Kevin Mandolese

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Kevin Mandolese
Born (2000-08-22) August 22, 2000 (age 23)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Ottawa Senators
Belleville Senators (AHL)
NHL Draft 157th overall, 2018
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2021–present

Kevin Mandolese (born August 22, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Mandolese was drafted in the sixth round, 157th overall, by the Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Personal life[edit]

Mandolese was born on August 22, 2000,[1] in Ottawa, Ontario. He was raised in Ottawa until his family moved to Montreal when he was six years old.[2] While playing in the QMJHL, Mandolese attended Cape Breton University and majored in business.[3]

Playing career[edit]

Growing up in Quebec, Mandolese played minor hockey for the Collège Esther-Blondin in the Québec midget AAA league before being drafted by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).[4] He recorded his first career QMJHL win on October 9, 2016, in a 5–3 win over the Charlottetown Islanders.[5] As a result of his play, he returned to the Screaming Eagles for the 2017–18 season.[6]

During his sophomore season, Mandolese posted a goals-against average of 3.46 and a .884 save percentage. He was also chosen to represent Team Canada internationally at both the Under 17 and Under 18 levels.[7] As a result of his play, Mandolese was ranked second amongst all North American goaltenders eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[8] After being drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Mandolese attended their Rookie Camp before returning to the QMJHL.[7]

Mandolese returned to the Screaming Eagles for the 2019–20 season, his fourth and final season. He experienced a breakout season during the shortened campaign and became the third Screaming Eagles goaltender to play in his 150th regular-season game, behind Marc-André Fleury and Olivier Roy.[9] Mandolese completed the major junior season leading league goaltenders in save percentage and ranking third in goals-against average. As a result, he was named to the QMJHL First Team All-Star and named a finalist for the CHL Goaltender of the Year Award.[10] Mandolese and teammate Egor Sokolov subsequently became the first two Screaming Eagles players to both be named QMJHL First Team All-Stars.[11] On April 13, 2020, Mandolese signed a three year entry-level contract with the Senators, who praised him for being positionally sound, good lateral mobility and adept at reading the play.[12]

Once the league returned for the delayed 2020–21 season, Mandolese was assigned to the Senators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators.[13] After appearing in two games, Mandolese earned his first professional win in a 3–2 victory over the Toronto Marlies at Canadian Tire Centre.[14] Mandolese was invited to the Senators 2021 training camp in September,[15] but was sent to Belleville on October 3.[16] He also spent time with the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.[17] He began the 2022–23 season with Belleville, but also spent time with the ECHL's Allen Americans.[18] After injuries to goaltenders Cam Talbot and Mads Søgaard, Mandolese was recalled by the Senators as backup to Anton Forsberg on January 26, 2023.[19] However, Forsberg was injured in a game versus the Edmonton Oilers and Mandolese was called upon to start. Mandolese made his NHL debut and started his first NHL game on February 14, 2023, facing the New York Islanders on Long Island. He stopped 46 of 48 shots on goal to secure the 3–2 victory in a shoot-out.[20] He made his second start in a 3–1 loss to the Boston Bruins on February 20.[21] The Senators returned Mandolese to the AHL following the game.[22] He was recalled again in March due to injuries to goaltenders and started his third game for the Senators in a 5–1 loss to the Calgary Flames. He was sent back to Belleville again following the game.[23]

Mandolese attended Ottawa's 2023 training camp but was assigned to Belleville to start the 2023–24 season.[24]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2016–17 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL 27 16 8 0 1,469 85 0 3.47 .890 3 0 2 149 12 0 4.84 .876
2017–18 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL 37 15 13 2 1,769 63 1 3.46 .884 5 1 4 307 20 0 3.91 .875
2018–19 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL 50 29 12 5 2,846 136 3 2.87 .895 11 5 6 688 29 1 2.53 .916
2019–20 Cape Breton Eagles QMJHL 37 26 8 1 2,115 82 2 2.33 .925
2020–21 Belleville Senators AHL 9 3 6 0 506 34 0 4.03 .888
2021–22 Belleville Senators AHL 17 9 5 0 885 46 0 3.12 .901
2021–22 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 6 1 4 1 359 16 0 2.68 .916
2022–23 Belleville Senators AHL 17 6 8 3 1,007 56 0 3.33 .890
2022–23 Ottawa Senators NHL 3 1 2 0 182 10 0 3.29 .916
2022–23 Allen Americans ECHL 7 5 1 0 410 18 0 2.64 .927 9 4 5 498 26 1 3.13 .914
NHL totals 3 1 2 0 182 10 0 3.29 .916

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Kevin Mandolese". eliteprospects.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  2. ^ Brennan, Don (June 23, 2018). "Senators continue to add goaltending depth by selecting Kevin Mandolese". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Value of Education: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles". cbu.ca. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  4. ^ "2016 QMJHL Draft Recap". capebretoneagles.com. June 6, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "Eagles Win 5–3 as Mandolese Records 1st Career QMJHL Win". capebretoneagles.com. October 9, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Screaming Eagles Name Roster For 2017–2018 Season". capebretoneagles.com. August 31, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Six Screaming Eagles Attending NHL Rookie Camps". capebretoneagles.com. September 8, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "2018 NHL CS Final Draft Ranking - NA/Int'l Goaltenders". tsn.ca. April 16, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Cape Breton Eagles' Mandolese plays 150th career regular season game". Saltwire Network. March 9, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "2019-20 CHL Award Finalists: Goaltender of the Year presented by Vaughn". Ontario Hockey League. May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "Mandolese, Sokolov make Cape Breton Eagles history with first all-star team selections; McCormick named to second all-star team". SaltWire Network. May 22, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "Senators sign goaltender Kevin Mandolese to entry-level contract". nhl.com. National Hockey League. April 13, 2020. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Ottawa Senators announce 23-player opening night roster". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  14. ^ Fraser, Jeremy (March 20, 2021). "Former Eagle Mandolese collects first career professional win". Saltwire Network. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  15. ^ "Ottawa Senators announce 54-player 2021-22 training camp roster". Ottawa Senators. September 21, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Sens Communications [@Media_Sens] (October 3, 2021). "1/3 Roster update: The #Sens have released the following players from training camp" (Tweet). Retrieved June 28, 2023 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ "Goaltender Mandolese Reassigned to Atlanta from Belleville" (Press release). Atlanta Gladiators. November 29, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2023 – via oursportscentral.com.
  18. ^ "Kevin Mandolese Assigned to Allen by Ottawa from Belleville". Allen Americans. April 12, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  19. ^ "Ice Chips: Senators recall G Mandolese from AHL". TSN. January 26, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Charles, Scott (February 14, 2023). "Mandolese leads Senators over Islanders in NHL debut". CBC Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Golen, Jimmy (February 20, 2023). "Bruins win 4th straight; Pastrnak nets 2 to pass 40 goals". AP News. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  22. ^ "Senators' Kevin Mandolese: Reassigned to AHL". CBS Sports. February 20, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Garrioch, Bruce (March 19, 2023). "Garrioch: The struggle to get saves has been a massive issue for the Senators". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  24. ^ Miller, Jack (October 3, 2023). "B-Sens are back in town". Quinte News. Retrieved October 20, 2023.

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