Curtis McKenzie (ice hockey)
Curtis McKenzie | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 22, 1991 Golden, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation | Ice hockey forward |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | Captain of the Texas Stars (AHL), playing in the NHL for Dallas Stars |
Curtis McKenzie (born February 22, 1991) is a Canadian ice hockey forward currently serving as captain of the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was chosen by the Dallas Stars in the sixth round, 159th overall, during the 2009 NHL entry draft.
Early life
Born in Golden, British Columbia, Canada, McKenzie is the son of Bruce McKenzie and Sandra Becket. He completed his secondary education at Burnaby Mountain Secondary School located in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Amateur
McKenzie’s early hockey experience began with the Golden Minor Hockey Association. During the 2005–06 season, he played for the Burnaby Winter Club U15 squad alongside Landon Ferraro. Although selected by the Red Deer Rebels in the 2006 Western Hockey League bantam draft, he spent the 2006–07 season competing with the Vancouver North West Hawks U18 team. For the 2007–08 campaign, he joined the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), where he contributed three goals and seven assists as part of their BCHL League Championship triumph.
Ahead of the 2008–09 season, McKenzie committed to Miami University to play NCAA hockey with the Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey program starting in 2009. That season, he posted personal bests with 30 goals and 34 assists over 53 games. He appeared in the 2008 Canadian Junior Hockey League Prospects Game and earned selection to the BCHL Interior Conference All-Star Team. Additionally, McKenzie represented Team Canada West at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge, scoring once and helping secure a silver medal. Following this standout season, he was drafted by Dallas Stars at 159th overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft.
Collegiate
During his four-year tenure at Miami University, McKenzie balanced playing for the RedHawks while pursuing an accounting degree. He netted his first collegiate goal in his debut on October 9, 2009, against St. Cloud State and concluded his freshman year leading all team rookies with six goals and 21 assists totaling 27 points. Among all Central Collegiate Hockey Association freshmen, he ranked sixth in scoring. After assisting Miami’s qualification for the 2010 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament, McKenzie contributed a goal and an assist during their regional semifinal victory over Alabama–Huntsville.
McKenzie wrapped up his college career on April 12, 2013, by signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars for the upcoming 2013–14 season. Concurrently, he inked an amateur deal with Dallas’ AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars, to complete the remainder of the 2012–13 campaign.
Dallas Stars organization (2013–2018)
McKenzie debuted in the AHL on April 6, 2013, facing off against the Hamilton Bulldogs. Over five games, he tallied one point and accumulated 14 penalty minutes. Once Dallas’ season concluded, he trained locally in Vancouver alongside various NHL players. After participating in Dallas Stars’ 2013 prospects tournament, he was assigned to Texas for the full 2013–14 AHL season. His first AHL goal came on October 6, 2013, versus the Rockford IceHogs. Frequently positioned on a top line with Travis Morin and Colton Sceviour, McKenzie earned AHL Rookie of the Month honors in December. On January 17, 2014, he and Morin set a franchise record by combining for four assists in one game. Leading all rookies with 45 points through 49 contests, McKenzie recorded his initial professional hat-trick on April 12 while securing first place in the Western Conference. He closed his rookie year with totals of 27 goals and 38 assists, received recognition on the AHL All-Rookie Team, and was awarded the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as Rookie of the Year. In postseason play, he contributed three goals and eleven assists over 21 games to help Texas capture the Calder Cup.
Attending Dallas Stars’ training camp in 2014 but beginning that season back with Texas, McKenzie was recalled to Dallas on October 14. He made his NHL debut four days later against the Philadelphia Flyers and scored his first NHL goal on November 16 against Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks. Completing that year with four goals and one assist across 36 NHL appearances, he secured a two-year contract extension worth $675,000 on July 1, 2015.
The following season started in AHL before a call-up to NHL on October 14; however, McKenzie missed over a month due to an injury sustained from a hit by Tampa Bay’s Nikita Nesterov. Returning to action with Texas after recovery, he played in 39 games prior to another brief NHL recall in February 2016 but returned after just one game. He finished that AHL regular season with totals of 24 goals and 31 assists before joining Dallas for their Stanley Cup playoff run.
Named to Dallas’ opening roster for the full duration of the 2016–17 NHL season due to team injuries, McKenzie recorded seven goals and eleven assists before signing a one-year extension on March 10, 2017. Shortly thereafter, he suffered an eye injury from a high stick but avoided lasting damage; following playoff elimination, he was rested for remainder of that season.
For the start of the 2017–18 campaign, McKenzie began with Texas after training camp but received a brief recall to Dallas in November. Serving as captain for Texas Stars that year, he led with multiple hat-tricks and surpassed a career milestone of reaching 200 AHL points by January. Although named to participate in the AHL All-Star Classic, an injury prevented his involvement; he returned to play in March before being recalled again by Dallas later that month to demonstrate NHL readiness. After three games at NHL level, McKenzie returned to Texas for season conclusion.
He ended that regular season tallying 25 goals and 23 assists while guiding Texas into postseason play. As top scorer during Calder Cup Finals with six goals and nine assists across fifteen games, he scored in Game Six to extend series to a decisive Game Seven. Ultimately, Texas was eliminated by Toronto Marlies following a final defeat.
