Sheldon Souray

Sheldon Souray
File:Sheldon Souray Hershey.jpg
Born	(1976-07-13) July 13, 1976 Elk Point, AB, CAN
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	237 lb (108 kg; 16 st 13 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Left
NHL team Former teams	Dallas Stars Edmonton Oilers Montreal Canadiens New Jersey Devils
National team	Canada
NHL draft	71st overall, 1994 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	1995–present

Sheldon Sharik Souray (born July 13, 1976) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, who originally drafted him 71st overall in 1994, and the Montreal Canadiens. He is best known for his heavy slapshot, setting the unofficial NHL record for the hardest recorded shot at the Oilers' 2009 Skills Competition.

Playing career

New Jersey Devils (1997-2000)

Before playing in the NHL, Sheldon was a member of the Fort Saskatchewan Traders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He was drafted in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft in the third round (71st overall) by the New Jersey Devils where he played from 1997 to 1999, earning a reputation as a big, steady, physical defender with a mean streak and a hard shot. However, with the Devils preparing to make their Stanley Cup run late in the 1999-00 season and believing they needed more offense from the blue line, Souray was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on March 1, 2000, for Vladimir Malakhov.

Montreal Canadiens (2000-2007)

Souray's offense improved with the Canadiens in 2000-01. Despite injuries limiting him to 19 fewer games than the year before, he matched his previous season career bests in goals (3) and assists (8). In 2001-02, he threatened to blow past both marks easily, recording 3 goals and 5 assists in just 34 games while fighting through an injury plagued campaign. 2001-02 also saw him record his first career power play goal, as the Canadiens realized the value of having a player on the point who could shoot the puck as consistently hard as Souray. However, he did suffer a wrist injury that plagued him throughout the year, and though he would play through it much of the season, Souray would eventually shut it down at the end of the season.

The severity of the wrist injury kept him out the entire 2002–03 season. However, in 2003–04, Souray returned to play for the Canadiens and had a milestone season, amassing a breakout 15 goals and 35 points. His slapshot had returned in full strength, along with his healed wrist. During this season, he participated in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game for the first time and recorded the hardest shot at the Skills Competition with a 102.2 mph slapshot. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he played for Färjestads BK of the Swedish Elitserien.

He returned from the lockout to post a successful 2005–06, with 12 goals and 39 points. However, in 2006–07, Souray emerged as a top-tier defenceman in the league with a career best 26 goals, 38 assists, and 64 points, placing second in team-scoring in both categories. On April 5, 2007, Souray broke the NHL single-season record for most powerplay goals scored by a defenceman, with his 19th of the season. The record was previously shared by Denis Potvin of the New York Islanders (1974–75) and Adrian Aucoin of the Vancouver Canucks (1998–99). He was named to his second NHL All-Star Game that season, this time as a starter, and posted the second hardest slapshot at the Skills Competition with a 100.4 mph shot.

Edmonton Oilers (2007-2011)

Souray during his time with the Edmonton Oilers.

In the off-season, Souray became an unrestricted free agent and, on July 12, 2007, he signed a 5-year, $27 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers. During the third period of a 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars on December 3, 2008, the Stars' broadcast team referred to Souray as "Studly Wonderbomb." It has since become a popular meme amongst Oilers fans. His debut season with the Oilers was, however, marred by injuries and he only suited up for 26 games. The next season, in 2008–09, he bounced back from the injury-shortened campaign to record 23 goals and 53 points and was again an NHL All-Star. During the Oilers' 2009 Skills Competition, on January 4, Souray set the then unofficial NHL record for the hardest shot. Clocked at 106.7 mph, his slapshot beat Chad Kilger's old unofficial record of 106.6 mph set at the Toronto Maple Leafs' 2006 Skills Competition. The record was deemed unofficial as the league does not recognize individual team Skills Competition and instead goes by the NHL All-Star Game's Skills Competition results. Souray's shot was not surpassed until January 28, 2012 by Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chára, whose 108.8 mph slapshot in the Skills Competition preceding the 2012 NHL All-Star Game beat Souray's blast.

Three games into the 2009–10 season, Souray suffered a concussion after Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla checked him into the boards head-first on October 8, 2009. The injury, coupled with another hand injury sustained when Souray fought Iginla during a rematch of the teams, limited him to just 37 games, with Souray scoring just 4 goals and 13 points in the campaign. During the 2010 off-season, citing irreconcilable differences with management, Souray requested a trade from the Oilers. The Oilers responded angrily, as a nasty media exchange followed, with the team ultimately placing Souray on waivers with the hope that he would be claimed by another NHL team. However, due to his high salary and previous year's injuries, few teams were willing to take the risk. Souray cleared waivers without being claimed, and was told by management not to attend the Oilers' training camp. On October 6, 2010, Souray was assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL), being loaned to the Washington Capitals' minor league affiliate, the Hershey Bears. He posted a solid season in the minors, recovering slowly from his injuries the year before. Leading up to the NHL trading deadline, the Oilers once again placed Souray on waivers, attempting to unload his salary; but he cleared waivers a second time and remained under contract. Finally in the summer of 2011, Souray's deal with Edmonton expired, when Edmonton bought out the fifth and final year of his contract. He became a free agent.

