Joe Cannata (born January 2, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with the Norfolk Admirals in the ECHL. 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.

Joe Cannata
Cannata with the Utica Comets in 2015
Born (1990-01-02) January 2, 1990 (age 34)
Wakefield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
ECHL team
Former teams
Norfolk Admirals
Chicago Wolves
Utica Comets
Hershey Bears
San Antonio Rampage
IK Oskarshamn
Löwen Frankfurt
NHL draft 173rd overall, 2009
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2011–present

Playing career

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Amateur

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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]

 
Cannata in 2012 while playing for the Chicago Wolves.

Professional

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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.[10]

On July 2, 2018, Cannata re-signed to continue his association with the Avalanche on a one-year, two-way contract.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13] 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 Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), on June 9, 2023.[14]

After a lone season in the DEL, Cannata extended his professional career in returning to North American following 5 seasons abroad. He was signed to a contract for the 2024–25 season with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL on November 1, 2024.[15]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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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 U.S. National Team Development Program U-18 29 16 14 1 1781 76 1 2.56 .899
2007–08 U.S. National Team Development Program NAHL 5 3 1 1 307 12 0 2.35 .914
2008–09 Merrimack College HE 23 7 10 4 1353 53 2 2.35 .918
2009–10 Merrimack College HE 24 10 13 1 1362 69 1 3.04 .902
2010–11 Merrimack College HE 39 25 10 4 2251 93 1 2.48 .911
2011–12 Merrimack College HE 36 17 12 7 2182 79 2 2.17 .925
2011–12 Chicago Wolves AHL 1 1 0 0 60 2 0 2.00 .950
2012–13 Kalamazoo Wings ECHL 7 3 4 0 419 23 0 3.29 .905
2012–13 Chicago Wolves AHL 14 6 6 0 747 33 0 2.65 .912
2013–14 Utica Comets AHL 28 11 12 1 1484 70 0 2.83 .907
2014–15 Ontario Reign ECHL 21 12 6 2 1249 42 1 2.02 .927 9 4 4 515 20 2 2.33 .904
2014–15 Utica Comets AHL 5 3 2 0 302 10 0 1.99 .932
2015–16 Utica Comets AHL 40 20 13 6 2381 100 2 2.52 .909 3 1 1 141 7 0 2.98 .897
2016–17 Hershey Bears AHL 22 11 5 4 1265 68 0 3.22 .876
2016–17 South Carolina Stingrays ECHL 3 3 0 0 180 7 0 2.33 .916
2016–17 San Antonio Rampage AHL 6 2 3 0 316 19 0 3.60 .872
2017–18 Colorado Eagles ECHL 28 21 5 2 1679 62 2 2.22 .931 24 16 7 1434 61 2 2.55 .913
2017–18 San Antonio Rampage AHL 5 3 0 1 261 8 1 1.84 .920
2018–19 Utah Grizzlies ECHL 40 17 16 6 2355 113 4 2.88 .904
2019–20 IF Björklöven Allsv 41 33 8 0 2479 71 6 1.72 .938 2 1 1 119 3 0 1.55 .944
2020–21 IK Oskarshamn SHL 44 18 24 0 2563 119 1 2.79 .911
2021–22 IK Oskarshamn SHL 28 13 15 0 1663 89 0 3.21 .892 1 1 0 60 1 0 1.00 .971
2022–23 IK Oskarshamn SHL 22 10 11 0 1226 63 0 3.08 .901
2023–24 Löwen Frankfurt DEL 27 11 15 0 1587 78 1 2.95 .898
AHL totals 121 57 41 12 6816 310 3 2.73 .903 3 1 1 141 7 0 2.98 .897

International

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Year Team Event Result GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2008 United States WJC18   2 1 1 0 120 7 0 3.50 .851
Junior totals 2 1 1 0 120 7 0 3.50 .851

Awards and honors

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Award Year
USHS
Boston College High School MVP 2006–2007
College
HE Defensive Player of the Month November 2010 [2]
Walter Brown Award finalist 2010–2011 [2]
Hobey Baker Award candidate 2010–2011 [2]
HE Defensive Player of the Month October 2011 [16]
HE Defensive Player of the Week November 7, 2011 [17]
HE Defensive Player of the Week November 14, 2011 [18]
All-HE First Team 2011–12
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2011–12
ECHL
Best SVS% (.931) 2018
Kelly Cup (Colorado Eagles) 2018 [10]

Records

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Merrimack College

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  • Career wins: 59 (2008–2012)[19]

References

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  1. ^ Harris, Stephen (2008-06-18). "Boston Herald: No Stopping Joe Cannata". Merrimack College. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  2. ^ a b c d "Joe Cannata". Merrimack College. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Joe Cannata's Merrimack College Profile". Merrimack Warriors. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  4. ^ "Canucks sign goaltender Joe Cannata". Vancouver Canucks. March 21, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "Wolves Receive Corrado from Canucks, Sign Cannata". Chicago Wolves. April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  6. ^ "Wolves Release Cannata". Chicago Wolves. April 16, 2012. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  7. ^ "Capitals sign Cannata, Dietz and Thomas". Washington Capitals. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  8. ^ "Avalanche/Rampage acquire Joe Cannata from Washington". San Antonio Rampage. 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  9. ^ "Avalanche sign Agozzino, Warsofsky and Cannata". Colorado Avalanche. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  10. ^ a b "Back-to-back Kelly Cup Champions". Colorado Eagles. 2018-06-10. Archived from the original on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2018-06-10.
  11. ^ "Avalanche signs Cannata, Kosmachuk and Dries". Colorado Avalanche. 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  12. ^ "Goalkeeper signs" (in Swedish). IF Björklöven. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  13. ^ "Cannata Signs in Sweden's Top Division". themackreport.com. August 6, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  14. ^ "Lions sign goaltending duo, Cannata and Cupper" (in German). Löwen Frankfurt. July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Admirals sign Kelly Cup Champion goaltender Joe Cannata". Norfolk Admirals. November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  16. ^ "Joe Cannata Named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Month". Merrimack College. 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  17. ^ "Cannata Named HEA Defensive Player of the Week; #4/6 Merrimack Earns 3 First-Place Votes". Merrimack College. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  18. ^ "Hockey 2nd in Country; Cannata Named HEA Defensive Player of the Week". Merrimack College. 2011-11-14. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
  19. ^ "Cannata Heads To Chicago". Chicago Wolves. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
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