Mike McKenna is in his fifth pro season and first as a member of the New Jersey Devils organization. McKenna made his NHL debut last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and was a two-time ECHL All-Star with the Las Vegas Wranglers.

What was your “I’m in the NHL” moment?
The first game that I played I got thrown in midway through. It happened so quickly, I didn’t really have time to think about it. It just happened.  So when I got on the ice I think the first save is when it hit me.  Then, coming off the ice, looking at the jersey.  That’s really when it hit me.

Who has had the defining role. in your development as a hockey player growing up?
It’d be hard to pick one person. My grandfather and father really because we were from St. Louis.  They didn’t push me, but because they played, that is what aided me in playing.  And then later in life, I think as far developing as a goaltender, Mitch Korn, the goal tender coach at the Nashville Predators. [He] really steered me in the right direction even though I never signed with them, I think he was really important to me, but there have been a lot of people along the way.

If you weren’t playing hockey, what would you be doing for a living?
I wish I could do something within hockey afterwards, to stay active as a goal tending instructor or something.  But realistically, I’ve got a degree in economics and I’d probably follow that and be a financial planner and take it to the promised land.  But I do really enjoy teaching goaltenders and I have my own goalie school in the summer, so I might pursue that afterwards.

If you could sit down with any goalie past or present, who would it be?
I think Glenn Hall would be a great choice because he played through so much adversity and played without a mask. He really had the guts and played in a time frame when that wasn’t easy to do.

When you were growing up you went to the tracks to watch your father race carts, did you ever want to race carts yourself?
Absolutely.  I tried my hand at carting for two summers and wasn’t very good at it at first. I’d like to think I’ve greatly improved now at several of the indoor carting places I’ve been to and driver schools I’ve done.  So, I’m eagerly awaiting my next chance to get behind the wheel in a competitive setting.

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