Dallas Stars (2011-Present)

After becoming a free agent, Souray was signed by the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2011, to a 1-year contract. Having recovered from his injuries, Souray made a successful comeback in the first half of the season with the Stars, taking on more of a defensive role than in the past, but still used on power plays were his slapshot could wreak havoc for opposing goaltenders. The Stars, while recognizing Souray's physical style, also openly declared that to preserve his health they didn't want him fighting very often, although they did not go so far as to dictate directly for him not to. On November 4, 2011, Souray reached a milestone, scoring the 100th NHL goal of his career in a 7-6 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Fittingly, it was a power play goal. Over the first half of the season, he earned the respect of fans, teammates, and local media for his physical style of play and booming shot, and restored some of the goodwill that had been lost due to his spat with the Oilers. Most important, he was healthy again, missing only a handful of games after sustaining an ankle injury blocking a shot in a December 23, 2012 win over the Nashville Predators. By early January, he had returned to the Dallas lineup and was again a contributing member of their blueline corps.

Awards

• Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2004, 2007 (starter), and 2009.
• Won the Hardest Shot at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition in 2004.
• Won the Hardest Shot at the Edmonton Oilers Skills Competition in 2009.

Records

• NHL record for most single-season power-play goals by a defenceman- 19 in 2006–07 (surpassed Denis Potvin and Adrian Aucoin - 18)
• Edmonton Oilers team record for fastest 2 goals ever scored in a regular season game: span of 7 seconds (shared with Aleš Hemský)

Personal life

Souray was born in Elk Point, Alberta, to Richard Souray and Lillian Parenteau. He is of Métis descent and has one sister, two years older. At a young age, Souray moved with his family from Fishing Lake Métis Settlement to a small community in Alberta in order for his sister to attend school. In another two years, they moved again so that Souray could play organized sports. While still in elementary school, Souray's parents divorced; he first lived with his mother before moving in with his father at age nine. Growing up, he attended Archbishop O'Leary Catholic High School with former fellow Oiler Fernando Pisani.

Souray is married to former Baywatch actress Angelica Bridges. The two were separated in 2006, but reconciled later. They have two daughters, Valentina Raine and Scarlett Skye Souray.

Souray is co-owner, along with New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur and Montreal restaurateur Andrea Dell'Orefice of a Rivière des Prairies pizzeria.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992–93	Tri-City Americans	WHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Tri-City Americans	WHL		42	3	6	9	122		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Tri-City Americans	WHL		40	2	24	26	140		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Prince George Cougars	WHL		11	2	3	5	23		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Albany River Rats	AHL		7	0	2	2	8		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Prince George Cougars	WHL		32	9	18	27	91		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		27	7	20	27	94		6	0	5	5	2
1995–96	Albany River Rats	AHL		6	0	2	2	12		4	0	1	1	4
1996–97	Albany River Rats	AHL		70	2	11	13	160		16	2	3	5	47
1997–98	Albany River Rats	AHL		6	0	0	0	8		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	New Jersey Devils	NHL		60	3	7	10	85		3	0	1	1	2
1998–99	New Jersey Devils	NHL		70	1	7	8	110		2	0	1	1	0
1999–00	New Jersey Devils	NHL		52	0	8	8	70		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		19	3	0	3	44		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		52	3	8	11	95		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		34	3	5	8	62		12	0	1	1	16
2003–04	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		63	15	20	35	104		11	0	2	2	39
2004–05	Färjestads BK	SEL		39	9	8	17	117		15	1	6	7	77
2005–06	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		75	12	27	39	116		6	3	2	5	8
2006–07	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		81	26	38	64	135		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		26	3	7	10	36		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		81	23	30	53	98		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		37	4	9	13	65		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Hershey Bears	AHL		40	4	15	19	85		6	1	1	2	16
NHL totals				650	96	166	262	1020		34	3	7	10	65

International play

Souray represented Team Canada at the 2005 World Championships in Austria. He was also on the Canadian Olympic men's hockey team's shortlist for the 2006 Winter Olympics but did not make the cut, partly due to his slow start at the beginning of the 2005–06 NHL season.

See also

List of Dallas Stars players

External links

• Sheldon Souray player profile at NHL.com
• Sheldon Souray career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database