Ray Emery
A fiery and resilient goaltender who battled back from career-threatening injuries to win a Stanley Cup, embodying the fighter's spirit.
1982–2018 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: September 28·Millennials
Biography
Ray Emery's path in hockey was never quiet. Drafted in the fourth round by Ottawa, he seized the starting job in 2006-07 with a swaggering, combative style that propelled the Senators to their first modern-era Stanley Cup Final. His career then became a testament to perseverance. A serious wrist injury and subsequent surgery threatened to end it, but 'Razor' fought his way back, becoming a valued teammate known for his work ethic and locker-room presence. His crowning moment came in 2013 as a backup with the Chicago Blackhawks, where his steady hand in a condensed season contributed directly to a championship. Emery's legacy is that of a competitor who refused to be counted out, leaving a mark defined by grit as much as glove saves.
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.
Ray was born in 1982, 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 Ray Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Ray's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2018Died at 36
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- Backstopped the Ottawa Senators to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals, the franchise's first appearance in the championship series.
- Won the Stanley Cup in 2013 as a key backup goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks.
- Recorded three shutouts in the 2013 playoffs, including a crucial Game 5 win against the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference Final.
Did You Know?
He was famously involved in an NHL goalie fight against the Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby in 2013.
Emery once stopped all 30 shots he faced in a relief appearance to win a playoff game for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010.
He was known for his sharp, tailored suits and was considered one of the NHL's best-dressed players.
“I just want to play. I love the game. I love to compete.”
