Louis Domingue

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    Image of Player Louis Domingue

    Louis Domingue Bio

    Louis Boileau-Domingue (born March 6, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). A fifth-round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Domingue has built a long journeyman career across the NHL, AHL, ECHL, and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He is known for his steady demeanor, his franchise-record winning streak with the Tampa Bay Lightning, and his unlikely emergence as a starting playoff goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

    Early Life and Background

    Louis Boileau-Domingue was born on March 6, 1992, in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada. The town, located on the Richelieu River southeast of Montreal, has a strong tradition of producing talented hockey players, and Domingue grew up surrounded by the sport. Like many young Canadians, he developed his game on local rinks and progressed through the Quebec minor hockey system, where goaltenders are often identified at an early age.

    Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and competing at around 209 pounds during his professional career, Domingue had the ideal frame for a modern netminder. His size, combined with quick lateral movement, made him a promising prospect as he entered his teenage years. By the time he was eligible for major junior hockey, he had already drawn attention from scouts across the province.

    Path to Hockey

    Domingue was selected 13th overall by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2008 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Entry Draft, beginning his path through one of Canada’s top development leagues. He played major junior hockey in the QMJHL with both the Wildcats and the Quebec Remparts, refining his technique against high-level competition. In 2010, he was selected to play in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, a showcase that further raised his profile among NHL scouts.

    That same year, Domingue was drafted by the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes in the fifth round, 138th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. On June 1, 2011, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Coyotes organization. He was assigned to play the 2011–12 season with the Remparts, where he led all QMJHL goaltenders with a .914 save percentage, before making his professional debut the following year with both the Portland Pirates of the AHL and the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.

    Louis Domingue Career

    Early Career (2012-2015)

    Domingue spent his first full professional seasons developing in the Coyotes’ system, splitting time between the AHL and ECHL while learning the demands of pro hockey. After Arizona traded backup Devan Dubnyk to the Minnesota Wild in the 2014-15 season, Domingue was called up to the NHL for the first time to back up starter Mike Smith. He made his NHL debut in relief, allowing two goals in a 7-2 defeat to the Ottawa Senators on January 31, 2015.

    The very next day, Domingue received his first NHL start and recorded his first victory, a 3-2 win over the Eastern Conference-leading Montreal Canadiens. He finished that season as Smith’s full-time backup, providing stability during a transitional period for the franchise.

    Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (2015-2018)

    In 2015-16, Domingue was again recalled following an injury to Mike Smith. Originally slated to back up Anders Lindback, his strong play moved him ahead on the depth chart and into a temporary starting role. On June 27, 2016, Arizona signed him to a two-year contract extension, reflecting confidence in his development as a long-term NHL option.

    Domingue began the 2017-18 season as Arizona’s backup, but struggled after starter Antti Raanta went down with an injury, going winless in seven games. On October 31, 2017, he was assigned to the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners after clearing waivers. Before appearing with the Roadrunners, however, the Coyotes traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 14, 2017, in exchange for goaltender Michael Leighton and forward Tye McGinn.

    Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2018-2019)

    On June 22, 2018, the Lightning signed Domingue to a two-year, $2.3 million contract extension. He found his groove in Tampa Bay during the 2018-19 season, earning NHL second star of the week honors on December 10, 2018. On February 2, 2019, he helped the Lightning record a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, marking his ninth straight victory and tying him with John Grahame and Andrei Vasilevskiy for the longest win streak by a Lightning goaltender.

    On February 10, 2019, Domingue set a new franchise record with his tenth straight win, a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers at BB&T Center. He extended the streak to eleven games with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on February 19, 2019, before the run finally ended against the Boston Bruins on February 28, 2019. Despite the streak’s end, his performance cemented his reputation as a capable NHL goaltender.

    New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks (2019-2020)

    On September 20, 2019, Domingue was placed on waivers by the Lightning and assigned to the Syracuse Crunch to begin the 2019-20 season. On November 1, 2019, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick. He initially joined AHL affiliate Binghamton before being recalled to serve as backup to Mackenzie Blackwood, collecting just three wins in 16 appearances before being waived again.

    On February 24, 2020, Domingue was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Zane McIntyre and immediately joined the club due to an injury to Jacob Markstrom. He made a lone appearance with the Canucks, a 5-3 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 1, 2020, and remained with Vancouver as the third-string goaltender during the COVID-19 pandemic return-to-play postseason.

