Anthony Stolarz (born January 20, 1994), is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...
goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near t ...
for the
Anaheim Ducks of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL). He previously played for the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Well ...
and
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
.
Born in
Edison, New Jersey
Edison is a township located in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan Valley region, Edison is a commercial hub, home to Menlo Park Mall and Little India. It ...
, and raised in
Jackson Township, Stolarz and his brother Todd played
junior ice hockey within the
New Jersey Devils organization. After playing two seasons with
Jackson Memorial High School
Jackson Memorial High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades in Jackson Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, opened in 1963 as part of the Jackson School Dist ...
and one season with the
New Jersey Hitmen
The Jersey Hitmen are a junior and youth ice hockey organization with teams in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), with its top level junior team playing in the USPHL's National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). The organi ...
of the
Empire Junior Hockey League
The Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league. The league was classified as Tier III Junior B until the 2011–12 season when USA Hockey combined the Tier III Junior A and Junior B classifi ...
, Stolarz moved to
Corpus Christi, Texas, to finish high school and play with the
Corpus Christi IceRays
The Corpus Christi IceRays are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The IceRays are based in Corpus Christi, Texas, and play in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The "IceRays" mo ...
of the
North American Hockey League. He attended the
University of Nebraska Omaha
The University of Nebraska Omaha (Omaha or UNO) is a public research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1908 by faculty from the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a private non-sectarian college, the university was originally kno ...
on a scholarship, but dropped out after only eight games with the
Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey
The Omaha Mavericks Men's Ice Hockey team, also called the Nebraska Omaha Mavericks and UNO Mavericks,The school's athletic identity varies according to the source:
* The school historically used "Nebraska–Omaha" (with a dash or hyphen) or "UNO", ...
team, instead signing with the
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The Knights started out in 1965 as the London Nationals but changed to their cu ...
of the
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overa ...
.
The Flyers signed Stolarz in the second round, 45th overall, of the
2012 NHL Entry Draft
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft was the 50th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held June 22–23, 2012, at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was the first time that Pittsburgh hosted the draft since the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. The top thr ...
. He spent two seasons playing with the
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are a professional ice hockey team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The team competes in the American Hockey League (AHL) and serves as the primary development team for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey L ...
, the Flyers'
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...
(AHL) affiliate, before making his major league debut in 2016, becoming the first goaltender from New Jersey to play in the NHL. He continued to spend time with the Phantoms and Flyers before being traded to the Oilers in 2019 in exchange for goaltender
Cam Talbot
Cameron Talbot (born July 5, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He had also played for the New York Rangers, the Edmonton Oilers, the Calgary Flames, the Philadelp ...
. Stolarz became a free agent at the end of the 2019 season and signed a two-season contract with the Ducks. He spent most of the 2019–20 season with the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the
San Diego Gulls
The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in San Diego, California, and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, the Gulls play th ...
, and only played one game with the Ducks before the NHL season was suspended due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
. Stolarz returned to the Ducks in the 2021 season, and won his first NHL game in over two years on March 28, 2021.
Early life
Stolarz was born on January 20, 1994, in
Edison, New Jersey
Edison is a township located in Middlesex County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in Central New Jersey within the core of the state's Raritan Valley region, Edison is a commercial hub, home to Menlo Park Mall and Little India. It ...
, and was raised in nearby
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Qu ...
.
A
New Jersey Devils fan, Stolarz grew up watching
goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near t ...
Martin Brodeur play ice hockey, as well as his older brother Todd, who served in goal for a New Jersey
junior ice hockey team.
The Stolarz brothers bonded as children by watching old videos of Brodeur and
Ron Hextall
Ronald Jeffrey Hextall (born May 3, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and executive. He is the current general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hextall played 13 seasons for ...
on the family television set, with Anthony asking questions about the goaltenders.
Always tall for his age, Stolarz began goaltending in
butterfly style
In ice hockey, butterfly style is a technique of goaltending distinguished by the goaltender guarding the lower part of the net by dropping to the knees to block attempts to score. The butterfly style derives its name from the resemblance of the ...
from the age of eight or nine to account for his height.
As a goaltender for New Jersey youth hockey teams, Stolarz played tournaments in
Wildwood and
Vineland
''Vineland'' is a 1990 novel by Thomas Pynchon, a postmodern fiction set in California, United States in 1984, the year of Ronald Reagan's reelection.Knabb 2002 Through flashbacks by its characters, who have lived the sixties in their youth, th ...
