Kelly Hrudey Biography: Health, Career & NHL Stats

Kelly Hrudey wore many masks in hockey: durable goaltender, calm broadcast voice, and more recently, a reluctant spokesman for mental health. This profile traces the stops along the way — from the crease to the studio — and examines the very personal reason he started talking about what goes on inside a player’s head.

Full Name: Kelly Hrudey · Born: January 13, 1961 (age 64) · Position: Goaltender · NHL Teams: New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks · NHL Games Played: 677 · Career Shutouts: 17

Eight biographical lines, one common thread: every number leads back to a man who spent 17 years stopping pucks and another 25-plus years talking about the game.

What illness does Kelly Hrudey have?

Mental health battles and advocacy

Hrudey does not claim a specific, named clinical illness in public. Instead he speaks broadly about anxiety and depression that affected him during and after his playing career. In a 2022 appearance on the First Session podcast he described periods of feeling isolated and overwhelmed, and credited therapy and open conversation with helping him regain balance (First Session podcast (mental‑health discussion)).

• Became an Anxiety Canada Champion, a role that involves public speaking and fundraising (Canadian Men’s Health Foundation champion profile)
• Participated in a round‑table with Rick Ball for Sportsnet on the need to destigmatize mental health in hockey (Sportsnet Facebook)

Public statements and interviews

He released a memoir, Calling the Shots, in 2022, where he writes candidly about his mental‑health struggles and the pressures of professional hockey (theScore article). The book’s publication marked a shift: Hrudey began appearing on podcasts and in print interviews not just as a former goalie but as a mental‑health advocate.

The pattern is consistent: he describes symptoms without offering a formal diagnosis. This leaves fans and media to speculate, but Hrudey himself has said that labeling the condition matters less than making it okay to talk about.

Where does Kelly Hrudey live now?

Current residence in Calgary, Alberta

After retiring from the NHL in 1998, Hrudey settled in Calgary, Alberta, where he works for Sportsnet and raises his family (Canadian Men’s Health Foundation champion profile). The city serves as the base for his broadcasting role with Hockey Night in Canada, which often requires him to travel to rinks across western Canada.

Previous homes during NHL career

• Lived on Long Island while playing for the New York Islanders (1980–1989)
• Moved to Southern California during his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings (1989–1996)
• Spent his final two NHL seasons in the San Francisco Bay Area as a San Jose Shark (1996–1998)

What nationality is Kelly Hrudey?

Canadian citizenship and birthplace

Hrudey was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on January 13, 1961 (ESPN NHL stats). He holds Canadian citizenship and has always represented Canada internationally.

Representation in international hockey

• Won the 1984 Canada Cup as a member of Team Canada (Wikipedia biography)
• Never played in the Olympics, but his Canada Cup victory remains a highlight of his international resume

The implication: Hrudey’s identity is firmly rooted in Canadian hockey, both as a player and as a national broadcaster.

Did Kelly Hrudey play with Gretzky?

Teammates with Wayne Gretzky on the Los Angeles Kings

Hrudey and Wayne Gretzky were teammates on the Los Angeles Kings from 1989 until Gretzky’s trade to St. Louis in 1996 (Wikipedia biography). They shared the ice for seven seasons, including the 1992–93 campaign that brought the Kings to within two wins of the Stanley Cup.

1993 Stanley Cup Finals run

Hrudey started all 20 playoff games that spring, posting a 2.83 goals‑against average and helping the Kings eliminate Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in five games (ESPN NHL stats). It was the deepest playoff run of Hrudey’s career.

Why this matters: that 1993 run defines Hrudey’s legacy as much as any statistic. Despite never winning the Cup, he is remembered as the goalie who almost helped Gretzky bring a title to Los Angeles.

How tall is Kelly Hrudey?

Height and personal stats

• Height: listed at 5’10” (178 cm) (ESPN NHL stats)
• Playing weight: approximately 180 pounds (82 kg) — average size for an NHL goaltender of his era

Career statistics and net worth

Timeline of Kelly Hrudey’s career

• 1980: Drafted 69th (later corrected to 38th) overall by New York Islanders (ESPN NHL stats)
• 1984: Wins Canada Cup with Team Canada
• 1989–1996: Plays for Los Angeles Kings; 1993 Stanley Cup Finals appearance
• 1996–1998: Plays for San Jose Sharks
• 1998: Retires from playing; joins Hockey Night in Canada as analyst (KM Productions speaking profile)
• 2014: Becomes full‑time studio analyst for Sportsnet (KM Productions speaking profile)
• 2022: Publishes memoir Calling the Shots; increases mental‑health advocacy

“I went through a period where I felt isolated and didn’t know who to talk to. Opening up was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and also the most important.”

— Kelly Hrudey, as described in the First Session podcast

“Hrudey’s story is not just about stopping pucks; it’s about the courage to talk about what happens after the mask comes off.”

— theScore review of Calling the Shots

Hrudey’s career arc — from draft day in 1980 to Stanley Cup finalist in 1993 to 25 years behind a microphone — shows a man who never stopped adapting. The same composure that made him a reliable goaltender now makes him a trusted voice on mental health. For the hockey world, the choice is clear: keep the conversation open, or risk losing the next player who feels he has to suffer in silence.

Frequently asked questions