Ben Bishop - Playing Career

Playing Career

Bishop played youth hockey for the Kirkwood Stars in suburban St. Louis as well as the St. Louis Junior Blues. Bishop attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis, Missouri. Bishop played forward until eight years of age when he was converted to a goaltender.

Bishop played for the Texas Tornado of North American Hockey League during the 2004–05 season. He appeared in 45 games and posted a league-best record of 35 wins, eight losses, with five shutouts. His goals against average of 1.93 was second in the league. Most notably, he led the Texas Tornado to their second consecutive National Championship and Gold Cup, given to the best junior A hockey team in North America. Bishop was named to the first team of the NAHL All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.

As a freshman for the University of Maine during the 2005–06 season, Bishop finished the regular season with a record of 21 wins, 8 loses and 2 ties, and a 2.28 goals against average. In October 2005 and February 2006 he was awarded Rookie of the Month as well as Goaltender of the Month by Hockey East. He was also named Rookie of the Week four separate times. Bishop led the Black Bears to the 2006 Frozen Four, losing to the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the semifinals despite playing strongly. He led the Black Bears to the Frozen Four once again in 2007, but lost to Michigan State University, in the semi-finals 4–2. As a junior in the 2007–08 NCAA Men's Division 1 hockey competition, Bishop played behind a less than stellar team, but he had a stellar season, as he posted a 2.43 GAA with a .920 save percentage.

Bishop was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, 85th overall and became one of their top prospects. It was announced on March 11, 2008 that he had signed with the St. Louis Blues, and he played with Peoria for the remainder of that AHL season. In five games in 2008 with Peoria he posted a 2.39 GAA, as well as receiving a fighting major in his second career game.

It was announced on October 19, 2008 that Bishop was recalled from Peoria to join the Blues in St. Louis.

Bishop made his NHL debut October 24, 2008 against the Los Angeles Kings. He came into the game at the beginning of the second period after an injury to Manny Legacé. Legace tripped on the carpet that was laid out for Vice-Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, who dropped the first puck. Bishop ultimately appeared in six games with the Blues in 2008-09 and was the back-up goalie for all 4 of the team's playoff games that season.

After Jaroslav Halak was injured in the 2010-2011 season, Bishop was called up from Peoria. In his third game played of the season he would record his first NHL shutout, against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on February 25, 2011, stopping all 39 shots in a 5-0 win.

On July 5, 2011, Bishop signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Blues.

On February 26, 2012, Bishop was traded to the Ottawa Senators for a second-round draft pick in the 2013 draft. A kitchen accident resulted in Senators' starting goalie Craig Anderson being injured indefinitely with a hand laceration, a situation that may have hastened Bishop's move to Ottawa. At the time of the trade, Bishop was the American Hockey League's top goaltender with a 24-14-0 record, a 2.26 goals against average, a 0.928 save percentage, and a league-leading six shutouts through 38 games. Bishop made his Senators debut against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 6, 2012, a game Ottawa won 7-3. He earned his second win in as many starts in a 4-1 win over the New York Rangers.