Clay Stevenson Bio
Clay Stevenson is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). After a 30-win season with the British Columbia Hockey League’s (BCHL) Coquitlam Express, Stevenson attended Dartmouth College, where, in his sophomore season, he was named to the All-Ivy First Team and as Dartmouth’s team MVP. He then signed with the Washington Capitals and debuted for their ECHL associate, the South Carolina Stingrays, in 2022. The following season, he debuted with the Bears; that season, he recorded an AHL-leading and franchise rookie record 7 shutouts, appeared at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, was named Goaltender of the Month in December, and was a co-recipient of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award.
Early Life and Background
Clay Stevenson was born on March 3, 1999, in Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada. He has one older and one younger sister. His parents separated when he was young, and he moved to Chilliwack, British Columbia, with his mother, Holly Stevenson, a paramedic, when he was 16. Tragically, Holly committed suicide in September 2019 after years of mental health struggles. Stevenson credits his mother for supporting his hockey career and pushing him to train as a child, calling her his inspiration to play in the NHL. On his goalie mask, he has his nickname, “Mud,” on the front, and a Star of Life on the back as an homage to his mother.
Path to Hockey
Clay Stevenson played U15 hockey for the Brazeau Parkland Selects before moving to the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) and playing for the 100 Mile House Wranglers. In 25 games with the Wranglers, he posted a 3.12 goals against average (GAA) and a .907 save percentage (SV%). For the 2017–18 season, Stevenson moved to the BCHL, where he played three seasons with the Coquitlam Express. In his first season, he won just 4 games and lost 16 while recording a 3.89 GAA and a .885 SV%. However, Stevenson had a breakout season in 2019–20, posting a record of 30–2 and leading the Express to the Ron Boileau Memorial Trophy, the BCHL’s regular season championship. He led the league in GAA with 1.77 and SV% with .936, earning several accolades along the way.
Clay Stevenson Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
After leaving the Express, Stevenson attended Dartmouth College for the 2020–21 season. He did not appear in any games as a freshman due to COVID-19. He made his collegiate debut in the 2021–22 season against the University of Connecticut, saving 34 out of 36 shots in a 1–4 loss. His first win came seven days later against Colgate, winning 3–2 after saving 29 shots. He finished his lone collegiate hockey season with a losing record of 6–14 but had a GAA of 2.70 and a SV% of .922. He was named to the All-Ivy First Team and the All-ECAC Hockey Third Team, and was also named Dartmouth’s team MVP. Following his sophomore season, the Washington Capitals offered him a contract, which he accepted, signing a two-year entry-level contract worth $1.85 million on March 28, 2022. He spent most of the 2022–23 season in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays, where he made his ECHL debut on November 5, 2022, stopping 38 of 40 shots in a 4–2 victory against the Atlanta Gladiators.
Breakthrough (2023–Present)
In the 2023–24 season, Clay Stevenson made his first full-time AHL season debut with the Hershey Bears. He finished the season with a record of 24–10–2, a GAA of 2.06, which was second only to his teammate Hunter Shepard in the AHL, and a SV% of .922. Stevenson tied the Bears’ franchise record for shutouts and set the Bears’ rookie record for shutouts with seven, which also led all AHL goalies. He was named AHL Goaltender of the Month in December 2023 and joined fellow Bears players at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic. Stevenson and Shepard combined for 11 shutouts during the season, a Hershey Bears record, and received the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award as the pair that allowed the lowest GAA of the season.
Notable Works and Milestones
Clay Stevenson has established himself as a promising goaltender in the AHL. His signature work includes his record-setting shutouts and his recognition as AHL Goaltender of the Month. He has also been a key player in the Hershey Bears’ success, contributing to their playoff run and Calder Cup victory.
Clay Stevenson Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Clay Stevenson has received notable nominations, including recognition for his performance in the AHL and collegiate hockey.
Clay Stevenson Awards Won
Clay Stevenson has achieved significant accolades, including the AHL Goaltender of the Month award and the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award, recognizing his outstanding performance in the league.
Clay Stevenson Family
Clay Stevenson is the son of Holly Stevenson, who was a paramedic. He has one older and one younger sister.
Personal Life
Clay Stevenson has openly shared the impact of his mother’s death on his life and career, often crediting her as his primary inspiration in pursuing hockey.
