If journeyman goaltender were listed in the dictionary you might see the name Mike McKenna as a definition.

That’s not to devalue the career of a man who has had to fight and claw his way for his opportunities – hauling his hockey bag across various parts of North America.

Originally selected 172nd overall by Nashville Predators in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, McKenna would remain unsigned after finishing his NCAA stint at St. Lawrence University.

Beginning with two seasons predominantly spent in the ECHL with Las Vegas Wranglers, McKenna has embarked upon a fourteen year (and counting) career, in which time he’s played for a remarkable total of 23 teams.

A veteran of 467 AHL games, McKenna owns a career .913 save percentage, a winning record of 226-175-52 and in the past two seasons has made consecutive appearances in the Calder Cup Final having played a huge role between the pipes for Syracuse Crunch and Texas Stars respectively.

Anyone not involved with the Toronto Marlies last summer would have been happy to see the Missouri native grab his first piece of silverware due to his standing in the league.

The 35 year old received his first real shot in the NHL during the 2008-09 season with Tampa Bay Lightening during which he received a total of fifteen games.

Up until the end of last season, McKenna had played just a further seven games in North America’s top tier and his days in the NHL appeared numbered.

However opportunity knocked after signing with the Ottawa organisation – a first involvement with a Canadian team.

As the organisations number three goaltender, McKenna was providing the Belleville Senators with the solid netminding they required until Mike Condon was reassigned to the AHL for a conditioning stint.
Sadly for Condon, he was injured after just one appearance for Belleville, insuring McKenna’s stay in the NHL has been extended until further notice.

His statistics have been nothing to write home about with .902 save percentage and a 1-3-1 record.
However, McKenna has faced an average of forty shots in his five starts to date, posting a league average .908 save percentage behind a team who have shipped goals (League worst 3.89GAA).
It should also be noted that three of those starts have been on the road and Ottawa are one of the worst teams on their travels this year with an abysmal 4-12-1 record.

With Craig Anderson now also out of action with an upper body injury, McKenna is now being relied upon to carry the load but this will doubtless phase such a level-headed character who almost single-handedly led the Texas Stars to a championship despite facing a barrage in all seven games of the final.

It’s merely a matter of time before McKenna is back in the AHL but you can guarantee he’s enjoying a second go around in the NHL and nobody would begrudge him this opportunity in what is the twilight of his career.