Habs’ goalie completes improbable journey to NHL
Mike Condon was an unwanted goaltender two and a half years ago. Now he’s Carey Price’s backup with the Montreal Canadiens.
Condon’s incredible journey to the NHL took him from Princeton University to Wall Street and a rapid rise through the minor leagues.
On Sunday, he made 20 saves in a 3-1 win, his first start for the Canadiens, to whom he believes he owes everything.
“I got a lot of good opportunities, and I’m very fortunate for them,” Condon said. Condon has made the most of every opportunity over the past several years, especially when it looked like his hockey career was over.
When his time at Princeton came to an end with a first-round playoff sweep in March 2013, Condon couldn’t latch on with anyone and went about working on his 130page thesis on post-Cold War arms transfer, “a real snoozer.”
Exploring his options, he even tried a one-day internship on Wall Street.
“It was miserable,” Condon said. “I did the rat race for a day, and I didn’t really like it.”
During spring break, Condon reached out to the ECHL’s Ontario Reign “just on a hope and prayer” and flew from New Jersey to California to play on an amateur tryout. After a couple of goaltenders were injured, he got four starts and allowed just six goals on 99 shots, parlaying that success into a professional tryout with the American Hockey League’s Houston Aeros.
Injuries with the Minnesota Wild got Condon to Houston, where he won his first three starts and took part in the playoffs. His career path went from not looking good to fast track.
“When the season ends and no one comes knocking for a tryout or anything like that, it’s tough,” Condon said. “My family invested so much time in the game and so much blood and sweat that I was like, ‘It’d be bad if I didn’t go out there and at least give it a try.’ I went out there with a good attitude, an open mind and good things happen.”
In May 2013, the Habs came knocking and signed Condon to a two-year contract.
In 2013-14, Condon starred for the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers, playing so well and earning so much favour in the organization that the Habs brought him up as a black ace during their playoff run.
Last season he started for the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs and in training camp unseated Dustin Tokarski as Price’s backup.
During training camp, Condon was so determined to block out distractions that he didn’t have an international phone plan. He’d text his parents every once in a while but took a break from Twitter and wanted to keep his mind focused.
“The mind’s a powerful thing, and the quieter it is, the better you play,” Condon said. “The work’s been put in in the summer and just got to let it show.”
It showed. Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin said Condon “really outplayed” Tokarski, who was waived and sent to the St. John’s IceCaps.
Condon’s calm in net and work ethic in practice earned him not only an NHL job but the respect of his coaches and teammates.
A strong outing against the Senators was a good start, though Condon is trying to worry about the present and not reflect on his path to the NHL or what would’ve happened if things didn’t work out.
“I’d probably be behind some desk,” Condon said. “But I’d much rather be here.”