Garret Sparks

Garret Sparks
Born (1993-06-28) June 28, 1993
Elmhurst, Illinois, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Marlies (AHL)
National team  United States
NHL Draft 190th overall, 2011
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2013–present
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
2013 Russia

Garret Sparks (born June 28, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, whilst under contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL. Sparks was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the 7th round, 190th overall in the 2011 draft. He is notable for being one of the only goaltenders in league history to record a shutout in his NHL debut, and the first Maple Leafs player to do so.

Sparks' goalie equipment are a tribute to former NHL player Trevor Kidd & Curtis Joseph, who wore a similar design during their playing career. He also wears Curtis Joseph's #31.

Playing career

Junior and minor leagues

Sparks played minor league hockey with Chicago Mission of the Tier 3 Elite Hockey League, before joining the Guelph Storm of the OHL in 2010. He was drafted by the club in the 8th round, 160th overall in the 2009 OHL Priority Selection. Sparks made 19 appearances for the Storm, going 8-6-1 for a .890% save percentage, playing well enough to pick up by the Toronto Maple Leafs 190th overall in the 2011 Draft that year.[1] Sparks would spend the next two seasons with the Storm, briefly playing in 3 games for the Toronto Marlies at the end of the 2012–13 season. In 2013, Sparks represented the United States and won gold at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Russia. The next year, Sparks would split time between the Marlies and the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL.

Going into the 14–15 season, Sparks was expected to be the Marlies starter, however, a poor training camp lead to goaltenders Christopher Gibson and Antoine Bibeau beating him out on the depth chart, forcing management into sending Sparks down to the Solar Bears for most of the season, only seeing brief time with the Marlies when one of their goalies was injured. Sparks excelled with Orlando, recording a .936 save percentage in the regular season, adding a .921% in the playoffs.

The following season saw Gibson traded to the Islanders as part of a package deal for Michael Grabner, leaving an empty roster spot on the Marlies. Sparks succeeded in retaining the job, and served as the backup to Bibeau to start the season. However, an injury to Jonathan Bernier on the Leafs forced management to call up Bibeau, leaving Sparks with the starting duties. Sparks took off with the job, and was named the AHL's 1st star of the week for November 8, 2015.[2] Sparks had stopped 96 of 101 shots faced during his time as the starter in Bibeau's absence, which was good enough to hold starting duties once Bibeau returned. When injury once again plagued the Maple Leafs, this time falling on James Reimer, Sparks was called up, in reward for his recent solid play.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Following a poor showing against the Capitals, where Bernier was publicly criticized by head coach Mike Babcock in a post-game interview, Sparks was informed that he would make his first NHL start on November 30, 2015.[3][4] In his debut, he recorded 24 saves and a 3–0 shutout win at home against the Edmonton Oilers; the first time in Leafs franchise history that a goaltender recorded a shutout in his debut.[5] Sparks would play in the next few games before being injured. After healing, Sparks was sent down to the Toronto Marlies. Sparks would see time as the Marlies' backup, as Bibeau had been playing strong. In an effort to earn Sparks more ice time, he was sent down to the Solar Bears. He would play one game for the Solar Bears before being brought back to the Marlies. In going so, Sparks achieved a rare feat of playing in all three of the NHL, AHL and ECHL in the same season.

On February 27, 2016, Sparks was recalled by the Leafs following the trade of starting goaltender James Reimer. Sparks would play out the rest of the season with the Maple Leafs, recording disappointing numbers. Following the completion of the campaign, and with the Maple Leafs out of playoff contention, Sparks was sent back down to the Marlies to help the first place team in their Calder Cup championship run. Despite being favourites to win, the Marlies would suffer a round three exit to the Hershey Bears.

In the offseason, Sparks was qualified by the Maple Leafs, in order to retain his negotiating rights. On July 15, 2016, Sparks was resigned by the Maple Leafs to a one year, two-way contract. The deal is worth league minimum $575,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the AHL, with a guarantee of $150,000.[6]

Career Statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2010–11 Guelph Storm OHL 19 8 6 1 972 59 0 3.64 .890 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Guelph Storm OHL 59 27 25 4 3304 171 5 3.11 .907 6 2 4 323 24 0 4.45 .881
2012–13 Guelph Storm OHL 60 36 17 4 3440 152 7 2.65 .917 5 1 4 275 14 0 3.05 .920
2012–13 Toronto Marlies AHL 3 2 0 1 189 8 0 2.53 .895 1 0 0 14 1 0 4.23 .900
2013–14 Toronto Marlies AHL 21 11 6 1 1094 48 0 2.63 .915 — — — — — — — —
2013–14 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 10 4 6 0 552 26 1 2.82 .916 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Toronto Marlies AHL 2 1 0 0 120 2 1 1.00 .966 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 36 21 7 3 1946 76 5 2.34 .936 6 2 4 342 17 0 2.98 .921
2015–16 Toronto Marlies AHL 21 14 4 3 1212 47 3 2.33 .928 5 2 2 235 9 1 2.30 .915
2015–16 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 17 6 9 1 975 49 1 3.02 .893 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1.00 .962 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 17 6 9 1 975 49 1 3.02 .893 — — — — — — — —

References

  1. ↑ "A guide to the Leafs' draft picks". National Post. June 25, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Garret Sparks Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week". Toronto Marlies. November 9, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Babcock won't tolerate poor starts from Bernier". Roger's Sportsnet. November 29, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Goalie Garret Sparks to make NHL debut with Leafs against Oilers". Toronto Star. November 29, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Rookie Sparks makes Maple Leafs history with shutout in NHL debut". Fox Sports. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign Garret Sparks to one-year, two-way contract". Maple Leafs Hot Stove. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
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