Eric Comrie (born July 6, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Jets in the second round (59th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Eric Comrie
Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken - October 25, 2022 - Jordan Eberle, Eric Comrie and Rasmus Dahlin.jpg
Comrie with the Buffalo Sabres in 2022
Born (1995-07-06) July 6, 1995 (age 29)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams
Winnipeg Jets
Detroit Red Wings
New Jersey Devils
Buffalo Sabres
NHL draft 59th overall, 2013
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 2014–present

Playing career

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Amateur

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Comrie was born in Edmonton, Alberta but moved to Newport Beach, California with his family when he was nine.[1][2] He played minor ice hockey with the LA Selects (now the LA Jr. Kings) in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.[3] As a youth, he played in the 2008 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the LA Selects.[4] Comrie was drafted in the 1st round, 13th overall, by the Tri-City Americans in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. During the 2010–11 season, Comrie played for the Selects U16 team, posting a save % of .940 and a GAA of 1.34 over 19 games.

Comrie made his WHL debut on April 10, 2011 with the Americans in a playoff game against the Spokane Chiefs in relief of goaltender Drew Owsley in a 6-3 loss. During Comrie's rookie 2011–12 rookie season with Tri-City, he appeared in 31 games, posting a save percentage of .900. Comrie improved on his play in the 2012–13 season until a hip injury shut him down after 37 appearances.[5] At the end of the season he was ranked 2nd amongst North American goaltenders by the NHL Central Scouting Service.[6] Comrie was drafted in the 2nd round (59th overall) by the Winnipeg Jets. Comrie had a strong 2013–14 season, leading the WHL in save percentage (.925) and was named to the WHL (West) Second All Star team.

Professional

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On December 24, 2013, the Jets signed Comrie to a three-year, entry-level contract.[7] At the conclusion of the Americans' 2013–14 season, Comrie joined the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps; he went winless in two appearances. Comrie once again joined the IceCaps at the end of the Americans' season the following year, and went (2–1–0) in three games.[8]

 
Comrie at the 2016 AHL All-Star Game

Comrie joined the AHL full-time for the 2015–16 season. The IceCaps moved and were renamed the Manitoba Moose. In his first full professional season, Comrie posted a 13–25–7 record. His numbers were similar the following year, going 18–25–2.

On April 5, 2017, Comrie received his first career recall by the Jets.[9] He made his NHL debut on April 6 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, making 35 saves in a 5–4 win.[10]

On September 7, 2019, the Jets signed Comrie to a two-year, $1.4 million contract extension.[11] He was placed on waivers on September 30, and was claimed by the Arizona Coyotes the following day.[12][13] After beginning the season with the Coyotes (but not making any appearances), Comrie was assigned to the team's AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, on November 9 for conditioning purposes.[14] On November 30, the Coyotes traded Comrie to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Vili Saarijärvi.[15] In his first start of the season on December 10, Comrie allowed five goals on 30 shots in a 5–1 loss to his former team, the Jets.[16] On December 19, Comrie returned to the Jets after being claimed off waivers.[17]

After attending the Jets training camp, prior to the delayed 2020–21 season, Comrie was placed on waivers by Winnipeg and was subsequently claimed by the New Jersey Devils on January 12, 2021.[18] On February 18, Comrie was reclaimed off waivers by the Jets.[19]

On July 13, 2022, Comrie as a free agent from the Jets inked a two-year contract $3.6 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[20]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Sabres, Comrie returned to the Jets as a free agent, beginning his third stint with the club by agreeing to a two-year, $1.65 million contract on July 1, 2024.[21]

International play

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Medal record
Representing   Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
  2017 Germany/France
IIHF World U20 Championship
  2015 Canada

During the 2012–13 season Comrie played for Team Pacific 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, finishing fifth. He went on to win a gold medal playing for Team Canada at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.[22] He also played for Team Canada in the U-20 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, helping lead them to a gold medal.

