NHL’s Tallest Goalie Tears a Wing

“Big Ben” Bishop, the tallest goaltender to ever play in the NHL at 6 feet 7 inches, tore a ligament in his right wrist while getting the Tampa Bay Lightning to the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Various news reports state that Bishop chose Dr. Thomas Graham, Cleveland Clinic’s “Chief Innovation Officer” as his surgeon.

ESPN News reports that Bishop’s wrist is much better and next year, Tampa Bay Lightning hope not to get knocked out in the first round—like this year.

Bishop, who hurt his wrist in early January, wore a cast while playing but aggravated it again in February. Bishop did not initially seek treatment, preferring instead to play through the pain. His coach Jon Cooper commented, “He had so many things break down, it was tough. He gamed it out. We can gripe about getting swept in the first round, but without Bishop we probably would not have been in the first round.”

Hockey has never seen a professional goalie with a “wing span” like Bishop’s. As a freshman for the University of Maine, Bishop had a record of 21 wins, 8 loses and 2 ties and a 2.28 goals against average. That same year Bishop led Maine to a sweep of the back-to-back national champions Denver. In October 2005 and February 2006 he was awarded Rookie of the Month as well as Goaltender of the Month by Hockey East. He was also named Rookie of the Week four separate times.

The Sarah Palin Connection

Bishop’s debut in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues wasn’t nearly so auspicious. He gave up two goals over the final 40 minutes in a 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Before that game was played, however, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was invited to drop the ceremonial first puck. The team’s starting goalie, Manny Legace, tripped on the carpet that was laid out for Palin and injured himself. Bishop filled in for Legace. It was his first official NHL game.

Bishop was subsequently traded to the Ottawa Senators in early 2012 where he, again, replaced an injured starting goalie. This time it was Craig Anderson. Anderson, it turns out, cut his hand in a kitchen accident before the game. After a while, Bishop was traded again. This time to Tampa Bay.

With Tampa Bay, Bishop seems to have found a home. He was named a finalist for the top NHL goaltender honors this season, the Vezina Trophy.

Wing Span

Extending those long arms and legs is part of Bishop’s effectiveness as a goalie. Unfortunately, it has caused elbow and wrist injuries. Bishop had a 2.23 goals-against average and .924 save percentage this season. He did not play in the playoffs due to an elbow dislocation. The Lightning were swept by the Canadians in the first round.

Those injuries combined with being left off the U.S. Olympic team despite superlative numbers in 2013-14 has meant that this year was a real roller coaster ride for ‘Big Ben’.

The team expects Bishop to be ready for the 2014-15 season’s training camp.

Mr. Innovation

Bishop’s surgeon for the torn ligament in his wrist was Cleveland Clinic’s Mr. Innovation, Dr. Thomas Graham.

Dr. Graham is recognized worldwide for his clinical expertise in hand, wrist and elbow surgery and has worked with many professional athletes. Graham holds nearly 40 patents on implants and other devices and has started several medical device and service companies. Dr. Graham completed his residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals, a fellowship in hand surgery at the Indiana Hand Center and his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.