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Thatcher Demko is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted by the Canucks in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft, Demko made his NHL debut in March 2018 in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 5-4 overtime victory that saw him stop 26 shots during the game. However, he was soon sent back to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Canucks' affiliate team, the Utica Comets. The following season was also spent in the AHL before the untimely trade of backup goaltender Anders Nilsson opened up a full-time backup position for him. He became the starting goalie during the latter stages of the 2020-21 season and saw him mainatin his place the following season, where he posted a GAA of 2.72 and an SV% of .915. Fast foward to the recently concluded 2023-24 season, he earned a Vezina Trophy finalist spot after leading the Canucks to their first division title in a decade.
Thatcher Demko has achieved notable recognition throughout his career. In college, he earned the Mike Richter Award in the 2015-16 season. In the NHL, he has been selected for the NHL All-Star Game twice in 2022 and 2024. On the international stage, Demko won a silver medal at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge in 2012 and another silver medal at the IIHF World U18 Championship in 2013. For his contributions to the Vancouver Canucks, he was awarded the Cyclone Taylor Trophy in 2022.
List of Thatcher Demko's Injuries
Thatcher Demko has faced several injuries throughout his career. This includes, a recent knee injury that he suffered on April 23, 2024 and was placed week-to-week. This came at a crucial time for the Canucks as they lacked experience of Demko in the net which saw them going home after the second round playoffs. Prior to that, he suffered a knee injury which saw him miss 14 regular season games
The 2022-23 season saw Demko sidelined for a substantial portion due to a groin injury, which caused him to miss 35 games. Moving back to the 2021-22 season, Demko encountered both undisclosed injuries and COVID-19 protocols which saw him sit out during important games for the team. Going back even further, Demko dealt with a concussion that resulted in him missing six games in the 2019-20 season.
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