Joey Daccord

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    Image of Player Joey Daccord

    Joey Daccord Bio

    Joey Daccord is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on August 19, 1996, in North Andover, Massachusetts, Daccord was selected 199th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. After developing through the United States Hockey League (USHL) and three collegiate seasons with the Arizona State Sun Devils, he launched his professional career in 2019. In January 2024, he authored a piece of league history by recording the first-ever shutout in an NHL Winter Classic, leading Seattle to a 3-0 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.

    Early Life and Background

    Joel “Joey” Daccord was raised in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he grew up surrounded by hockey. His father, Brian Daccord, is a former goaltender who played professionally in Switzerland’s National League and later founded Stop It Goaltending. Brian has held roles with several organizations, including goaltending scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs, special assistant to the general manager for the Arizona Coyotes, and goaltending coach for the Boston Bruins. His mother, Daniela Daccord, raised Joey alongside his younger brother, Alex, who also played goaltender at Saint Anselm College. Daccord’s uncle, Tom, played professionally in Switzerland, giving the family a deep international goaltending pedigree.

    Daccord began his organized career with North Andover High School during the 2010-11 season. He then moved to Cushing Academy in 2012, where he spent three seasons developing his game. In his final year with Cushing, he posted a 1.80 goals against average (GAA) and a .933 save percentage, numbers that attracted attention from United States Hockey League scouts.

    Path to Hockey

    While at Cushing Academy, Daccord was selected in the 21st round (307th overall) of the 2013 USHL Entry Draft by the Omaha Lancers. He was later traded to the Sioux City Musketeers and then to the Muskegon Lumberjacks. In 2015, following his third season at Cushing, he was picked 199th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Entry Draft. He then returned to Muskegon for the 2015-16 USHL season, where he set a franchise record with 1,344 saves.

    Daccord joined the Arizona State Sun Devils for the 2016-17 college season and played three years in the NCAA. He recorded his first collegiate shutout on January 13, 2018, turning aside 28 shots in a 4-0 win over UMass Lowell. In his final Arizona State season in 2018-19, he ranked among the top NCAA goaltenders with seven shutouts, a .926 save percentage, and a 2.35 GAA, earning finalist honors for both the Hobey Baker Award and the Mike Richter Award.

    Joey Daccord Career

    Early Career (2019-2021)

    On April 1, 2019, the Ottawa Senators signed Daccord to a two-year entry-level contract, making him the first Arizona State University player to sign an NHL deal. He made his NHL debut on April 4, 2019, making 35 saves in a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. After that season, he spent time with the Senators’ ECHL affiliate, the Brampton Beast, before earning a promotion to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL). With Brampton, he posted a 2.85 GAA and a .901 save percentage, and with Belleville he went 15-8-1 with a 2.61 GAA and a .915 save percentage. On October 17, 2020, Ottawa re-signed him to a three-year contract extension.

    Recalled by Ottawa in February 2021 after Marcus Hogberg was injured, Daccord earned his first NHL victory on March 14, 2021, making 33 saves in a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs after starter Matt Murray was hurt in warmups. Just three days later, on March 17, he suffered a significant leg injury against the Vancouver Canucks that ended his season.

    Ottawa to Seattle Transition (2021-2022)

    On July 21, 2021, the Senators left Daccord unprotected for the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, and the Seattle Kraken selected him. Entering Seattle’s inaugural season as the third goaltender on the depth chart, he was assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. With the Checkers, he went 34 games with a .925 save percentage and a 2.28 GAA. In March 2022, he was named AHL Goaltender of the Month after posting a 6-1-0 record with a 1.55 GAA and a .956 save percentage. He helped Charlotte advance to the third round of the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs, capping a series win with a 4-0 shutout of the Bridgeport Islanders.

    Coachella Valley and the Calder Cup Finals (2022-2023)

    Assigned to Seattle’s new AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, for the 2022-23 season, Daccord went 26-8-3 with a 2.38 GAA, the fifth-best mark in the AHL that year. He played all 26 games of the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs, posting a 2.22 GAA and three shutouts, including two in the Calder Cup Finals against the Hershey Bears. Daccord became the first goaltender to start the Calder Cup Finals with back-to-back shutouts since Maurice Roberts of the Cleveland Barons in 1939. Despite his efforts, the Firebirds fell in seven games.

