Ty Conklin played college hockey for the University of New Hampshire from 1998 to 2001. During the 1999-2000 season, his junior year, he posted a 22-8-6 record with a 2.49 goals-against average and two shutouts in 37 games. This strong performance earned him a top-ten nomination for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. He was also a First-Team All-American and the Hockey East Co-Player of the Year in 2000. He ended his college career as the Wildcats’ career leader in goals-against average with a 2.18.

After his college career, Conklin, who was undrafted, signed with the Edmonton Oilers in 2001. His professional career spanned nine seasons in the NHL for six different teams: the Edmonton Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and St. Louis Blues. He finished his NHL career with a 96-67-21 record. Conklin was part of the Oilers team that reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2006 and was also a member of the Penguins team that made it to the final in 2008. He also had a notable season with the Penguins in 2007-08, where he set a single-season franchise record with a .923 save percentage.