Shjon Podein

Shjon Podein
Born	(1968-03-05) March 5, 1968 Rochester, MN, USA
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Edmonton Oilers Philadelphia Flyers Colorado Avalanche St. Louis Blues
National team	United States
NHL Draft	166th overall, 1988 Edmonton Oilers
Playing career	1990–2006

Shjon Podein (born March 5, 1968) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues.

He was named the Head High School Hockey Coach at St. Louis Park (MN) High School on March 16, 2011. He has been active in the youth program for three years before being named coach.

Playing career

Podein graduated from John Marshall High School in 1986. He then made the leap collegiate hockey playing with the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the WCHA. Podein was drafted after his freshman year in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, 166th overall by the Edmonton Oilers.

Podein made his professional debut in the 1990–91 season with the Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL. Shjon made his NHL debut in the 1992–93 season with the Oilers but was returned to Cape Breton, going on to win the Calder Cup. Over the next season Podein saw limited time with the big club and was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers on July 27, 1994.

With the Flyers, Podein flourished into a first rate penalty-killer and checking forward. Podein played 5 seasons and over 300 games with Philadelphia, culminating in a Stanley Cup finals defeat against the Detroit Red Wings in 1997.

On November 12, 1998, Podein was traded by the Flyers to the Colorado Avalanche for Keith Jones. Podein assumed his role as top penalty-killer on the Avalanche. While helping Colorado capture the Stanley Cup in the 2000–01 season, Shjon also had career high in goals (15) and tied a career high 32 points. After winning game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, Shjon is often remembered for wearing his uniform for a full 25 hours after the game.

In the following 2001–02 season, Podein was traded by the Avalanche to the St. Louis Blues for Mike Keane on February 11, 2002. Shjon played his last NHL season in 2002–03 before finishing his career in Europe with Växjö Lakers Hockey and Asian team HC Nikko Icebucks.

Away from the ice, Shjon set up the "Shjon Podein Children's Foundation". Podein was noted for his immense dedication to charity work and youth hockey programs. As a result Podein was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2001.

Podein did "Let's play hockey" for the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 19, 2008.

Awards and achievements

• 1992–93 -AHL Calder Cup (Cape Breton Oilers)
• 2000–01 -NHL Stanley Cup (Colorado Avalanche)
• 2000–01 - NHL King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Currently head coach of St. Louis Park Orioles Boy's High School varsity in Minnesota

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1987–88	U. of Minnesota-Duluth	WCHA		30	4	4	8	48		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	U. of Minnesota-Duluth	WCHA		36	7	5	12	46		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	U. of Minnesota-Duluth	WCHA		35	21	18	39	36		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		63	14	15	29	65		4	0	0	0	5
1991–92	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		80	30	24	54	46		5	3	1	4	2
1992–93	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		38	18	21	39	32		9	2	2	4	29
1992–93	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		40	13	6	19	25		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Cape Breton Oilers	AHL		5	4	4	8	4		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		28	3	5	8	8		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		44	3	7	10	33		15	1	3	4	10
1995–96	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		79	15	10	25	89		12	1	2	3	50
1996–97	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		82	14	18	32	41		19	4	3	7	16
1997–98	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		82	11	13	24	53		5	0	0	0	10
1998–99	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		14	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		41	2	6	8	24		19	1	1	2	12
1999–00	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		75	11	8	19	29		17	5	0	5	8
2000–01	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		82	15	17	32	68		23	2	3	5	14
2001–02	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		41	6	6	12	39		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	St. Louis Blues	NHL		23	2	4	6	2		10	0	0	0	6
2002–03	St. Louis Blues	NHL		68	4	6	10	28		7	0	1	1	6
2003–04	Växjö Lakers	Swe-1		33	11	16	27	52		5	0	0	0	2
2004–05	Växjö Lakers	Swe-1		29	9	12	21	38		1	0	0	0	25
2005–06	HC Nikko Icebucks	ALH		26	7	7	14	55		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				699	100	106	206	439		127	14	13	27	132

International play

Played for United States in:

• 1993 World Championships
• 1994 World Championships
• 1998 World Championships

International statistics

Year	Team	Comp	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993	United States	WC	6	1	3	4	8
1994	United States	WC	8	3	1	4	14
1998	United States	WC	4	0	0	0	4
Senior int'l totals			18	4	4	8	26

External links

• Shjon Podein's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Shjon Podein at Hockey-Reference.com
• Shjon Podein's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Shjon Podein's NHL player profile
• Team25: The Shjon Podein Children's Foundation

Preceded by Curtis Joseph

Winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy 2001

Succeeded by Ron Francis