Chicago Wolves and Utica Comets (2018–2021)
Following five seasons with the Stars, McKenzie agreed to a two-year, one-way deal with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1, 2018. After training camp, he was assigned to their AHL team, the Chicago Wolves, for the 2018–19 AHL season. Teaming up with T.J. Tynan and Keegan Kolesar, McKenzie notched a personal best eight-game point streak in February and ended the season ranking third on the team with 20 goals and 34 assists as the Wolves secured a berth in the 2019 Calder Cup playoffs.
In the Central Division Final versus the Iowa Wild, McKenzie achieved his inaugural postseason hat-trick, contributing to the Wolves taking a 3-2 series advantage and eventually advancing to the Western Conference Final. He netted two goals in Game 6 against the San Diego Gulls, clinching the Western Conference championship and earning a place in the 2019 Calder Cup Finals. During Game 2 of the Finals, McKenzie received a one-game suspension for instigating late in the contest. Despite competing with an injury, he led Chicago with eight goals and totaled 15 points throughout the playoffs.
Returning to the Wolves for the 2019–20 AHL season after Golden Knights training camp, McKenzie led his team with 17 goals and placed second with 25 assists during a season shortened by the pandemic.
As a free agent, McKenzie inked a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues on October 10, 2020. He spent the entire 2020–21 AHL season playing for their affiliate, the Utica Comets, tallying five goals and 13 points across 26 games.
Return to Texas (2021–present)
On August 6, 2021, McKenzie returned to the Texas Stars as a free agent by signing a two-year contract. He scored the tying goal in his 500th AHL game on December 11, 2021, and reached his 350th AHL point milestone on February 16, 2022, aiding Texas in qualifying for their first Calder Cup playoff appearance since 2018.
Serving as captain during the 2022–23 campaign, McKenzie reached several important milestones while guiding the team to the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs. He scored his 150th AHL goal on November 23, 2022, appeared in his 500th AHL game on February 19, and achieved his 400th career point on April 8. McKenzie secured the Central Division regular season title by netting an overtime game-winner on April 15. He concluded that season with totals of 22 goals and 32 assists and added five points over eight playoff contests.
In the final year of his contract, McKenzie posted 15 goals and an equal number of assists over 67 games and was honored with the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as IOA/American Speciality AHL Man of the Year. On May 31, 2025, he marked his participation in his 100th Calder Cup playoff game. Subsequently, he re-signed with Texas on July 3, 2025.
Personal life
McKenzie married Lucia Carr on August 18, 2018, at Lake Louise in Alberta.
During his time at Miami University, McKenzie was involved with the You Can Play Project to advocate for inclusivity in sports. In 2016, when the NHL introduced its Hockey Is For Everyone night, McKenzie served as the inaugural Ambassador for the Dallas Stars in this initiative.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2007–08 | Penticton Vees | BCHL | 49 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 81 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | ||
| 2008–09 | Penticton Vees | BCHL | 53 | 30 | 34 | 64 | 90 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 13 | ||
| 2009–10 | Miami RedHawks | CCHA | 42 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Miami RedHawks | CCHA | 38 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Miami RedHawks | CCHA | 40 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Miami RedHawks | CCHA | 39 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Texas Stars | AHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Texas Stars | AHL | 75 | 27 | 38 | 65 | 92 | 21 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 21 | ||
| 2014–15 | Texas Stars | AHL | 31 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 46 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 18 | ||
| 2014–15 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 36 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 48 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2015–16 | Texas Stars | AHL | 61 | 24 | 31 | 55 | 120 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
| 2015–16 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 2016–17 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 53 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 72 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2017–18 | Texas Stars | AHL | 51 | 25 | 23 | 48 | 74 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 27 | ||
| 2017–18 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 2018–19 | Chicago Wolves | AHL |71 |20 |34 |54 |112 |21 |8 |7 |15 |51 | ||||||||||||||
| 2019–20 | Chicago Wolves | AHL |61 |17 |25 |42 |36 |— |— |— |— |— | ||||||||||||||
| 2020–21 | Utica Comets | AHL |26 |5 |8 |13 |35 |— |— |— |— |— | ||||||||||||||
| 2021–22 | Texas Stars | AHL |72 |21 |29 |50 |82 |2 |0 |0 |4 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–23 | Texas Stars | AHL |70 |22 |32 |54 |83 |8 |3 |2 |4 | ||||||||||||||
| 2023–24 | Texas Stars | AHL |63 |13 |35 |48 |35 |7 |2 |5 |8 | ||||||||||||||
| 2024–25 | Texas Stars | AHL |67 |15 |15 |30 |86 |14 |5 |5 |10 | ||||||||||||||
| NHL totals | 99 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 131 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||||
| AHL totals | 653 | 195 | 286 | 481 | 815 | 104 | 34 | 41 | 75 | 151 | ||||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| December Rookie of the Month | 2014 |
| Named to the All-Rookie Team | 2014 |
| Recipient of the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award | 2014 |
| Winner of the Calder Cup with Texas Stars | 2014 |
| Selected for the All-Star Classic | 2025 |
| Honoured with the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award | 2025 |