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Princeton University Athletics
Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Claims Condon '13
October 11, 2016 | Men's Ice Hockey
The 2016 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins have claimed goaltender Mike Condon '13 off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.
Condon is signed through the end of the 2016-17 regular season to a one-way contract at the NHL level.
He is expected to back up starter Marc-Andre Fleury. Matt Murray, the other Penguins goalie is out with an injury suffered at the World Cup of Hockey.
Condon was the starter for the Montreal Canadiens in 2015-16 as a rookie. He nabbed the spot after Carey Price went out for the season with an injury and earned his place on the roster during preseason by besting incumbent Dustin Tokarski. Condon started the season with a hot 5-2-2 record before Price got re-injured and he took the starting role for the rest of the season. He started in 51 of 55 games played and finished with 21-25-6 record, a .903 save percentage and a 2.71 goals against average. His 21 wins tied win for the NHL lead among rookies. His 55 games by a Habs rookie goalie is the most since Ken Dryden (Cornell) in 1971-72. Condon most notably helped the Canadiens win the 2016 Winter Classic in his home state of Massachusetts where he stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 5-1 victory. He was named the Canadiens nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is presented to the NHL player "who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."
This spring, Condon was named to the US Hockey roster for the World Championship and helped the Americans to a bronze medal.
After he graduated Princeton in 2013, Condon steadily progressed through the professional leagues. He started with Ontario (ECHL) and worked his way up to being the top goalie in the AHL. Last year with Hamilton, Condon posted a 23-19-6 record with a 2.44 GAA and a .921 save percentage in 48 games. He signed a two-year extension on his contract with Montreal in February 2015, extending him through 2016-17.
Condon is no stranger to the Pittsburgh organization. He played for its ECHL affiliate Wheeling in 2013-14, finishing with the best save percentage in the league at .931 with six shutouts a 2.18 GAA and 23 victories.
Pittsburgh opens the season on Thursday, Oct. 13 hosting Washington. Three games later, Condon will return to Montreal where the Penguins will face Montreal on Tuesday, Oct. 18.