Curtis McElhinney, Flames draft pick and longtime NHL backup goaltender, retires

After playing 249 NHL games over 13 seasons and winning two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Curtis McElhinney has retired from hockey at age 38. McElhinney announced his retirement on Instagram.

The Calgary Flames selected the London, ON-born goaltender in the sixth round (176th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. After a four-year career at Colorado College, McElhinney joined the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in 2005–06 and emerged as the Flames’ full-time backup goaltender in 2008–09.

After spending parts of three seasons with the Flames, amassing a 4-12-1 record with an .889 save percentage, McElhinney moved on to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2010–11 season as part of a trade that…