Clay Stevenson Bio
Clay Stevenson is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League while under contract to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. Stevenson rose through British Columbia junior ranks, posted a 30-win breakout season in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Coquitlam Express, and parlayed that performance into a collegiate career at Dartmouth College before signing a professional entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Clay Stevenson was born on March 3, 1999, in Drayton Valley, Alberta, and later moved to Chilliwack, British Columbia, with his mother when he was 16. He has one older and one younger sister. His mother, Holly Stevenson, worked as a paramedic and supported his hockey development; Stevenson has cited her as a major influence on his pursuit of the professional game.
Stevenson played youth hockey in Alberta and British Columbia, including U15 competition with the Brazeau Parkland Selects and junior play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League with the 100 Mile House Wranglers. His early junior numbers showed steady improvement and earned him a move to the British Columbia Hockey League, where he developed into one of the province’s top junior goaltenders.
Path to Hockey
Stevenson moved from the KIJHL to the BCHL for the 2017–18 season and spent three seasons with the Coquitlam Express. After modest results in his first BCHL season, he improved to a breakout 2019–20 campaign in which he posted a 30–2 record and led the league in goals-against average and save percentage, earning First Team All-Star and top goaltender recognition in the BCHL.
Following his junior success, Stevenson accepted an NCAA opportunity at Dartmouth College. The combination of a standout junior season, college recruitment, and NCAA exposure provided the development path that eventually led to a professional contract with the Washington Capitals organization.
Clay Stevenson Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Stevenson’s junior career in the BCHL culminated in the 2019–20 season with the Coquitlam Express, when he posted a 30–2 record, a 1.77 goals-against average, and a .936 save percentage while helping the Express secure the league’s regular season championship. That season earned Stevenson multiple league honors and established him as a top goaltending prospect within Canadian junior hockey circles.
He enrolled at Dartmouth College for the 2020–21 academic year. A delayed or cancelled freshman playing year due to COVID-19 limited his early college action, but Stevenson made his collegiate debut in 2021–22 and produced strong individual numbers despite a losing team record, attracting professional interest at the end of his sophomore year.
BCHL Breakthrough (2019–2020)
Stevenson’s 2019–20 stretch with the Coquitlam Express defined his junior legacy. He led the BCHL in both goals-against average and save percentage, was named a First Team All-Star, and was recognized as the league’s top goaltender. Those results raised his profile and set up his transition to NCAA competition at Dartmouth.
AHL Breakthrough (2023–2024)
After signing an entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals on March 28, 2022, Stevenson began his professional career in the Capitals’ minor-league system. He spent most of the 2022–23 season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays, where he compiled a 19–12–3 record with a 2.54 GAA and a .916 save percentage, and made three AHL appearances with the Hershey Bears, going 3–0 with a 1.96 GAA.
In 2023–24 Stevenson established himself at the AHL level backing up Hunter Shepard for the Hershey Bears. He finished the season with a 24–10–2 record, a 2.06 GAA, and a .922 save percentage; he tied and then set franchise rookie shutout marks with seven shutouts, led the AHL in shutouts, earned AHL Goaltender of the Month honors in December 2023, and was selected to the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic.
Hershey Bears Era (2023–Present)
Stevenson’s role with the Hershey Bears combined a clear developmental mandate with impactful results. Re-signed in December 2023 to a three-year contract, he served as a dependable backup and occasional starter, delivering league-leading shutout totals and sharing goaltending duties that helped the Bears post one of the lowest goals-against averages in the league that season.
His performances contributed to team success in the regular season and playoffs; Stevenson appeared in limited playoff action as the Hershey Bears secured the Calder Cup in 2024, serving primarily in a support role behind the club’s starting goaltender while maintaining strong individual metrics.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stevenson is a 6 ft 4 in left-catching goaltender who combines size with positional calm and rebound control. He excels at covering the lower net and maintaining composure in traffic, and his high save percentage figures at every competitive level reflect consistent technique and strong fundamentals. Coaches have noted his ability to respond to quick play transitions and to execute game-to-game preparation that keeps him reliable in tandem systems.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include Stevenson’s 30-win BCHL season with Coquitlam, his All-Ivy and team MVP recognition at Dartmouth, his professional debut and first shutout in the ECHL in 2022, leading the AHL in shutouts as a rookie in 2023–24, selection to the AHL All-Star Classic, and co-receipt of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for the lowest goals-against average in the AHL pairing with a teammate.
Clay Stevenson Career Wins
Stevenson’s career includes significant team and individual wins at junior, collegiate, and professional levels. Notable verified totals include a 30–2 junior season with the Coquitlam Express, a 19–12–3 record in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays in 2022–23, and a 24–10–2 record for the Hershey Bears in 2023–24.
BCHL Highlights
Stevenson’s first major success came in the BCHL with the Coquitlam Express when he posted a 30–2 record and led the league in GAA and save percentage during the 2019–20 regular season. Those numbers earned him First Team All-Star honors and top goaltender awards and were central to the Express winning the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy as BCHL regular season champions.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the professional level, Stevenson recorded his first ECHL shutout on December 3, 2022, and finished the 2022–23 ECHL season with strong postseason numbers. In the AHL he produced a franchise rookie shutout record and contributed to Hershey’s team defensive accomplishments that culminated in a Calder Cup title during his early professional seasons.
Clay Stevenson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stevenson comes from a family that moved from Alberta to British Columbia during his teenage years. His mother, Holly Stevenson, worked as a paramedic and played a visible role in his development as a player; Stevenson has honored her influence through mask artwork and public comments about her support.
Personal Life
Stevenson has two sisters, one older and one younger. Beyond his immediate family references and public tributes to his mother, Stevenson’s personal life remains private and not widely reported; there are no public records in the provided inputs of a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season Stevenson made his NHL debut for the Washington Capitals on April 17, 2025, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, facing 38 shots and allowing five goals in a 2–5 result; Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery described the performance as “fantastic.” The Capitals later returned him to the Hershey Bears in February 2026, reflecting the continued two-way development path between the NHL and AHL for a young goaltender.
Looking ahead, Stevenson’s established ability to post shutouts and maintain a high save percentage at multiple levels positions him as a goaltending prospect who can provide organizational depth for the Washington Capitals while competing for increased AHL starts and future NHL opportunities.
