2004–05
• Named Texas Tornado Rookie of the Year, 2004–05
• Hockey East Rookie of the Week four times during 2005–06
• Hockey East Rookie of the Month in October 2005 and February 2006
• Named to NCAA All Regional Team in Albany 2006
• Inside College Hockey Player of the Month in October 2006
• Hockey East Player and Goaltender of the Month in October 2006
• Named to Florida Classic All Tournament Team in 2007
• Named to NCAA All Regional Team in Rochester in 2007
• Hockey East Goaltender of the Month in October 2007
• Named to Second Team All Hockey East 2008
• AHL All Star game MVP in February 2012

References

External links

• Ben Bishop's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Ben Bishop's NHL player profile
• University of Maine biography