Richard Shulmistra (born April 1, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played two games in the National Hockey League with the New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers between 1998 and 2000, while the rest of his career, which lasted from 1994 to 2004, was spent mainly in the minor leagues. Prior to turning professional Shulmistra played US college hockey at Miami University.

Collegiate career

Shulmistra played junior hockey for the Thunder Bay Flyers of the United States Hockey League for their 1989–90 season before signing to play for the Miami RedHawks of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1992 NHL Supplemental Draft. Miami capped a historic year for the program in 1993 when the team received its first bid to the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. Miami was led by Brian Savage (2nd-Team All-American, 37 goals), defenseman Bobby Marshall (2nd-Team All American, 45 points) and Shulmistra with a 2.71 GAA. The team lost in the first round to Wisconsin 3–1 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Shulmistra turned pro after the 1993-94 Miami campaign in which he was named the Miami team MVP.

Professional career

Shulmistra spent most of his professional career in the US minor leagues, starting with the Cornwall Aces, the American Hockey League affiliate of Quebec. He played one game for the New Jersey Devils on January 1, 1998, saving 28 shots in a 2–1 loss to the Florida Panthers. He next saw the NHL on December 27, 1999, saving 20 shots for Florida in a 6–1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Shulmistra then went to Germany in 2001, playing for the Berlin Polar Bears and the Mannheim Eagles in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in his three seasons abroad. He retired after the 2003–04 season.

Personal life

Shulmistra now lives in North Carolina and works as a goalie coach. He coached the bantam AAA Carolina Jr Hurricanes team for one season. He produced the video series "Winning Hockey Goaltending featuring Coach Richard Shulmistra."

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1988–89St. Michael's BuzzersMetJBHL1210207152912.43
1989–90Thunder Bay FlyersTBJHL37209013103.76
1990–91Miami UniversityCCHA2021229208005.21
1991–92Miami UniversityCCHA193528506704.72
1992–93Miami UniversityCCHA33226419498812.71
1993–94Miami UniversityCCHA271312115217402.92
1994–95Cornwall AcesAHL204929375803.71.8688434462202.95.910
1995–96Cornwall AcesAHL369182184410003.25.8821009106.76.889
1996–97Albany River RatsAHL2359210624322.43.91621077201.56.938
1997–98New Jersey DevilsNHL101062201.94.933
1997–98Fort Wayne KometsIHL113806563413.11.897
1997–98Albany River RatsAHL34208420227822.31.91813836963212.76.910
1998–99Manitoba MooseIHL4425117246911722.84.908
1998–99Albany River RatsAHL126405963403.42.88420264302.82.857
1999–00Florida PanthersNHL110060101.00.952
1999–00Louisville PanthersAHL271211214478023.32.903
1999–00Orlando Solar BearsIHL95135201611.85.91810130305.90.727
2000–01Louisville PanthersAHL101060404.00.886
2000–01Kansas City BladesIHL41302391303.26.891
2000–01Florida EverbladesECHL2200130703.23.901
2000–01Chicago WolvesIHL29208016165141.89.93710735912022.03.924
2001–02Eisbären BerlinDEL52302912062.38.91842681002.24.932
2002–03Eisbären BerlinDEL2911323531.86.93795332012.25.917
2003–04Adler MannheimDEL2814455302.20.914158404.14.857
NHL totals2110122301.48.941

Awards and honours

AwardYear
College
CCHA Second All-Star Team1993
AHL
Second All-Star Team1998

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or