Few goaltenders have been able to accomplish what John Gibson has through his short-lived career thus far.  At only 20 years old, Gibson has played a full season in the American Hockey League and is fresh off playing in a second-round Stanley Cup playoff series for the Anaheim Ducks, who fell to the Los Angeles Kings in seven games.

Gibson was in the midst of participating in the AHL Calder Cup Conference Semi-Finals against St. John’s after backstopping the Duck’s AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, to a first-round series win over the top-seeded Manchester Monarchs.

With Frederik Anderson out of action in Anaheim due to injury, Gibson was given the start over Jonas Hiller by coach Bruce Boudreau, and never looked back.

Despite his importance to the success of the Admirals, he now had a more important task at hand at the NHL level, albeit one that came about in short order.

Although he felt mixed emotions to leave his Admirals teammates during a playoff series, Gibson understood that aspect of the business and accepted the challenge at hand.  “It’s definitely hard, but at the same time it’s really out of my control.  I just play the best I can play wherever I am.”

Naturally, Gibson was ready for Anaheim to come knocking, and kept an open mind to the possibility of being recalled.  “I think you need to be ready as you never really know when it’s going to happen,” said Gibson.  “When you do get the call, you have to make the most of it.”

And making the most of it, he has.

Gibson became the youngest goaltender in NHL history to record a shutout in his playoff debut.  That coming after a 3-0 shutout win over the Vancouver Canucks in his first career NHL game this past April.

When recounting his first NHL call-up, he remembers exactly where he was and the series of events that led to his first time strapping on the pads for the Ducks.

“We were bussing from Binghamton, NY to Hartford, CT and I got the call after (Frederik) Anderson was injured.  They said I was flying out in the morning to join the team.  I got into Edmonton pretty late on the Sunday night so I didn’t play, but I started the following night in Vancouver.”

Gibson began his development with the United States National Development Team in 2009, before joining the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers in 2011.  At that point in his career, he felt as though the OHL was better suited for his game, in addition to gaining greater exposure and a schedule more aligned with that of an NHL team.

“I decided to do what’s best for me and my development to make me the best hockey player I could be which turned out well.”

The decision also expedited his rise to the pro level by playing out his OHL eligibility.  Gibson had originally committed to attend the University of Michigan to suit up for the Wolverines.  As an emerging goaltender with tremendous potential, his decision to deflect college hockey was questioned.  However, it was a well-thought out decision that he and his family felt was best for his career.

After finishing the 2012-13 season with the Kitchener Rangers, Gibson joined the Norfolk Admirals who were still a week away from closing out their season to acclimate himself with many of the staff and understand the caliber of AHL hockey prior to his first full season.  Although he only saw 40 minutes of game action, the experience allowed for a smoother transition the next fall, despite a cast of new teammates.

“A lot of guys didn’t come back to the team so it was kind of different,” added Gibson.

Despite playing one game in Norfolk, he credits his bronze-medal performance at the World Championships in Stockholm and Helsinki as another important learning experience that helped him prepare for the 2013-14 season.

“Playing in the World Championships allowed me to play more hockey at a higher level which really helped me in preparation for this season.”

When asked about his journey from the US National Team, through junior and now into the pro level, Gibson has advice for goalies on the rise who are beginning their career at the pro level, whether it be in the AHL or any of the other league.  “There will definitely be ups and downs, but you just have to stay with it and stay even-keeled.  Just work hard.”

Despite finishing the season in Anaheim, Gibson hasn’t gotten too comfortable with his surroundings just yet and acknowledges that he still has to prove himself as a full-time NHL goaltender in September at the Ducks training camp.  

He also foresees a long playoff run with the Ducks next season.

“I just prepare the same way,” explained Gibson. “We want to change how we ended last year and hopefully lift the Stanley Cup next year.”

Reflecting on his first full season at the pro level, after backstopping both Norfolk and Anaheim, Gibson puts it quite succinctly.  When asked about what his biggest takeaways were this year, he simply stated, ‘the whole experience’.  “The Stanley Cup Playoffs were great and I’m using that as motivation going into next year.”