John Roger Muse (born August 1, 1988) is an American ice hockey goaltender who is currently with the Worcester Railers in the ECHL. He also previously played with Rødovre Mighty Bulls in the Danish Metal Ligaen, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).

John Muse
Born (1988-08-01) August 1, 1988 (age 36)
East Falmouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
ECHL team
Former teams
Worcester Railers
Portland Pirates
Charlotte Checkers
Texas Stars
Rochester Americans
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
WBS Penguins
Kunlun Red Star
Sheffield Steelers
Rødovre Mighty Bulls
Glasgow Clan
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2011–present

Playing career

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Amateur

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Muse grew up in Falmouth, Massachusetts and played high school hockey at Noble and Greenough School under the coaching of Brian Day. Muse led Nobles to Independent School League titles in 2004–05 and '05–06, and was named All-New England as a senior after compiling a 2.38 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage, with eight shutouts. He went on to play in college for the Boston College Eagles in the NCAA's Division I Hockey East conference.

Muse was a four-year player for Boston College, helping the Eagles to win the NCAA Division I National Championships in the 2007–2008 and 2009–2010 seasons, recording a 5–0 shutout against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2010 National Championship game, becoming only the fourth goalie to do so in NCAA history.

Muse also backstopped for BC's Hockey East regular-season championship in 2010, as well as Beanpot Tournament and Hockey East tournament championships in 2008, 2010, and 2011. He finished his collegiate career with a record of 89–39–16, including 12 shutouts.[1][2]

Professional

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Following his college career, Muse was signed to an amateur tryout contract by the AHL's Portland Pirates, winning his only start for them.[3] On July 18, 2011, Muse signed a two-way AHL deal with the Charlotte Checkers.[4] He attended 2011 training camp with the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, but was sent to Charlotte, then to Florida, for training camps.[5][6]

Muse's first full professional season saw him spending time in both the ECHL and AHL, recording 15 games in Charlotte and 25 in Florida, where he shared netminding duties with Pat Nagle. Muse helped to lead Florida to their first Kelly Cup and their third Kelly Cup Final, recording a shutout win against Kalamazoo (7–0, with 32 saves), and the first 2/3 of a shutout against Elmira (5–0, Muse had 11 saves, but he did not play the 3rd period due to a lower-body injury).[7] He was awarded the Kelly Cup MVP trophy following the Everblades victory in Game 5.[8]

On June 7, 2012, Muse was signed to his first NHL contract with the Everblades parent affiliate, the Carolina Hurricanes, on a one-year contract.[9] Due to the NHL lockout, Muse was directly returned initially to the Checkers, before splitting the year for a second consecutive season with the Everblades.

On August 6, 2013, with limited NHL interest, Muse signed as a free agent to remain in the ECHL with the Fort Wayne Komets.[10] After starting the season on the Komet's roster, Muse was signed to a PTO by the Checkers due to injuries to Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin.[11] In his first two starts for the Checkers, Muse recorded back to back 5–0 shutouts. By December, he had collected a record of 9–6–0 with a 2.29 GAA and .922 save percentage. As his PTO contract was nearing its end, the Checkers decided to extend an AHL deal to keep Muse in the organization through the end of the 2013–2014 season.[12]

On August 4, 2015, Muse left the Checkers as a free agent to sign a one-year AHL contract with the Texas Stars.[13] In the 2015–16 season, Muse assumed the backup role with the Stars, appearing in 19 games. Unable to replicate his form from previous years, Muse was traded by the Stars back to the Checkers for future considerations on February 29, 2016.[14] After returning to Charlotte, Muse assumed the starting role for 18 of the remaining 21 games, collecting a 9–6–1 record with a 2.08 G.A.A. and .918 Sv. %. On March 14, 2016, Muse was named the AHL Player of the Week for the third time in his career.[15]

On July 21, 2016, Muse continued his tenure in the AHL, signing a one-year contract as a free agent with the Rochester Americans.[16] In the 2016–17 season, Muse appeared in 14 games with the Americans, collecting just 3 wins. He split the season in being assigned to the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL for 6 games.

