Jay McKee
Jay McKee is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League, and was previously with the Buffalo Sabres and the St. Louis Blues. Throughout his career he has been noted among the NHL's best shot-blockers. He later served as an Assistant Coach for the Niagara Purple Eagles and Rochester Americans. McKee was born in Kingston, Ontario, but grew up in Loyalist, Ontario. Following coaching stints in the AHL and NCAA, McKee served as an Assistant Coach with the Erie Otters. After one season in Erie, McKee was promoted to Associate Coach of the Kitchener Rangers. One season later he was promoted to Head Coach of the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL., where he served as Head Coach for three and a half seasons before moving on.
Playing career
Junior hockey
Sudbury Wolves (1993-1995)
McKee was drafted by the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League in the first round, tenth overall, at the 1993 OHL Priority Selection. In his rookie season with the Wolves during the 1993-94 season, McKee earned an assist in 51 games, while accumulating 51 penalty minutes. In three post-season games, McKee was held to no points.He began the 1994-95 in Sudbury, as McKee saw his offensive game develop. In 39 games with the Wolves, McKee scored six goals and 12 points, while earning 91 penalty minutes. Midway through the season, McKee was traded to the Niagara Falls Thunder in a deal that sent Ethan Moreau and Jason Bonsignore to Sudbury.
Niagara Falls Thunder (1994-1996)
McKee concluded the 1994-95 season with the Niagara Falls Thunder, following a mid-season trade from the Sudbury Wolves. In 26 games with the Thunder, McKee scored three goals and 16 points. Combined with his Sudbury stats, McKee appeared in 65 games, scoring nine goals and 28 points, a significant improvement from his rookie season. In the post-season, McKee scored two goals and five points in six games.McKee played the 1995-96 season with the Thunder, as in 64 games, he scored five goals and 46 points, which was the second highest point total by a defenseman on the team, while getting 129 penalty minutes. In the post-season, McKee had a goal and six points in ten games. Following the season, McKee was named as an OHL Second Team All-Star.
Professional career
Buffalo Sabres (1995-2006)
McKee was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 14th overall, at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.The Sabres assigned McKee to his junior club, the Niagara Falls Thunder, for the 1995-96. After the Thunder were eliminated from the post-season, McKee appeared in four games with the Rochester Americans, the Sabres American Hockey League affiliate, during the 1995-96 season. McKee earned an assist with Rochester. McKee also made his National Hockey League debut on April 10, 1996, as he earned an assist on a goal scored by Dane Jackson, as the Sabres defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-2. This would be McKee's only NHL game during the 1995-96 season.
McKee saw some time with the Americans during the 1996-97 season, as in seven games in Rochester, McKee scored two goals and seven points. He spent a majority of the 1996-97 season with Buffalo, and on November 11, 1996, McKee recorded his first career multi-point game, as he earned two assists in a 3-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Later in the season, on March 22, McKee earned his first career NHL goal, as he scored against John Vanbiesbrouck of the Florida Panthers in a 3-2 loss. Overall, in 43 games with the Sabres, McKee scored a goal and 10 points. On April 19, 1997, McKee made his NHL playoff debut, as he was held off the score sheet in a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. McKee would eventually play in three post-season games, as he earned no points.
In 1997-98, McKee saw some more action with the Americans in the AHL. In 13 games with Rochester, McKee scored a goal and eight points. McKee did spend most of the season with the Sabres, as in 56 games, he scored a goal and 14 points. McKee appeared in one playoff game with Buffalo, earning no points.
For the first time in his career, McKee spent the entire season in the NHL during the 1998-99 season. In 72 games with the Sabres, McKee earned six assists, while registering 75 penalty minutes, helping Buffalo reach the post-season. On May 9, 1999, McKee earned his first playoff point, an assist on a goal scored by Dixon Ward, as the Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins 4-1. In 21 playoff games, McKee recorded three assists, while leading the NHL with a +13 rating, as the Sabres reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated by the Dallas Stars in six games.
In the 1999-00 season, McKee played in 78 games with the Sabres, scoring a career-high five goals and 17 points. A late season injury limited McKee's playing time in the post-season, as he appeared in only one game, getting no points.
McKee continued his solid defensive play during the 2000-01. In 74 games, he scored a goal and 11 points, while setting a career-high with 76 penalty minutes. On April 14, 2001, McKee scored his first career playoff goal, as he scored the overtime winner against Roman Cechmanek of the Philadelphia Flyers in a 4-3 victory. Overall, in eight post-season games, McKee finished with the one goal. Injuries limited McKee's playing time, as he missed the final five playoff games after a collision with Mario Lemeiux of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
During the 2001-02 season, McKee played in a career high 81 games. McKee scored two goals and 13 points, while finishing with a team best +18 rating, however, the Sabres failed to qualify for the post-season.
McKee battled injuries during the 2002-03, as he was limited to 59 games, in which he recorded five assists. The Sabres once again finished out of the playoffs.
Injuries continued to plague McKee during the 2003-04 season, as in 43 games, he scored two goals and five points. Buffalo missed the post-season for the third consecutive season.
McKee did not playing during the 2004-05 due to the 2004-05 NHL lock-out, which cancelled the entire season.
In 2005-06, when NHL play resumed, McKee was named an alternate captain on the Sabres. McKee played in 75 games, tying his career high with five goals, while earning 16 points, as the Sabres reached the post-season for the first time since 2001. In the playoffs, McKee scored two goals and five points, which set career highs, in 17 games, as the Sabres lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals. McKee missed the seventh and final game of the Eastern Conference finals, as he was sidelined with a severe infection in his leg, reportedly caused by a cut or bruise that McKee sustained blocking a shot in an earlier round of the playoffs.
