Lighthouse Lookback - Keith Aucoin

Keith Aucoin always played bigger than his five-foot-eight frame. Undrafted out of Norwich University, the forward climbed the ladder on his way to the NHL, making stops in the UHL, ECHL and AHL all in his first professional season.

Following stops in the Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs organizations, Aucoin was claimed off of waivers from the Maple Leafs on the eve of the lockout-shortened season of 2012-13. Aucoin scored six goals in 41 games that season, both career highs. The forward stabilized a pre-”greatest fourth line of all-time” and helped the Islanders reach the postseason for the first time since 2007. He added three assists in the six-game series loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Aucoin enjoyed his greatest success in the AHL. A two-time Calder Cup champion with the Hershey Bears, the forward led the AHL in scoring and was awarded the Les Cunningham Award as the league’s MVP in 2009-10. He finished with 857 points in 769 AHL games.

Recently featured as the Islander of the Day, Aucoin played just the one season on the Island before signing with the St. Louis Blues. He eventually ended his career playing overseas.

The Massachusetts native, who remains an Islander fan, is still in the game to this day.

Be sure to catch up with all of the Lighthouse Lookback interviews