As a free agent from the Americans, Muse signed with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on a one-year deal on July 6, 2017.[17] After appearing in 8 games with the Phantoms, and proving an adequate option, Muse was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with NHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Flyers, for the remainder of the 2017–18 season on February 26, 2018.[18]

In the following off-season, Muse secured his second successive NHL contract, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2018.[19] In the following 2018–19 season, he split the year between Penguin affiliates, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL and the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL.

After spells with Kunlun Red Star, KRS-BSU and Danish club Rødovre Mighty Bulls, Muse signed for UK EIHL side Sheffield Steelers in March 2021, ahead of the 2021 Elite Series.

Muse rejoined Rodovre for the 2021-22 season.[20] In October 2022, Muse returned to the UK to join Glasgow Clan.[21]

On December 19, 2023, Muse signed an ECHL contract for the 2023-2024 season with the Worcester Railers.[22] Muse made his season debut for the Railers on December 29, 2023 vs the Reading Royals. Muse stopped all 28 shots he faced while earning the shutout victory and first star of the game honors.[23] Muse was named the ECHL Goaltender of the Week for December 27–31 after going 2-0-0 with one shutout, a 0.50 GAA and a .984 save percentage. This was the third time in Muse's career that he received ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors.[24]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2007–08 Boston College HE 44 25 11 8 2725 100 3 2.20 .921
2008–09 Boston College HE 37 18 14 5 2248 102 3 2.72 .904
2009–10 Boston College HE 29 19 8 2 1724 69 2 2.40 .910
2010–11 Boston College HE 34 27 6 1 1954 75 4 2.30 .920
2010–11 Portland Pirates AHL 1 1 0 0 65 2 0 1.85 .943
2011–12 Florida Everblades ECHL 25 16 6 3 1489 60 1 2.42 .920 13 11 2 776 23 1 1.78 .939
2011–12 Charlotte Checkers AHL 15 10 3 2 897 27 2 1.81 .941
2012–13 Florida Everblades ECHL 21 9 8 4 1229 75 0 3.66 .884
2012–13 Charlotte Checkers AHL 16 7 7 1 912 49 0 3.22 .891 1 0 0 27 1 0 2.26 .917
2013–14 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 1 0 0 1 65 3 0 2.77 .857
2013–14 Charlotte Checkers AHL 47 27 18 0 2657 121 5 2.73 .915
2014–15 Charlotte Checkers AHL 29 10 12 2 1612 72 0 2.68 .916
2015–16 Texas Stars AHL 19 9 3 3 893 45 0 3.02 .904
2015–16 Charlotte Checkers AHL 18 9 6 1 1010 35 0 2.08 .918
2016–17 Elmira Jackals ECHL 6 2 2 2 366 17 0 2.78 .925
2016–17 Rochester Americans AHL 14 3 8 0 741 38 1 3.08 .907
2017–18 Reading Royals ECHL 26 19 5 0 1578 59 3 2.24 .931 4 0 4 328 11 0 2.02 .945
2017–18 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 15 11 2 1 853 35 1 2.46 .919
2018–19 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 21 7 14 0 1235 70 1 3.40 .878
2018–19 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 10 6 4 0 560 28 2 3.00 .906
2019–20 KRS-BSU VHL 33 12 17 3 1896 80 2 2.53 .928
2019–20 Kunlun Red Star KHL 1 0 0 0 32 2 0 3.79 .889
2020–21 Rødovre Mighty Bulls Metal Ligaen 11 36 .898
2020–21 Sheffield Steelers Elite Series 5 2 2 0 266 15 0 3.38 .878
2021–22 Rødovre Mighty Bulls Metal Ligaen 21 2 8 0 1220 71 0 3.44 .900
2022–23 Glasgow Clan EIHL 36 12 24 0 2070 112 1 3.25 .910
2023–24 Worcester Railers ECHL 30 15 12 3 1774 82 2 2.77 .911
AHL totals 184 93 63 7 10,200 452 11 2.66 .914 1 0 0 27 1 0 2.26 .917

