Darcy Kuemper

Biography

Darcy Kuemper is set to make his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026. He won gold with Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, appearing in eight games including the final in which he made 29 saves on 31 shots. Kuemper also appeared in seven games at the 2018 IIHF World Championship where Canada finished fourth.

Kuemper was selected in the sixth round, 161^st overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in February 2013 after being called up from their AHL affiliate in Houston. Still officially a rookie in 2013-14, he split that season between Minnesota and Iowa, where the AHL team had relocated.

Kuemper signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Kings ahead of the 2017-18 season, but in February was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. He became their starting goaltender for the 2018-19 season but was traded again in 2021 to the Colorado Avalanche. In 2021-22, he won a career high 37 regular season games and helped the Avalanche win their first Stanley Cup in more than two decades.

He then signed as a free agent with the Washington Capitals but returned to the Kings in a trade in June 2024. At 34, he was a first-time finalist for the Vezina Trophy given to the NHL’s best goaltender. He finished the 2024-25 season second in the league in goals against average and third in save percentage.

Kuemper played junior hockey with the Red Deer Rebels after briefly beginning his career with Spokane. In 2010-11 he was the CHL And WHL Goaltender of the Year.