Joe Cannata Explained

Joe Cannata
Team:Löwen Frankfurt
Former Teams:Chicago Wolves
Utica Comets
Hershey Bears
San Antonio Rampage
IK Oskarshamn
League:DEL
Birth Date:2 January 1990
Birth Place:Wakefield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:201
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
Draft:173rd overall
Draft Year:2009
Draft Team:Vancouver Canucks
Career Start:2011

Joe Cannata (born January 2, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with Löwen Frankfurt in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Cannata was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the sixth round, 173rd overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft after his freshman season at Merrimack where he played in 23 games. Internationally, Cannata has represented the United States at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Kazan, Russia.

Playing career

Amateur

Joe Cannata played high school hockey at Boston College High School. In his junior year he helped lead the team to its second consecutive Super Eight Championship. Shortly after the victory he was invited to attend a try out for the U-18 US NTDP. This was followed by an invitation to play for Merrimack College in the Hockey East Conference.[1]

Cannata made his collegiate debut with the Merrimack Warriors on October 18, 2008 against Army. He stopped all 44 shots to become the first goaltender in school history to register a shutout in his first career game.[2] In his junior and senior years he was regularly regarded as one of the top goalies in the Hockey East Association conference.[3]

Professional

On March 21, 2012, Cannata signed an entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[4] On April 2, 2012 he signed an amateur try-out contract with Vancouver's AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves.[5] He made his professional hockey debut on April 15 for the final regular season game for Chicago. Cannata made 38 saves and earned the 4–2 win over the Peoria Rivermen. He was subsequently released from his tryout contract on April 16 as he was ineligible to play for the team in the playoffs.[6] Later that year, Cannata returned to Merrimack where he completed his business degree. On April 25, 2013 Cannata was called up to parent club, the Vancouver Canucks.

On July 1, 2016, Cannata left the Canucks as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way deal with the Washington Capitals.[7] In the 2016–17 season, Cannata was assigned to AHL affiliate the Hershey Bears. In 22 games with the Bears, Cannata was victorious in 11 games however was relegated to third-string status and assigned to ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays on February 14, 2017. At the NHL trade deadline, he was dealt by the Capitals to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Cody Corbett on March 1, 2017. He was directly assigned to add a veteran presence to AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.[8]

On July 1, 2017, Cannata as a free agent opted to remain with the Avalanche, agreeing to a one-year, two way contract.[9] Signed to add an organizational depth to the goaltending position, Cannata was recalled early in the 2017–18 season, to accompany the team to Sweden for two regular season games against the Ottawa Senators. Upon the club's return to Denver, Cannata was re-assigned to secondary affiliate, the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL. Cannata posted a league best .931 save percentage, collecting 21 wins through 28 games on route to helping the Eagles capture their second successive Kelly Cup.

On July 2, 2018, Cannata re-signed to continue his association with the Avalanche on a one-year, two-way contract.[10] In the 2018–19 season, Cannata played primarily at the ECHL level with the Utah Grizzlies, posting 17 wins in 40 games.

On May 17, 2019, Cannata opted to pursue a European career, and signed a one-year contract with IF Björklöven of the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan.[11]

As a free agent on August 6, 2020, Cannata signed an initial two-year contract with IK Oskarshamn of the top tiered Swedish Hockey League.[12] Cannata remained with Oskarshamn for three seasons, making 94 regular season appearances and collecting 42 wins.