Awards and honors

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Award Year
Hockey East All-Tournament Team 2008, 2010, 2011 [25]
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2008 [26]
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 2010 [26]
All-Hockey East First Team 2010–11 [27][28]
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2010–11
  • 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP
  • 2011 Recipient of the Walter Brown Award, given to New England's Best American-born Division I College Hockey Player
  • 2011 Recipient of Boston College's "Outstanding Senior Male Scholar-Athlete Award."
  • Named Beanpot Tournament MVP in 2010, playing in the classic college hockey tournament. Also awarded the 2010 Eberly trophy, given annually to the goalie with the best save percentage in the Beanpot tournament.
  • 2007 co-winner of the Bernie Burke Outstanding Freshman Award
  • Holds BC records in saves (3,696), games played (144), and single season saves. (1,171, 2007–2008)
  • NCAA All Tournament Team 2008, 2010
  • 3 time CCM/AHL Player of the Week: 2013-2014 (2), 2016
  • 3 time CCM/ECHL Goaltender of the Week: 2017-2018 (2), 2023-2024

References

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  1. ^ BC Eagles Player Bio: John Muse Archived April 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "BC Eagles Player Bio: John Muse". Boston College. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  3. ^ Favat, Brian (April 6, 2011). "BC's John Muse Signs ATO With Portland Pirates". BCInterruption.com. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  4. ^ gocheckers.com, July 18, 2011 Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Preston, Ken. "Hurricanes Trim Training Camp Roster by Six". Carolina Hurricanes. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  6. ^ "ECHL transactions – Oct. 4". ECHL. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  7. ^ Wommack, Woody. "Game 3 Live Blog: Breaking News: Florida goalie John Muse to miss Game 3 with lower body injury, Pat Nagle to start; David Fischer returning". Naples Daily News. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  8. ^ Press Release. "Florida's Muse Named Most Valuable Player of Kelly Cup Playoffs". ECHL. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012.
  9. ^ "Hurricanes sign Goaltender John Muse". Carolina Hurricanes. June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  10. ^ "Komets add Championship Goaltender John Muse". Fort Wayne Komets. August 6, 2013. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  11. ^ "Checkers Sign John Muse to PTO - Charlotte Checkers Hockey - gocheckers.com". gocheckers.com.
  12. ^ "John Muse to Sign AHL Deal with Checkers - Charlotte Checkers Hockey - gocheckers.com". gocheckers.com.
  13. ^ "Texas Stars sign Evans and Muse to 2015–16 roster". Texas Stars. August 4, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Charlotte re-acquire John Muse from Texas Stars". Charlotte Checkers. February 29, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  15. ^ "CHECKERS' MUSE NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK". American Hockey League. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  16. ^ "Amerks sign Goalie John Muse to AHL contract". Rochester Americans. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  17. ^ "Phantoms sign 5 players to AHL contracts". Lehigh Valley Phantoms. July 6, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  18. ^ "Flyers sign Phantoms goaltender John Muse". broadstreethockey.com. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  19. ^ "Penguins sign four players to one-year, two-way contracts". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  20. ^ "John Muse vender tilbage til Mighty Bulls". June 2021.
  21. ^ "Glasgow Clan replace netminder Zach Driscoll with John Muse". October 14, 2022.
  22. ^ "Worcester Railers | RAILERS SIGN FORMER KELLY CUP PLAYOFF MVP". Worcester Railers. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  23. ^ "Gamesheet: Worcester at Reading - Dec 29, 2023". lscluster.hockeytech.com. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "Official Site of The ECHL | Worcester's Muse named Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week". ECHL. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "2013–14 Hockey East Media Guide". Hockey East. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  26. ^ a b "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  27. ^ "HockeyEastOnline.com – HOCKEY EAST ANNOUNCES 2010–2011 ALL-STAR TEAMS". www.hockeyeastonline.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  28. ^ Concord Monitor, March 18, 2011[permanent dead link]
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Hockey East Goaltending Champion
2010–11
Succeeded by