Personal life

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Comrie is the son of The Brick founder Bill Comrie, and the paternal half-brother of former NHL players Paul and Mike Comrie.[1] In 2013–14 and again in 2014–15, Comrie was teammates with his younger brother, Ty, on the Tri-City Americans major junior hockey team.[23]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2010-11 Tri-City Americans WHL 1 0 0 20 1 0 3.00 .929
2011–12 Tri-City Americans WHL 31 19 6 2 1663 74 3 2.67 .900
2012–13 Tri-City Americans WHL 37 20 14 3 2178 95 2 2.62 .915
2013–14 Tri-City Americans WHL 60 26 25 9 3523 151 4 2.57 .924 5 1 4 295 17 0 3.46 .917
2013–14 St. John's IceCaps AHL 2 0 2 0 113 12 0 6.35 .829
2014–15 Tri-City Americans WHL 40 20 19 1 2402 115 1 2.87 .914 4 0 4 0 256 18 4.22 .894
2014–15 St. John's IceCaps AHL 3 2 1 0 185 7 0 2.27 .920
2015–16 Manitoba Moose AHL 46 13 25 7 2600 135 1 3.12 .907
2016–17 Manitoba Moose AHL 51 19 26 8 2920 144 3 2.96 .906
2016–17 Winnipeg Jets NHL 1 1 0 0 60 4 0 4.00 .897
2017–18 Manitoba Moose AHL 34 18 13 3 2025 87 2 2.58 .916 9 3 6 510 27 0 3.18 .908
2017–18 Winnipeg Jets NHL 3 1 2 0 180 12 0 4.00 .872
2018–19 Manitoba Moose AHL 47 25 16 4 2739 123 2 2.69 .917
2018–19 Winnipeg Jets NHL 1 0 1 0 60 5 0 5.00 .821
2019–20 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 4 4 0 0 240 11 0 2.75 .900
2019–20 Detroit Red Wings NHL 3 0 2 0 127 9 0 4.28 .864
2019–20 Manitoba Moose AHL 16 6 9 0 931 39 1 2.51 .918
2020–21 New Jersey Devils NHL 1 1 0 0 60 3 0 3.00 .909
2020–21 Manitoba Moose AHL 4 3 0 1 245 5 1 1.23 .947
2021–22 Winnipeg Jets NHL 19 10 5 1 1025 44 1 2.58 .920
2022–23 Buffalo Sabres NHL 19 9 9 1 1112 68 1 3.67 .886
2022–23 Rochester Americans AHL 3 1 2 0 178 9 0 3.03 .898
2023–24 Buffalo Sabres NHL 10 2 7 0 520 32 0 3.69 .874
2023–24 Rochester Americans AHL 4 3 1 0 239 9 1 2.26 .934
NHL totals 57 24 26 2 3,142 177 2 3.38 .893

Awards and honours

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Award Year
International
Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament gold medal 2012 [24]
IIHF World U20 Championships gold medal 2015

References

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  1. ^ a b Sandor, Steven (November 4, 2013). "Growing Up Comrie". Avenue Edmonton.
  2. ^ Friesen, Kelly (October 26, 2012). "NHL draft tracker: Eric Comrie, Tri-City Americans". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Friesen, Kelly (April 1, 2011). "Making the jump: 5 questions with Eric Comrie, Tri-City Americans". Buzzing the Net. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  4. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (March 19, 2013). "The next Comrie". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  6. ^ "2013 NHL Top Prospect Profile: Eric Comrie". WHL Official Website. June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  7. ^ Canadian Press (December 24, 2013). "Jets, Eric Comrie agree to entry-level deal". CBC Sports. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  8. ^ "Eric Comrie stats". stjohnsicecaps.com. July 3, 2015. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "Jets recall Eric Comrie". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  10. ^ Dittrick, Ryan. "Little, Comrie lead Jets to win over Blue Jackets". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  11. ^ "Jets sign Eric Comrie to a two-year contract". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  12. ^ "Jets assign five players to the Manitoba Moose". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  13. ^ "Coyotes Claim Comrie off Waivers". Arizona Coyotes. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  14. ^ "Coyotes Assign Comrie to Tucson for Conditioning". Arizona Coyotes. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  15. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (November 30, 2019). "Red Wings acquire Eric Comrie from Coyotes". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  16. ^ Owen, Judy. "Blake Wheeler sparks offence, Jets hand Red Wings 12th straight loss". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  17. ^ "Jets claim Eric Comrie off waivers". Winnipeg Jets. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
  18. ^ "Devils claim Comrie". New Jersey Devils. January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  19. ^ @NHLJets (February 18, 2021). "#NHLJets have claimed Eric Comrie off waivers from the New Jersey Devils and assigned him to the taxi squad" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Sabres sign Comrie to two-year contract". Buffalo Sabres. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  21. ^ "Jets sign Eric Comrie to a two-year contract". Winnipeg Jets. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  22. ^ "Eric Comrie". July 3, 2015.
  23. ^ Sandor, Steven (October 1, 2013). "Growing Up Comrie". Edify. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  24. ^ "22 CHL PLAYERS WIN 2012 IVAN HLINKA U18 GOLD". CHL Network. August 16, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
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