Mike McKenna is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender who played for various teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) during his career. He was born on April 11, 1983, in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up playing hockey in the St. Louis area.
McKenna began his professional career in 2005 when he signed with the Las Vegas Wranglers of the ECHL. He played for several ECHL teams over the next few years before making his AHL debut with the Portland Pirates in 2007. He played for several AHL teams over the next few years, including the Binghamton Senators, Peoria Rivermen, and Springfield Falcons.
In 2009, McKenna made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in four games for the Lightning that season, posting a 1-1-1 record with a 3.00 goals against average (GAA) and a .912 save percentage (SV%). Over the next few years, McKenna bounced between the AHL and NHL, playing for several teams including the New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Arizona Coyotes.
In 2018, McKenna had a career year with the AHL's Texas Stars. He posted a 19-17-5 record with a 2.64 GAA and a .909 SV%, helping lead the team to the Calder Cup Finals. He also played in two NHL games that season for the Dallas Stars.
McKenna retired from professional hockey in 2019 after playing for the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators during the season. Over the course of his career, he played in 35 NHL games, posting a 6-15-4 record with a 3.96 GAA and a .891 SV%. He also played in 527 AHL games, posting a 243-215-57 record with a 2.70 GAA and a .913 SV%.
Off the ice, McKenna is known for his work as a broadcaster and analyst. He has worked for several media outlets, including NBC Sports Philadelphia, NHL Network, and SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He is also the co-host of the "Six Degrees with Mike McKenna" podcast, where he interviews current and former NHL players and coaches.
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