Kelly Hrudey, GCG Advisory BoardKelly Hrudey was instrumental in developing new techniques for goaltenders as a player and will be a valuable asset to the GCG consultants serving as part as a member of the GCG Advisory board. During his NHL career Hrudey played for the New York Islanders (1983-1989), Los Angeles Kings (1989-1996), and San Jose Sharks (1996-1998). He played junior hockey for three years with the WHL Medicine Hat Tigers where he was drafted in the second round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. Kelley first played for the Indianapolis Checkers, New York's minor league affiliate, and moved to the main club in the 1984-85 season.
Kelly was the Islanders' goaltender in 1987 when they defeated the Washington Capitals in the longest game in club history, a four-overtime Game 7 thriller known as the "Easter Epic", which was won on a goal by Pat Lafontaine after 68:47 of overtime. He made 73 saves in a 3-2 Islander victory that ended just before 2am on Easter morning. In 1989, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings and would play there for eight seasons. His most notable achievement was playing in the 1993 Stanley Cup finals, but the team lost to Patrick Roy's Montreal Canadians. In 1996, he signed with the San Jose Sharks and played his last two seasons there before retiring in 1998. After retirement he joined the Hockey Night in Canada team as an analyst, hosting the "Behind the Mask" segment. Nicknamed 'Hollywood' while playing in LA, Hrudey was also known for wearing a blue bandana underneath his mask throughout his career.
