Josh Unice

Josh Unice (born June 24, 1989) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender.

Josh Unice
Born	(1989-06-24) June 24, 1989 (age 35) Holland, Ohio, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
AIHL team	CBR Brave
Played for	Sheffield Steelers HC Banska Bystrica Gwinnett Gladiators Western Ontario Mustangs Windsor Spitfires Kitchener Rangers
NHL draft	86th overall, 2007 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2014[1]–2015

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  United States
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2006 Saskatchewan	Team[2]
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2007 Finland	Team[2]

Unice was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 3rd round (86th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.^[2][3]

Playing career

Youth career

Unice began his career playing two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (2005–07), before playing three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League playing with both the Kitchener Rangers and Windsor Spitfires (2007–09).^[2] While with the Spitfires, the team won the Ontario Hockey League Championship after the 2008-09 season.^[2]

University career

After his junior career ended, Unice spent his college ice hockey career playing for the University of Western Ontario Mustangs of Canadian Interuniversity Sport for five seasons (2009–2014).^[2] While at the University of Western Ontario, Unice studied Criminology.^[4]

Senior career

On March 6, 2014, Unice began his professional career by signing with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.^[1] On August 7, 2014, Unice signed with the Missouri Mavericks of the Central Hockey League.^[5]

On October 7, 2014, it was announced that the Central Hockey League had folded and had joined the ECHL, nullifying Unice's Central Hockey League contract with the team.^[6][7] On October 9, 2014, Unice re-signed with the Mavericks under an ECHL contract.^[8] That same day, he was traded by the Mavericks to the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL for undisclosed considerations.^[8][9][10]

On October 15, 2014, Unice was released by the Rush.^[11]

24 January 2015, Unice signed with Elite Ice Hockey League side Sheffield Steelers on a short-term contract to cover the injured first-choice netminder Frank Doyle.^[12] Josh slotted into the first team well at the Steelers and finished the season by winning the league with the best save percentage out of any goaltender in the EIHL.^[2] Following his success with the Steelers in April 2015 retiring goaltender Frank Doyle made a public statement endorsing Unice by saying he felt Josh would be the ideal replacement for him at the Steelers for the next EIHL season.^[13]

1 May 2015, Josh Unice signed with the CBR Brave and became the club's starting goaltender.^[14] Unice is the first NHL drafted player to play for the Brave. Josh made his CBR Brave debut between the pipes in round one of the 2015 AIHL season as the Brave beat the Sydney Bears 4–2 in front of a sold-out crowd at Phillip Ice Centre.^[14][15]

14 July 2015, Josh Unice was named CBR Brave interim head coach for the last seven games of the 2015 AIHL regular season and any finals matches. Josh was installed head coach after being approached by Brave chairman Peter Chamberlain following the mutual separation between the club and former head coach Brad Hunt. Joining Josh in the coaching department as Josh's right-hand man is veteran Brave defenceman and alternative captain Aaron Clayworth who has taken the assistant coaching position.^[16]

On 9 March 2016, Josh Unice was named as the permanent 2016 CBR Brave head coach for the 2016 AIHL season. Josh was once again joined by experienced assistant coach Dave Rogina and strength and conditioning trainer Stuart Philps.^[17]

Awards and honors

• 2006 World U-17 Hockey Challenge Silver Medal^[2]
• 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships All-Star^[2]
• 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships Best Goaltender^[2]
• 2007 IIHF World U18 Championships Silver Medal^[2]
• 2007–08 CHL Goaltender of the Week (October 28, 2007)^[2]
• 2007–08 F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy Winner (best rookie Goals against average)^[2]
• 2007–08 Ontario Hockey League First All-Rookie Team^[2]
• 2008–09 J. Ross Robertson Cup Champion (OHL champions) - Windsor Spitfires^[2]
• 2009 Memorial Cup Champions - Windsor Spitfires^[2]
• 2011–12 CIS (OUA West) First All-Star Team^[2]
• 2011–12 CIS University Cup All-Tournament Team^[2]
• 2012–13 CIS (OUA West) Second All-Star Team^[2]
• 2013–14 CIS (OUA West) First All-Star Team^[2]
• EIHL League Champion 14/15 ^[18]

Career statistics

References:^{[2][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]}

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
2004–05	Victory Honda	MWEHL		17	4	11	0	802	62	0	4.17
2005-06	United States NTDP U17	Ind		6	2	3	1	-	23	-	3.79
2005–06	United States NTDP	NAHL		21	11	7	0	1245:49	62	0	2.99
2006-07	United States NTDP U18	Ind		27	15	9	2	1582	83	3	3.15
2006–07	United States NTDP	NAHL		6	5	0	0	368:31	13	1	2.12
2007–08	Kitchener Rangers	OHL		42	30	6	0	2376	97	4	2.45
2008–09	Kitchener Rangers	OHL		16	4	10	0	876	56	0	3.84
2008–09	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		12	7	5	0	674	30	0	2.67
2009–10	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		3	0	1	0	53	9	0	10.27
2009–10	Western Mustangs	OUA		5	1	3	0	236:39	19	0	4.82
2010–11	Western Mustangs	OUA		14	8	5	0	810	30	1	2.22
2011–12	Western Mustangs	OUA		20	15	4	0	1140	40	4	2.10
2012–13	Western Mustangs	OUA		24	19	5	0	1451	59	1	2.44
2013–14	Western Mustangs	OUA		21	16	4	0	1221	52	1	2.56
2013–14	Gwinnett Gladiators	ECHL		4	0	3	1	204	14	0	4.11
2014–15	HC Banska Bystrica	SEL		2	-	-	-	72	-	0	3.33
2014–15	Sheffield Steelers	EIHL		19	14	5	0	1126	39	5	2.80
2015	CBR Brave	AIHL		14	6	8	0	679	42	0	3.09
OHL totals				73	41	22	0	3979	192	4	2.90

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
2005–06	United States NTDP	NAHL		8	5	3	0	489.32	14	2	1.72
2006–07	United States NTDP	NAHL		0	0	0	0	0:00	0	0	0
2007–08	Kitchener Rangers	OHL		16	11	3	0	948	38	1	2.41
2008–09	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		3	2	1	0	114	6	0	3.15
2009–10	Western Mustangs	CIS		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0[26]
2010–11	Western Mustangs	CIS		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0[26]
2011–12	Western Mustangs	CIS		11	8	3	0	669	26	1	2.33[26]
2012–13	Western Mustangs	CIS		4	3	1	0	240	8	1	2.00[26]
2013–14	Western Mustangs	CIS		6	3	3	0	381	14	0	2.20[26]
OHL totals				19	13	5	0	504	44	1	2.49

Memorial Cup

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
2008	Windsor Spitfires	MEM		5	2	2	0	316	14	1	2.66