Following the season, McKee became a free agent.
St. Louis Blues (2006-2009)
On July 1, 2006, McKee signed a four year, $16 million contract with the St. Louis Blues. An early season injury delayed McKee's debut with St. Louis, as in his first game with the team on October 20, 2006, McKee played only 1:15 in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Injuries continued to plague McKee during the 2006-07 season, as he suffered various injuries including a knee injury, a broken finger, and two lower body injuries. In 23 games with St. Louis, McKee did not record any points.McKee rebounded in the 2007-08, as he played in 66 games, scoring two goals and nine points. On October 23, 2007, McKee recorded his first point with the Blues, as he assisted on a goal scored by Keith Tkachuk in a 4-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. On November 1, McKee scored his first goal as a member of the team, as he scored the game-winning third period goal against Josh Harding of the Minnesota Wild in a 3-2 victory. McKee finished the season with two goals and nine points, however, the Blues did not qualify for the post-season.
In 2008-09, McKee played in 69 games, his highest total since 2005-06, as he scored a goal and eight points, helping St. Louis reach the post-season for the first time since 2004. On April 15, 2009, McKee skated in his first playoff game with the Blues, as he was held to no points in a 2-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Overall, in four playoff games, McKee had no points.
Following the 2008-09 season, the Blues bought out the final year of McKee's contract, making him a free agent.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-2010)
On July 9, 2009, McKee signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. On October 2, 2009, McKee made his Penguins debut, as he was held to no points in a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Ten days later, on October 12, McKee earned his first point as a member of the Penguins, an assist on a goal by Tyler Kennedy in a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. On November 14, McKee scored his first goal with Pittsburgh, as he scored the opening goal in the first period against Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins, as Pittsburgh won the game 6-5 in overtime. In 62 games with the Penguins, McKee scored a goal and ten points, his highest point total since the 2005-06 season when he played with the Buffalo Sabres. McKee made his post-season debut with the Penguins on April 18, 2010, as he was held without a point in a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. McKee finished the playoffs appearing in five games, and earning no points.Following the season, McKee became a free agent. McKee went unsigned during the 2010 off-season, in which he announced he would volunteer as a coach with the Niagara Purple Eagles men's ice hockey, while not ruling out a return to the NHL.
Dundas Real McCoys (2012-2014)
McKee returned to playing hockey, as he signed with the Senior "AAA" team, the Dundas Real McCoys of the Allan Cup Hockey league. In the 2012-13 season, McKee appeared in four games, earning an assist. In the playoffs, McKee earned seven assists in ten games for Dundas.In the 2013-14 season, McKee became a player-coach for the club. In eight games during the regular season, McKee scored a goal and five points. In three playoff games, McKee had a goal and two points, as the team reached the Allan Cup. McKee appeared in four games in the Allan Cup, earning no points, however, the club won the championship.
Following the season, McKee announced his retirement from the game.
Career statistics
Coaching career
Rochester Americans (2011-2012)
On August 31, 2011, McKee was hired as an assistant coach of the Rochester Americans, who was the American Hockey League affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. In the 2011-12, the Americans finished second in the North Division with a 36-26-10-4 record, earning 86 points. In the post-season, the Americans were swept by the Toronto Marlies in three games. Following the season, McKee left the club to spend more time with his family, and joined the Senior "AAA" Dundas Real McCoys of the Allan Cup Hockey league.Erie Otters (2014-2015)
On June 13, 2014, McKee with hired to be an assistant coach with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League In the 2014-15, the Otters, led by Connor McDavid, earned a record of 50-14-4, as the accumulated 104 points and had the best record in the Midwest Division. In the post-season, Erie lost to the Oshawa Generals in the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals in five games.Following the season, McKee left his job with the Otters, as the Kitchener Rangers hired him as an associate coach.
Kitchener Rangers (2015-2020)
McKee joined the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League as an associate coach for the 2015-16 season. In his first season with the club, McKee helped Kitchener to a 44-17-7 record, earning 95 points, and fourth place in the Western Conference. In the post-season, the Rangers were swept by the London Knights in the second round. Following the season, Rangers head coach Mike Van Ryn stepped down as head coach of the team. On May 12, 2016, McKee was named the new head coach of the Rangers.McKee made his head coaching debut on September 23, 2016, as he guided the Rangers to a 4-2 victory over the Flint Firebirds for his first career OHL victory. The Rangers finished the 2016-17 season with a 36-27-5 record, earning 77 points, and sixth place in the Western Conference. On March 24, 2017, McKee coached his first career playoff game, as Kitchener lost to the Owen Sound Attack 9-1. The next night, McKee earned his first career playoff win, as the Rangers defeated the Attack 2-1. The Rangers would eventually lose to Owen Sound in five games in their first round series.
Kitchener had a very strong season in 2017-18, as the club finished in first place in the Midwest Division with a 43-21-4 record, earning 90 points, and finished in second place in the Western Conference. This was the first time since 2008 that the Rangers finished in first place in their division. In the post-season, Kitchener defeated the Guelph Storm and Sarnia Sting to match up against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Western Conference finals. The two teams played a thrilling seven game series, however, the Greyhounds defeated the Rangers in double overtime in the seventh game to win the series.
The Rangers slid down the standings in the 2018-19 season, as the club finished the season with a 34-30-4 record, earning 72 points, and fifth place in the Western Conference. The team was swept by the Guelph Storm in the first round of the post-season.
McKee returned to Kitchener for the 2019-20 season, however, on November 25, 2019, after a 7-10-4 start to the season, in which the Rangers were in last place in the Western Conference, McKee was relieved of his duties.