Mike Keane to Return for 22nd Pro Season

[caps05]

The Manitoba Moose announced today they have re-signed Captain Mike Keane to an American Hockey League contract. As a result, the Winnipeg, MB native will return for a fifth season with the Moose and his 22nd season in professional hockey.

In his fourth season as Moose captain last year, Keane, 42, appeared in 74 games where he scored eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points - his highest point total as a professional since the 1999-00 season with the Dallas Stars. In 22 Calder Cup playoff games last season, Keane collected four goals and seven assists for 11 points and six penalty minutes. At the end of the year, he was named the winner of the team's Toyota Never Quits Hardest Working Player award for the second consecutive season. Over the past four seasons, Keane has scored 27 goals and 56 assists for 83 points and 195 penalty minutes in 290 games with Manitoba. In 53 Calder Cup playoff games with the Moose in three seasons, he has eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points and 23 penalty minutes. Back in 2006-07, he was the recipient of the American Hockey League's Fred T. Hunt Award for sportsmanship, determination, and dedication to the game of hockey. Keane was also selected as the captain of the Canadian team at the 2007 Rbk Hockey AHL All-Star Classic in Toronto, ON.

In his previous 21 seasons, Keane has won three Stanley Cups (Montreal ‘93, Colorado '96, Dallas '99) and played in 1,230 NHL games where he's scored 171 goals and 484 points as well as 947 penalty minutes with Montreal, Colorado, Dallas, the New York Rangers, St. Louis, and Vancouver. He has seen action in 294 career AHL games where he's scored 44 goals and 123 points and collected 218 penalty minutes. Prior to joining the Moose, Keane also appeared in the American Hockey League with the Sherbrooke Canadiens back in the 1987-88 season. He made his professional debut with the Canadiens in 1987 and helped them advance to the Calder Cup Final. Keane played his 1,500th career hockey game as a professional this past season on February 3/09 versus the Lake Erie Monsters.

[The Woodsman]

YouTube - Mike Keane Vs Ken McRae

YouTube - mike keane vs bill guerin

YouTube - mike keane vs matt barnaby

YouTube - Keane vs. Walker

[NJDevils17]

YouTube - Mike Keane vs. Scott Hartnell

This guy is a warrior and a great veteran player to have.

Mike Keane - A LOT from a little

[Viper207]

Here's a guy who was a role player on 3 Cup teams, loves the game, and loves the captain/teacher/coach role enough to lead an AHL team for yet another year. And the bonus is that he gets to make more money than most of us can, all the while doing what he loves. Even if you don't like the man (though most do), Mike Keane gets respect for sure.

Chris Chelios... learn from this man.

[CapsFan99]

What are the chances the Canucks call him up?

He could be the next Linden for the Canucks and a way better captain then Luongo will ever be in his whole career.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by CapsFan99

What are the chances the Canucks call him up?

Slim to none. For one he isn't under contract with the Canucks and secondly he's been with the Moose for 4 years now and the Canucks have never expressed any interest in signing him.

[CapsFan99]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

Slim to none. For one he isn't under contract with the Canucks and secondly he's been with the Moose for 4 years now and the Canucks have never expressed any interest in signing him.

well thats sucks!,

he is the Captain the canucks have been looking for since Linden left.

[HordiBrusk29]

Yeah it's too bad to see a guy like Keane buried in the minors but it appears he's making the best of it. He could have easily retired by now so he must be enjoying it.

[GIANTSFAN]

Keane's from Winnipeg & he loves it there. His NHL dream died years ago. He's a great team guy, & good on him for playing for the love of the game.

[Killah_punk]

Is Keane considered to be the best Captain in the AHL?

[Spaz]

I figured he was being groomed to go into coaching. Seems like a natural progression.

Best captain in the ahl is Brian Helmer, but I think most teams would love to have a guy with Keane's leadership and work ethic.

[Wadubbin]

Maike Keanw is one of my most favorites of all time.Just loved the way he played,and he was one of the best pound for pound fighters in the game.He was one of the better toe to toe fighters for sure...

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Spaz

I figured he was being groomed to go into coaching. Seems like a natural progression.

Best captain in the ahl is Brian Helmer, but I think most teams would love to have a guy with Keane's leadership and work ethic.

bryan helmer is not the best captain in the ahl

[Shoryuken]

Props to Keane for still having the 'go' to play at that age at a lower level of hockey, not many would do that.. someone who it seems is playing truly for the love of the game.

[ocnblizzard22]

Thank the man upstair! I had a tough time sleeping at night knowing keane hasn't signed! Let's go after fleury next! Whatever you do don't sign any top ten scores! Please don't sign a tough guy either, i enjoy going to the games and watching baumgartner fight sestito! I guess that what you get when you hire a trainer as a general manager!!!!!!!!!!!! Really looking forward to seeing our team pushed around