Ty Conklin
A journeyman NHL goaltender whose career was a testament to resilience, highlighted by an unexpected start in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: March 30·Generation X
Biography
Ty Conklin's professional hockey path was that of a reliable survivor, a goaltender who packed his bags for eight different NHL cities. Drafted late, he carved out a decade-long career not as a franchise cornerstone, but as a capable backup and occasional starter who could steal games. His story is forever linked to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals with the Edmonton Oilers, where an injury to starter Dwayne Roloson thrust him into the championship spotlight under immense pressure. While that series ended in disappointment, Conklin's resilience defined him. He later became a crucial component for the 2008 Pittsburgh Penguins, helping stabilize their net during a regular season that culminated in a Finals appearance. His name is also etched in NHL lore for his role in the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008, a fitting chapter for a player who excelled in high-profile, one-off situations.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ty was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ty Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Ty's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
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
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
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
1997Turned 21
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
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played in the Stanley Cup Finals for the Edmonton Oilers in 2006 after replacing the injured starter.
- Was the starting goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first NHL Winter Classic in 2008.
- Recorded 18 wins and a .923 save percentage for the St. Louis Blues during the 2011-12 season.
Did You Know?
He played college hockey for the University of New Hampshire, where he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist.
Conklin is one of a small group of goalies to have played for both the Edmonton Oilers and their historic rivals, the Detroit Red Wings.
He earned the NHL's Third Star of the Week honor in January 2012 while with the St. Louis Blues.
“My gear was always packed and ready. The next game could be anywhere.”
