TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

McKenna Feeling Fortunate

ADVERTISEMENT

By ERIK ERLENDSSON

eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

Published: February 6, 2009

TAMPA - Mike McKenna had plans to get together for a Super Bowl party with his teammates in Norfolk, Va. Instead, he wound up flying over Sunday's matchup between Pittsburgh and Arizona as his flight arrived over the skies of Tampa.

After bouncing around between teams and cities in two different minor leagues, McKenna received a call he thought might never arrive - he was heading to the NHL.

"I never thought this was possible six days ago when I still didn't have an NHL contract," the 25-year-old McKenna said. "This is my fourth year of professional hockey and I've seen a lot of things happen in that time frame.

"The realistic fact is not many people start on an ECHL contract on a free-agent deal and work up. I've been very fortunate."

Quite frankly, McKenna earned the chance to sign his first NHL contract, which carries through the rest of the season, with his play, just as he has done at every level he's played.

Following a four-year stint at St. Lawrence University, the St. Louis native caught on as a free agent with Las Vegas of the ECHL, where he went 46-6-8 in two seasons.

McKenna entered this season figuring to be a backup to Karri Ramo in Norfolk, but he has outplayed one of the Lightning's top prospects, posting a 11-10-1 record with a 2.97 goals-against average in 24 games with the Admirals.

McKenna made his NHL debut Tuesday, stopping all 11 shots in relief of Ramo against the Islanders. In his first start Wednesday in Pittsburgh, he carried a shutout into the third period but wound up taking the overtime loss.

Through every step of his career, McKenna has continued to just worry about the only thing he can control, his play on the ice and his work ethic off it.

"As a goalie, you can spend an awful lot of time creating ulcers if you want to worry about what everybody else on the planet thinks about you," he said. "Ultimately, there are going to be people who like you and people who don't."

NOTES: LW Jussi Jokinen cleared waivers on Thursday, but he has not been assigned to Norfolk. ... D Andrej Meszaros underwent further evaluation on Thursday by team doctors after leaving Wednesday's game holding his left arm. The team said Meszaros is out on a day-to-day basis.

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT