Andrew Raycroft is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for various teams. He was born on May 4, 1980, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Raycroft started his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Kingston Frontenacs in 1997. He played for the Frontenacs for four seasons and was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fifth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Raycroft made his NHL debut with the Bruins in the 2000-2001 season. He played in 11 games and recorded a 2.42 goals-against average (GAA) and a .918 save percentage (SV%). In the following season, Raycroft became the Bruins' starting goaltender and had a breakout year. He played in 57 games and recorded a 2.05 GAA and a .926 SV%. Raycroft was named the NHL's Rookie of the Year and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, which is awarded to the league's best goaltender.
However, Raycroft's success was short-lived. He struggled in the following season and lost his starting job to Tim Thomas. The Bruins traded Raycroft to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006 for a draft pick. Raycroft played for the Maple Leafs for one season and had a 2.99 GAA and a .894 SV% in 72 games.
After his stint with the Maple Leafs, Raycroft bounced around the NHL, playing for the Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and Dallas Stars. He also played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Texas Stars and the Charlotte Checkers. Raycroft retired from professional hockey in 2014.
Throughout his career, Raycroft played in 230 NHL games and had a 2.89 GAA and a .900 SV%. He also played in 27 AHL games and had a 2.68 GAA and a .912 SV%. Raycroft's best season was his rookie year with the Bruins, where he had a 2.05 GAA and a .926 SV%.
In addition to his NHL career, Raycroft also represented Canada in international competitions. He played for Canada at the 2000 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and won a gold medal. Raycroft also played for Canada at the 2004 Spengler Cup and won a silver medal.
In conclusion, Andrew Raycroft had a successful NHL career, highlighted by his Rookie of the Year award and his Vezina Trophy nomination. Although he struggled after his breakout year, Raycroft continued to play in the NHL and AHL for several years. He also represented Canada in international competitions and won a gold and silver medal.
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