Michael Garnett (born March 21, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, and began his junior career with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he played from 2001 to 2005.
Professional Career
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NHL Draft and Early Career: Garnett was selected in the seventh round, 222nd overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He signed an entry‑level contract with the Kings in 2006 and spent the majority of his early professional years with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates, including the Manchester Monarchs and the Reading Royals of the ECHL.
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Los Angeles Kings (2008–2009): Garnett made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with the Kings during the 2008–09 season, appearing in two regular‑season games.
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Subsequent North American Play: After his stint with the Kings, Garnett continued to play in the AHL and ECHL with teams such as the Milwaukee Admirals, the Chicago Wolves, and the Stockton Thunder.
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European Leagues (2012–2020): In 2012, Garnett moved to Europe, signing with SC Bern of the Swiss National League (NLA). He later played for the ERC Ingolstadt and the Nürnberg Ice Tigers in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) of Germany, and for Lukko in Finland’s Liiga. His European tenure included multiple seasons as a starting goaltender and contributed to several playoff runs.
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Retirement: Garnett concluded his professional playing career after the 2019–20 season.
Playing Style and Recognition
Garnett was recognized for his size (6 ft 4 in, 210 lb) and athleticism, attributes that contributed to his effectiveness in net. While he did not receive major individual awards at the NHL level, his consistent performance in North American minor leagues and European top‑tier leagues earned him a reputation as a reliable goaltender.
Post‑Playing Activities
Following retirement, Garnett has been involved in hockey coaching and development programs, focusing on goaltending training for youth players in Canada.
