Craig Anderson (ice hockey)
A goaltender who became the backbone of the Ottawa Senators for a decade, reaching the 300-win club through resilience and a calm, technical style.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: May 21·Millennials
Biography
Craig Anderson's path to NHL stability was anything but direct. The Illinois native bounced through five organizations before finding a home in Ottawa in 2011, where he transformed from a journeyman into a franchise pillar. His game was defined not by flashy athleticism but by a quiet, positional efficiency and a remarkable mental toughness. That fortitude was tested profoundly off the ice when his wife, Nicholle, was diagnosed with a rare throat cancer in 2016; Anderson took leaves to support her, returning to play with a focus that inspired the entire league. His career, spanning over 700 games, is a testament to longevity and professionalism, culminating in a place among the 40 netminders with over 300 wins—a milestone he secured with the Washington Capitals near the end of his run.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Craig was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Craig Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Craig's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded over 300 career wins, placing him among an elite group of NHL goaltenders.
- Played 435 games for the Ottawa Senators, the most of any of his six NHL teams.
- Won the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2017 for perseverance and dedication to hockey.
- Posted a .929 save percentage in the 2017 playoffs, leading the Senators to the Eastern Conference Final.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1999 but never played for them.
He won the NHL's First Star of the Month for October 2013 after a 10-2-0 start.
Anderson and his wife Nicholle are active advocates for cancer research and patient support.
He scored a goal in a 2013 AHL game while playing for the Rochester Americans.
“My job is to stop the puck, not to look pretty doing it.”