    Seattle Kraken Era (2023-Present)

    On June 30, 2023, Daccord signed a two-year contract with the Kraken. He earned his first NHL shutout on December 12, 2023, stopping 24 shots in a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers. On January 1, 2024, he recorded the first-ever Winter Classic shutout in league history, making 35 saves in a 3-0 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights. He helped Seattle set a franchise record with a nine-game winning streak and a 13-game points streak. He closed the 2023-24 regular season with a 2.46 GAA and a .916 save percentage, both top-10 figures among NHL goaltenders with at least 20 games played. On October 10, 2024, Daccord signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with Seattle.

    Driving Style and Strengths

    Daccord is recognized for his poise, technical refinement, and efficient movement in the crease, traits sharpened by his father Brian’s goaltending background. He pairs sound positioning with quick post-to-post transitions, allowing him to handle high-danger chances reliably. His strong partnership with the Kraken’s coaching staff has helped him develop a consistent, team-first approach between the pipes.

    Notable Events and Milestones

    Daccord’s signature moment came on January 1, 2024, when he authored the first shutout in NHL Winter Classic history against the Vegas Golden Knights. He has also recorded a USHL franchise-record 1,344 saves in a single season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and back-to-back shutouts to open the 2023 Calder Cup Finals, a feat not accomplished since 1939.

    Joey Daccord Career Wins

    Across junior, collegiate, minor professional, and NHL play, Daccord has stacked up steady win totals that reflect his steady climb through the ranks. He earned his first NHL victory in March 2021 and his first NHL shutout in December 2023, before producing the historic Winter Classic shutout to open 2024.

    NHL Highlights

    Daccord’s first NHL win came on March 14, 2021, when he stopped 33 shots against the Toronto Maple Leafs. His first NHL shutout came on December 12, 2023, in a 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers, and he has since become a reliable starter for the Kraken. His most recent signature outing was the league’s first Winter Classic shutout on January 1, 2024.

    Other Wins and Performances

    In the AHL, Daccord helped the Coachella Valley Firebirds reach the 2023 Calder Cup Finals and was instrumental in the Charlotte Checkers’ deep 2022 playoff run. At the international level, he represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, earning a 26-save shutout against Denmark in the opener and winning gold with a 5-2 victory over Finland in the final.

    Joey Daccord Family

    Family Background and Hockey Lineage

    Hockey runs deep in the Daccord family. Joey’s father, Brian Daccord, played professionally in Switzerland’s National League and built a respected coaching and scouting career that includes stints with the Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. His younger brother, Alex, played goaltender at Saint Anselm College, and his uncle, Tom, also played professionally in Switzerland. Joey is a citizen of Canada, Switzerland, and the United States, and he is fluent in German and Swiss German.

    Personal Life

    Daccord has chosen to represent the United States in international competition despite his Canadian and Swiss citizenship. He is fluent in German and Swiss German, a reflection of the family’s ties to Switzerland. Off the ice, he remains connected to the greater Boston area through his family, with his parents Brian and Daniela continuing to support his career.

    2025 Season Performance

    Heading into the 2025 season, Daccord entered the year as a full-time starter for the Seattle Kraken after signing a five-year, $25 million contract extension on October 10, 2024. The new deal cemented his role as a cornerstone of Seattle’s long-term goaltending plans. Following his historic 2023-24 campaign, expectations were high for him to deliver another top-tier season.

    Daccord also represented the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, posting a 26-save shutout against Denmark in the opener and winning gold after a 5-2 victory over Finland in the final. The international triumph added another highlight to his resume and reinforced his growing stature among American goaltenders.

    With Seattle’s goaltending tandem settled around Daccord and the team’s defensive structure continuing to evolve, the Kraken aimed to build on their 2023-24 momentum. Daccord’s blend of composure, technique, and big-game experience positioned him as a key driver of Seattle’s push back toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025.