. In 2007, he made an appearance in the
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament
The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament (french: Tournoi international de hockey pee-wee de Québec) is an annual minor ice hockey event in Quebec City. The tournament was founded in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival, ...
with the Devils' minor hockey affiliate; and in 2009, he played for the Devils' under-16 youth national hockey team.
After spending his freshman year at
St. John Vianney High School, Stolarz transferred to
Jackson Memorial, where he spent two years playing hockey and basketball before moving to
Corpus Christi, Texas. During his junior and senior year of high school, Stolarz experienced a final
growth spurt
Human height or stature is the distance from the bottom of the feet to the top of the head in a human body, standing erect. It is measured using a stadiometer, in centimetres when using the metric system or SI system, or feet and inches when u ...
that took him from to .
Playing career
Amateur
During the 2010–11 season, Stolarz played with the
New Jersey Hitmen
The Jersey Hitmen are a junior and youth ice hockey organization with teams in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), with its top level junior team playing in the USPHL's National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC). The organi ...
of the
Empire Junior Hockey League
The Empire Junior Hockey League (EmJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league. The league was classified as Tier III Junior B until the 2011–12 season when USA Hockey combined the Tier III Junior A and Junior B classifi ...
(EmJHL). In 16 appearances with the Hitmen, Stolarz posted a 10–4–0 record with a 3.19
goals against average
Goals against average (GAA) also known as "average goals against" or "AGA" is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending ...
(GAA) and a .902
save percentage
Save percentage (often known by such symbols as SV%, SVS%, SVP, PCT) is a statistic in various goal-scoring sports that track saves as a statistic.
In ice hockey and lacrosse, it is a statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal ...
(SV%). In 2011, Stolarz wished to serve as the goaltender for the Hitmen's first-level team, a position that had already been given to Chris Funkey. He passed on a chance to serve on the second-level team, instead going to
Albany, New York
Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York C ...
, to try out for the
Corpus Christi IceRays
The Corpus Christi IceRays are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The IceRays are based in Corpus Christi, Texas, and play in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The "IceRays" mo ...
of the
North American Hockey League (NAHL).
Stolarz had a strong season with the IceRays in 2011–12, posting a 23–22–4–3 record, 2.84 GAA, and .920 SV% in 50 appearances with the club, including three
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
s.
Going into the
2012 NHL Entry Draft
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft was the 50th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held June 22–23, 2012, at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was the first time that Pittsburgh hosted the draft since the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. The top thr ...
, the
NHL Central Scouting Bureau The NHL Central Scouting Services (CSS) is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the profe ...
ranked Stolarz fourth among all North American goaltending draft prospects, and he was the only NAHL player invited to the 2012 NHL Draft Combine.
The
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Well ...
selected Stolarz in the second round, 45th overall, of the 2012 draft.
That same year, Stolarz accepted a scholarship to play college hockey at the
University of Nebraska Omaha
The University of Nebraska Omaha (Omaha or UNO) is a public research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1908 by faculty from the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a private non-sectarian college, the university was originally kno ...
.
Although Stolarz enjoyed most aspects of his time with the Omaha Mavericks, he was frustrated about splitting his time in goal with starting goaltender John Faulkner and backup Dayn Belfour, the son of former NHL player
Ed Belfour
Edward John Belfour (born April 21, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of ...
.
After playing only eight games for Omaha, Stolarz dropped out, accepting an offer from the
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The Knights started out in 1965 as the London Nationals but changed to their cu ...
of the
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overa ...
(OHL).
At the behest of his parents, Stolarz agreed to attend the
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames R ...
. His tuition would be taken care of by the Knights, who pay for the college education of all of their full-time players.
By the end of the
2012–13 OHL season
The 2012–13 OHL season was the 33rd season of the Ontario Hockey League. The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors were sold during the off-season. As part of the sale, the "St. Michael's Majors" name was returned to St. Michael's College School. ...
, Stolarz had become the Knights' starting goaltender. He went 13–3–2 in the final 20 games of the season, with a .920 SV% and 2.29 GAA. After posting a 13–5 record, 2.53 GAA, and .923 SV% in the first rounds of the 2013 OHL playoffs, Stolarz was benched during the championship series against the
Barrie Colts due to a subpar performance.
Stolarz returned to the Knights for the
2013–14 OHL season. On January 17, 2014, Stolarz was cut by a skate during a game against the
Saginaw Spirit
The Saginaw Spirit are a major junior ice hockey team based in Saginaw, Michigan. They are members of the West Division of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of the Major Junior leagues of the Canadian Hockey League ...
