Kevin Weekes

Kevin Weekes
Born	(1975-04-04) April 4, 1975 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey goaltender (retired), sports analyst
Years active	1997–2009 (playing career)
Known for	NHL goaltender, NHL Network studio analyst

Kevin Weekes (born April 4, 1975) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who participated in 348 National Hockey League (NHL) contests. Currently, he serves as a studio analyst for NHL Network, contributing to programs such as On the Fly and NHL Tonight, in addition to providing commentary for weekly highlight games. Weekes also covers matches on ESPN/ABC and frequently features on ESPN’s weekly hockey broadcast, The Point.

Playing career

Weekes launched his hockey journey with the Owen Sound Platers in the Ontario Hockey League, including a brief period with the Ottawa 67's.

Selected 41st overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Florida Panthers, Weekes made his NHL debut on October 16, 1997. After limited ice time with Florida, he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Pavel Bure. Over approximately one and a half seasons, Weekes recorded a 6–15–5 record before being traded mid-season in 1999–2000 to the New York Islanders. Subsequently, he joined the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he remained until late in the 2001–02 campaign.

On March 5, 2002, Weekes was acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes in return for Chris Dingman and Shane Willis. Primarily serving as backup to Artūrs Irbe during the regular season, Weekes played an instrumental role in Carolina’s advance to the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals. He participated in eight playoff games, including vital starts in the first two rounds, achieving consecutive shutouts against the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens.

Weekes was Carolina’s leading goaltender throughout the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, appearing in 51 and 66 games respectively.

Before the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Weekes signed with the New York Rangers. Although he won his first start in October 2005, an injury sidelined him, allowing rookie Henrik Lundqvist to assume starting duties. Weekes returned as backup but became a free agent after a difficult 2006–07 season.

On July 5, 2007, Weekes joined the New Jersey Devils as Martin Brodeur’s backup. During the 2008–09 season, Brodeur’s injury sparked competition between Weekes and Scott Clemmensen for starting responsibilities. Following Brodeur’s recovery, Weekes remained as backup until sustaining an injury on April 3, 2009; Clemmensen then took over backup duties. The Devils advanced to the playoffs but were eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals by Carolina.

Weekes declared his retirement from professional hockey on September 27, 2009.

Broadcasting career

In 2009, Weekes became the first black analyst in ice hockey history. He delivers colour commentary for NHL contests on the NHL Network and Hockey Night in Canada. In 2011, The Hockey News recognized him among the Top 40 under 40 most influential figures in ice hockey.

Weekes made his analyst debut for NHL on ESPN in 2021 during coverage of both the 2021 NHL expansion draft and 2021 NHL draft.

At the NHL trade deadline in 2022, Weekes attracted attention by reporting trades through videos filmed in unconventional settings. Beginning with straightforward selfie clips, he soon incorporated imaginative backdrops such as a barber’s chair and views of the New York City skyline. His fans transformed these reports into memes portraying him in various imaginative and fictitious locations. Embracing this phenomenon, Weekes continued sharing similar videos, including one featuring him wearing a trash bin on his head. This creative approach has since become a hallmark of his engaging social media presence.

Personal life

Weekes was born in Toronto, Ontario and completed his education at Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute. His family originally moved from Barbados to Canada.

He frequently chose jersey number 80, as the NHL prohibits the use of 00, which was his preferred number. When he joined the New Jersey Devils, then-GM Lou Lamoriello enforced a policy restricting most players’ jersey numbers to between 1 and 40, resulting in Weekes being assigned number 1. During his junior hockey tenure with the Ottawa 67's and later with the AHL's Carolina Monarchs, he wore 00. Additionally, while with the Monarchs, he contributed articles as a columnist for the Greensboro News and Record.

Weekes made guest appearances on the soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live. In 2008, he featured alongside Willie O'Ree in an episode of Everybody Hates Chris.

In February 2023, Weekes obtained American citizenship.

Career statistics

... [Statistics continue as originally presented] ...

				Regular season											Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	OTL	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1990–91	Toronto Red Wings	MTHL		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	St. Michael's Buzzers	MetJHL		1	0	0	0	—	41	1	0	1.46	—		—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Toronto Red Wings	MTHL		35	—	—	—	—	1575	68	4	1.94	—		4	1	2	214	15	1	4.21	—
1991–92	St. Michael's Buzzers	MetJHL		2	0	1	1	—	127	11	0	5.20	—
NHL totals				348	105	163	33	6	18,837	903	19	2.88	.903		9	3	3	467	15	2	1.93	.927

See also

• List of black NHL players
• List of NHL seasons
• NHL goaltenders