At the conclusion of his contract with IK Oskarshamn, Cannata left Sweden to sign a one-year contract with German club, Löwen Frankfurt of the DEL, on June 9, 2023.[13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2007–08U.S. National Team Development ProgramU-1829 16 14 1 1781 76 1 2.56 .899
2007–08U.S. National Team Development ProgramNAHL5 3 1 1 307 12 0 2.35 .914
2008–09Merrimack CollegeHE23 7 10 4 1353 53 2 2.35 .918
2009–10Merrimack CollegeHE24 10 13 1 1362 69 1 3.04 .902
2010–11Merrimack CollegeHE39 25 10 4 2251 93 1 2.48 .911
2011–12Merrimack CollegeHE36 17 12 7 2182 79 2 2.17 .925
2011–12Chicago WolvesAHL1 1 0 0 60 2 0 2.00 .950
2012–13Kalamazoo WingsECHL7 3 4 0 419 23 0 3.29 .905
2012–13Chicago WolvesAHL14 6 6 0 747 33 0 2.65 .912
2013–14Utica CometsAHL28 11 12 1 1484 70 0 2.83 .907
2014–15Ontario ReignECHL21 12 6 2 1249 42 1 2.02 .9279445152022.33.904
2014–15Utica CometsAHL5 3 2 0 302 10 0 1.99 .932
2015–16Utica CometsAHL40 20 13 6 2381 100 2 2.52 .909311141702.98.897
2016–17Hershey BearsAHL22 11 5 4 1265 68 0 3.22 .876
2016–17South Carolina StingraysECHL3 3 0 0 180 7 0 2.33 .916
2016–17San Antonio RampageAHL6 2 3 0 316 19 0 3.60 .872
2017–18Colorado EaglesECHL28 21 5 2 1679 62 2 2.22 .9312416714346122.55.913
2017–18San Antonio RampageAHL5 3 0 1 261 8 1 1.84 .920
2018–19Utah GrizzliesECHL40 17 16 6 2355 113 4 2.88 .904
2019–20IF BjörklövenAllsv41 33 8 0 2479 71 6 1.72 .938211119301.55.944
2020–21IK OskarshamnSHL44 18 24 0 2563 119 1 2.79 .911
2021–22IK OskarshamnSHL28 13 15 0 1663 89 0 3.21 .89211060101.00.971
2022–23IK OskarshamnSHL22 10 11 0 1226 63 0 3.08 .901
2023–24Löwen FrankfurtDEL27 11 15 0 1587 78 1 2.95 .898
AHL totals121 57 41 12 6816 310 3 2.73 .903311141702.98.897

International

Awards and honors

AwardYear
USHS
Boston College High School MVP 2006–2007
College
HE Defensive Player of the Month November 2010
Walter Brown Award finalist 2010–2011
Hobey Baker Award candidate 2010–2011
HE Defensive Player of the Month October 2011 [14]
HE Defensive Player of the Week November 7, 2011 [15]
HE Defensive Player of the Week November 14, 2011 [16]
All-HE First Team2011–12
AHCA East Second-Team All-American2011–12
ECHL
Best SVS% (.931)2018
Kelly Cup (Colorado Eagles)2018[17]

Records

Merrimack College

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harris. Stephen. Boston Herald: No Stopping Joe Cannata. Merrimack College. 2011-10-31. 2008-06-18.
  2. Web site: Joe Cannata. Merrimack College. 31 October 2011.
  3. Web site: Joe Cannata's Merrimack College Profile . . 2012-03-04 . 2012-03-04.
  4. Web site: Canucks sign goaltender Joe Cannata. Vancouver Canucks. April 16, 2012. March 21, 2012.
  5. Web site: Wolves Receive Corrado from Canucks, Sign Cannata. Chicago Wolves. April 16, 2012. April 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131227082707/http://www.chicagowolves.com/releases/3032-wolves-receive-corrado-from-canucks-sign-cannata. December 27, 2013. dead.
  6. Web site: Wolves Release Cannata. Chicago Wolves. April 16, 2012. April 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120421033426/http://www.chicagowolves.com/releases/3056-wolves-release-cannata. April 21, 2012. dead.
  7. Web site: Capitals sign Cannata, Dietz and Thomas . . 2016-07-01 . 2016-07-01.
  8. Web site: Avalanche/Rampage acquire Joe Cannata from Washington . . 2017-03-01 . 2017-03-01.
  9. Web site: Avalanche sign Agozzino, Warsofsky and Cannata . . 2017-07-01 . 2017-07-01.
  10. Web site: Avalanche signs Cannata, Kosmachuk and Dries . . 2018-07-02 . 2018-07-02.
  11. Web site: Goalkeeper signs . sv . 2019-05-17 . 2019-05-17 . .
  12. Web site: Cannata Signs in Sweden's Top Division . themackreport.com . August 6, 2020 . May 4, 2021.
  13. Web site: . Lions sign goaltending duo, Cannata and Cupper . July 9, 2023 . July 9, 2023 . German .
  14. Web site: Joe Cannata Named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Month. Merrimack College. 2011-11-01. 2011-11-01.
  15. Web site: Cannata Named HEA Defensive Player of the Week; #4/6 Merrimack Earns 3 First-Place Votes. Merrimack College. 2011-11-07. 2011-11-07.
  16. Web site: Hockey 2nd in Country; Cannata Named HEA Defensive Player of the Week. Merrimack College. 2011-11-18. 2011-11-14.
  17. Web site: Back-to-back Kelly Cup Champions . . 2018-06-10 . 2018-06-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101932/http://coloradoeagles.com/echl-news/back-to-back-kelly-cup-champions/ . 2018-06-20 . dead .
  18. Web site: Cannata Heads To Chicago. Chicago Wolves. 2012-11-27. 2012-11-27.