    Calgary Flames (2020-2021)

    As a free agent, Domingue joined the Calgary Flames on a one-year, two-way contract on October 11, 2020. In the shortened 2020-21 season, he was primarily used in a depth role with the Flames’ extended taxi squad. He made three appearances with AHL affiliate Stockton before making his lone Flames appearance, allowing three goals in a 4-2 defeat to his former Vancouver club on May 18, 2021.

    Pittsburgh Penguins (2021-2022)

    Domingue signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 2, 2021, spending most of the regular season in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where he posted a 10-9-4 record and a .924 save percentage. After starter Tristan Jarry injured his foot weeks before the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Domingue was called up to serve as temporary backup to Casey DeSmith.

    He was unexpectedly called into action in Game 1 of the first-round series against the New York Rangers after DeSmith exited in double overtime, stopping all 17 shots he faced before Evgeni Malkin won the game in triple overtime. Domingue later noted he had eaten a heavy meal of spicy pork and broccoli between overtimes, which became a viral meme among Pittsburgh fans. He recorded his first victorious postseason start in Game 3 on May 7, 2022, giving Pittsburgh a 2-1 series lead. The Penguins eventually lost the series in seven games after Jarry returned.

    New York Rangers (2022-2025)

    As a free agent, Domingue signed a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the New York Rangers on July 13, 2022, his seventh NHL club. After being assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL, he was recalled when injuries struck both Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. On November 9, 2023, he made 25 saves in a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, his first NHL game in 18 months. On March 10, 2024, he signed a one-year extension.

    While playing for Hartford on April 12, 2024, Domingue scored an empty-net goal against the Springfield Thunderbirds, his first professional goal and the second by a goalie in Wolf Pack history. On January 5, 2025, with Shesterkin injured, he was called up to start against the Chicago Blackhawks and won 6-2. On July 17, 2025, he signed a one-year contract with KHL club Sibir Novosibirsk, before being released on November 3, 2025, for family reasons.

    Charlotte Checkers (2025-Present)

    On November 24, 2025, after his departure from the KHL, Domingue signed a one-year contract with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. The signing returned him to North American professional hockey after 13 professional seasons. He joined the Checkers as an experienced veteran presence between the pipes.

    Driving Style and Strengths

    Domingue plays a technically sound, positionally responsible goaltending style, relying on his 6-foot-3 frame to cover the lower portion of the net while remaining agile enough to challenge shooters. His calm demeanor in high-pressure situations, particularly during Pittsburgh’s 2022 playoff run, has been a hallmark of his career. He is known for his professionalism and ability to step into starting roles on short notice.

    Notable Events and Milestones

    Among Domingue’s signature achievements are his eleven-game winning streak with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018-19, a franchise record, and his unlikely starring role during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs for Pittsburgh. His empty-net goal as a member of the Hartford Wolf Pack in April 2024 stands as one of the most unusual highlights of his career.

    Louis Domingue Family

    Family Background and Racing Lineage

    Public details about Louis Boileau-Domingue’s immediate family are limited. He was raised in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, a region with deep hockey roots. His decision to leave Sibir Novosibirsk in November 2025 was attributed by the club to family reasons, underscoring the importance of family in his professional decisions.

    Personal Life

    Domingue has spent much of his adult life moving between cities due to his professional hockey schedule, having played for organizations based in Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, Vancouver, Calgary, Pennsylvania, and New York. He is a Canadian national who continues to compete at the professional level in his early thirties.

    2025 Season Performance

    The 2025 calendar year has been a turbulent one for Louis Boileau-Domingue. After beginning the year in the New York Rangers organization, he signed with Sibir Novosibirsk of the KHL on July 17, 2025, marking his first stint outside North America in his career. However, after roughly three and a half months in Russia, he was released by the club on November 3, 2025, for family reasons.

    Just three weeks later, on November 24, 2025, Domingue signed a one-year contract with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, returning to the league where he made his professional debut more than a decade earlier. The signing provided a familiar landing spot as he works to finish the season in North America.

    Looking ahead, Domingue is expected to serve as a veteran presence in the Charlotte crease, offering leadership and reliable depth at the AHL level. His extensive NHL and international experience positions him as a stabilizing force for the Checkers’ goaltending group during the second half of the campaign.