Álvaro "Al" Montoya (born February 13, 1985 in Glenview, Illinois) is a professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Phoenix Coyotes's American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Montoya is the first Cuban-American to play in the NHL.^[1]

[edit] Playing career

Montoya played youth hockey for the Chicago Young Americans and Loyola Academy Gold and amateur hockey for the Texas Tornado of the North American Hockey League and the U.S. National Team Development Program prior to attending the University of Michigan for three years, beginning in the 2002–03 season. He enjoyed success at Michigan, especially during his final season in 2004–05, where he posted a record of 30 wins, 7 losses and 3 ties. Team USA won gold at the 2004 World Junior Championship with Al Montoya backstopping them and was named to the all-tournament team. Montoya was drafted by the Rangers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft with the sixth overall pick. He made his professional debut with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League in the 2005–06 season.

On February 26, 2008, Montoya was traded from the New York Rangers, along with Marcel Hossa, to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Fredrik Sjöström, David LeNeveu, and Josh Gratton.^[2] Montoya had become expendable due to the emergence of Henrik Lundqvist.

Montoya's feisty style of play shows that of Rick DiPietro, another American-born goalie who fought for NHL duties. After re-signing with the Coyotes on July 2, 2008,^[3] Montoya started the 2008–09 season with the San Antonio Rampage, an AHL affiliate of the Coyotes, backing up Josh Tordjman. Late in the season Montoya made his NHL debut with the Coyotes on April 1, 2009, picking up the shutout in a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.^[4]

[edit] Awards and achievements

• 2002–03 CCHA All-Rookie Team
• 2002–03 CCHA All-Tournament Team
• 2003–04 CCHA Second All-Star Team
• 2003–04 NCAA West Second All-American Team
• 2008-09 AHL Goalie of The Year

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Al Montoya's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• AHL Profile

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