. He was taken out of the game on a stretcher only 3 minutes and 42 seconds into gameplay. The January 17 game was Stolarz' 50th regular-season appearance with the Knights, and at the time of his injury, he had a career 34–7–4 record with a 2.46 GAA, .923 SV%, and four shutouts. Stolarz underwent surgery for the cut, a procedure which required 55 stitches and required him to miss 17 games.
Shortly after his return, Stolarz received an eight-game suspension on March 26 after slashing
Windsor Spitfire forward
Josh Ho-Sang in the back of the head. Although he missed most of the playoffs, the OHL waived the final two games of Stolarz' suspension, allowing him to play in the 2014
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League, a consortium of three major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tournament played between t ...
. In his two seasons and 55 games with the Knights, Stolarz posted a 38–8–4 record, a 2.43 GAA, and a 0.924 SV%.
Professional
Philadelphia Flyers
![Stolarz Anthony (40224225591)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Stolarz_Anthony_%2840224225591%29.jpg)
Stolarz signed a three-year
entry-level contract
A two-way contract is a professional sports contract that stipulates that an athlete's salary is dependent upon the league in which the athlete is assigned to play. This is opposed to a one-way contract that would pay the same salary regardless of ...
with the Flyers on March 1, 2013. In May 2014, Stolarz received hip surgery, which caused him to miss the Flyers' development camp. Stolarz spent the
2014–15 season with the
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are a professional ice hockey team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The team competes in the American Hockey League (AHL) and serves as the primary development team for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey L ...
of the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...
(AHL), going 9–13–14 with a 3.28 GAA and .905 SV% in 31 games. He improved upon these numbers in the
2015–16 season, posting a 21–18–7 record, a 2.60 GAA, and a .916 SV%. On March 2, 2016, Stolarz set a Phantoms franchise record for
saves, stopping 51 shots in a 3–2 shootout win over the
Syracuse Crunch. Stolarz and Lehigh Valley teammate
Nick Cousins
Brian Nicholas Cousins (born July 20, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Cousins was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the third round (68th overall) of the 2011 ...
also appeared at the 2016
AHL All-Star Classic
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the lea ...
that January.
When
Michal Neuvirth
Michal Neuvirth ( , ; born 23 March 1988) is a Czech former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played for the Washington Capitals, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, and Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selecte ...
was placed on the
injured reserve with a sprained knee, Stolarz was called up to the Flyers on November 13, 2016. It was his ninth major-league recall in three seasons; at no point in the first eight did he play in an NHL game. Stolarz made his NHL debut on November 27, 2016, in a 5–3 victory over the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
. In doing so, he became the first goaltender born in New Jersey to play in an NHL game. He played seven games with the Flyers in the
2016–17 season, including one
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
against the
Detroit Red Wings, and posted a 2–1–1 record with a 2.07 GAA and a .928 SV%.
In April 2017, Stolarz underwent surgery to repair a
medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament (MCL), or tibial collateral ligament (TCL), is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial (inner) side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. Its primary function is to resist outwar ...
tear in his right knee. That June, Stolarz was named as one of eleven Flyers that were protected from the
2017 NHL Expansion Draft
Seventeen or 17 may refer to:
*17 (number), the natural number following 16 and preceding 18
* one of the years 17 BC, AD 17, 1917, 2017
Literature
Magazines
* ''Seventeen'' (American magazine), an American magazine
* ''Seventeen'' (Japanese m ...
. On July 15, 2017, the Flyers signed Stolarz and fellow goaltender
Alex Lyon to one-year, two way contracts. In September 2017, Stolarz underwent his second knee surgery of the year, repairing a torn left
meniscus
Meniscus may refer to:
*Meniscus (anatomy), crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that partly divides a joint cavity
*Meniscus (liquid)
The meniscus (plural: ''menisci'', from the Greek for "crescent") is the curve in the upper surface ...
. Recovery, as well as a follow-up surgery, kept Stolarz off of the roster for nearly the entire 2017–18 season. He returned for three rehab assignments with the
Reading Royals
The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the North Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Santander Arena located in downtown R ...
of the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The ...
and one appearance with the Phantoms.
Stolarz received a
qualifying offer
A restricted free agent (RFA) is a type of free agent in the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), or National Basketball Association (NBA). Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain ...
from the Flyers on June 25, 2018, and was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract as a
restricted free agent
A restricted free agent (RFA) is a type of free agent in the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), or National Basketball Association (NBA). Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain ...
on July 18. He spent the bulk of the 2018–19 season with the Phantoms, but after a series of injuries befell Neuvirth, Lyon, and
Brian Elliott
Brian Elliott (born April 9, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the ninth round, 291st overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry ...
, and
Calvin Pickard
Calvin Pickard (born April 15, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey Lea ...
was traded, Stolarz and rookie
Carter Hart
Carter Hart ( ; born August 13, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Born and raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Hart began training with a sport psychologist f ...
became the Flyers' primary goaltenders by January 2019. On January 29, 2019, Stolarz shut out the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...
1–0. In his final game with the Flyers on February 12, 2019, Stolarz made 35 saves in a 5–4 win over the
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Xcel Ener ...
.
Edmonton Oilers
On February 15, 2019, the Flyers traded Stolarz to the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
in exchange for goaltender
Cam Talbot
Cameron Talbot (born July 5, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He had also played for the New York Rangers, the Edmonton Oilers, the Calgary Flames, the Philadelp ...
. Stolarz made his team debut on February 27, 2019, replacing starting goaltender
Mikko Koskinen
Mikko Koskinen (born 18 July 1988) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for HC Lugano of the National League (NL). Koskinen was drafted in the second round, 31st overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders.
Playing ...
in the second period of a 6–2 loss to the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
. He made his first start for the team on March 9, 2019, in 3–2 overtime loss against the Maple Leafs when Koskinen came down with the flu. Stolarz became a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
at the end of the 2019 season. In a combined 18 games for the Flyers and Oilers in the 2018–19 season, he posted a 4–5–3 record with one shutout, a 3.45 GAA, and a .901 SV%.
Anaheim Ducks
On July 3, 2019, the
Anaheim Ducks signed Stolarz out of free agency to a two-season, $1.5 million contract. He had competition for a roster spot, as the Ducks also had veteran goaltenders
John Gibson and
Ryan Miller
Ryan Dean Miller (born July 17, 1980) is an American former ice hockey goaltender who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) mostly for the Buffalo Sabres. Miller was drafted 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL E ...
under contract. Stolarz was assigned to the
San Diego Gulls
The San Diego Gulls are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in San Diego, California, and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks, the Gulls play th ...
, the Ducks' AHL affiliate, on September 26, 2019. Stolarz spent most of the
2019–20 season with the Gulls, accumulating a 21–12–5 record, 2.65 GAA, and .922 SV% in 38 games and making an appearance at the
AHL All-Star Classic
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the lea ...
before being called up to the Ducks on March 1, 2020. Stolarz made his first start for the Ducks on March 11, 2020, in what would be the final regular-season game played by the Ducks before the NHL suspended play due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
. He made 33 out of 35 saves in a 4–2 loss against the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the ...
.
On January 7, 2021, the Ducks signed Stolarz to a two-year contract extension, going through the 2022–23 NHL season. In his second start as a Duck on March 28, 2021, Stolarz stopped 38 shots in a 3–2 overtime victory over the Blues. It was his first NHL win since February 12, 2019.
On April 12, Stolarz set a Ducks franchise record for most saves by a goalie in a shutout, stopping 46 pucks in a 4–0 win over the
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...
. Stolarz spent much of the shortened 2021 season on the Ducks'
taxi squad
In sports, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. Frequently used in gridiron football, they serve as extra players during the team's practices, ...
. In his eight appearances, he amassed a 4–3–0 record with 2.20 GAA, a .926 SV%, and one shutout.
International play
Stolarz was selected to represent the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
at the
2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He played a shutout game against
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, stopping all 15 shots faced in an 8–0 United States victory.
Stolarz made his senior international debut at the
2021 IIHF World Championship
The 2021 IIHF World Championship () took place from 21 May to 6 June 2021. It was originally to be co-hosted by Minsk, Belarus and Riga, Latvia, as the IIHF announced on 19 May 2017 in Cologne, Germany. Their joint bid won by a very tight margi ...
, starting Game 1 in goal for the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. He suffered an ankle injury five minutes into the first period of the first game, however, and had to be replaced by backup goaltender
Jake Oettinger
Jakob Oettinger ( ; born December 18, 1998), nicknamed Otter, is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for Boston University during his collegiate ca ...
. On May 25, 2021, it was announced that Stolarz would not return for the remainder of the series. Team USA took bronze in the tournament after defeating
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
in the finals.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stolarz, Anthony
1994 births
Living people
American men's ice hockey goaltenders
Anaheim Ducks players
Edmonton Oilers players
Ice hockey players from New Jersey
Jackson Memorial High School alumni
Lehigh Valley Phantoms players
London Knights players
Omaha Mavericks men's ice hockey players
Philadelphia Flyers draft picks
Philadelphia Flyers players
Reading Royals players
San Diego Gulls (AHL) players
Sportspeople from Jackson Township, New Jersey
St. John Vianney High School (New Jersey) alumni