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Theoren Fleury

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Theoren Fleury
File:Theorenfleury.jpg
Born (1968-06-29) June 29, 1968 (age 56)
Oxbow, SK, CAN
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for NHL
Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
New York Rangers
Chicago Blackhawks
SM-liiga
Tappara
EIHL
Belfast Giants
NHL draft 166th overall, 1987
Calgary Flames
Playing career 1989–2006

Theoren Wallace "Theo" Fleury (born June 29, 1968 in Oxbow, Saskatchewan, Canada, raised in Russell, Manitoba, Canada) is a retired international and professional ice hockey player. Fleury overcame significant challenges to excel at the top level of the game, including winning a Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medals.

He played right wing. Fleury is remembered for his successful career in the National Hockey League. He played for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks. Despite his minute stature, Theo was known as much for his physical play as for his goal scoring, rarely backing down from a fight; and bringing a tough physical game along with a defensive awareness that led him to become a prime penalty killer. He holds the NHL individual record for most short-handed goals in one game (three). As of December 2006, he is the owner of Fleury's Concrete Coatings, a family business that he started with newlywed Jennifer and brother Travis. He is now playing baseball with the Calgary Vipers

Playing career

Junior

Fleury played junior with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.

Fleury was a member of Canada's national junior team at the World Junior Championships. On January 4, 1987, he was involved in a fight that started the infamous Punch-up in Piestany against the Soviet Union team. A bench-clearing brawl resulted in both teams being ejected from the tournament, costing Canada an assured medal.[1]

Entry draft

Fleury was drafted by the Calgary Flames 166th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Initially regarded as being too small to compete in the NHL, Fleury proved to play with the strength and physicality of a power forward, despite his diminutive size. In addition to having speed and play making ability, he also possessed strength and did not need the presence of an enforcer on his line as he could hit, fight and grind despite his size.

Calgary Flames

He was a member of the 1989 Stanley Cup Champion Calgary Flames. In his first full season with the Flames in 1989-90, Fleury tallied 31 goals and 35 assists. Fleury tallied two 100 point seasons, one 50+ goal season and three 40+ goal seasons in his time with the Flames. At the latter point in the 1998-99 NHL season, it was clear Calgary was not going to be able to keep Fleury, as he would be commanding a high price on the unrestricted free agency market and Calgary would not be able to afford his salary. Instead of losing Fleury through the free agency market, the Flames arranged a deal with the Colorado Avalanche before the trade deadline in exchange for Rene Corbet, Wade Belak and Robyn Regehr. By the time he left the Flames in 1999, he was the last remaining Flame on the roster of their 1989 Stanley Cup winning team and held numerous club and NHL records. In the end, the Flames’ future plans panned out. With the departure of Fleury, Jarome Iginla became the new star and Robyn Regehr developed into a successful defenseman.

Colorado Avalanche/New York Rangers/Chicago Blackhawks

Upon arrival in Denver, Fleury played in 15 games before the end of the season, scoring 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points and another 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 18 playoff games. Despite his success with the Avalanche, Fleury was not re-signed and eventually landed a spot on the New York Rangers on July 5, 1999. After three seasons with the Rangers, Fleury signed with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2002-03 NHL season.

However, by this time, wrestling with off-ice worries, including his father's cancer operation, his substance abuse problems had began to surface, something which he battled since his playing career began in Calgary. In 1996, he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Although seemingly under control for half a year by the time he won Olympic gold, Fleury's substance abuse issues resurfaced. In October 2002 he suffered a relapse and was suspended for six months, and placed in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program for violating his aftercare program. His drug problems were a source of great taunting from opposing fans, primarily those of the New York Islanders, who gave him the nickname "Crackhead Theo".[2]

Fleury began the 2002-03 NHL season serving out the 25-game suspension. Soon after his return, however, he missed a practice, claiming he had overslept, and in January, he was involved in an incident at a strip club in Columbus, Ohio.[3] He was suspended in 2003 for again violating the substance abuse program.[4]

In an attempt to restore his career, Fleury attempted to join the North Peace Hockey League's Horse Lake Thunder, which is based in the Horse Lake First Nations, Alberta. His first game was to be on January 6, 2005, but he was ruled ineligible because he was under an NHL contract during the previous season. After two appeals, Fleury and the Thunder were able to overturn the decision.[5] In Fleury's first game with the Thunder, on January 22, 2005, he scored one goal and two assists. Fleury's cousin, Todd Holt, as well as former NHLer, Gino Odjick also play for the Thunder. The Thunder played in the 2005 Allan Cup in Lloydminster. After two convincing round robin wins, the Thunder were upset by the eventual champion Thunder Bay Bombers, 6-5, in the semi-final.

Belfast Giants

Fleury signed for the 2005-06 season with the Belfast Giants of the British Elite Ice Hockey League, and made a stellar debut on October 15, 2005, against Edinburgh Capitals scoring a hat-trick, gaining 4 assists, and fighting Fredrik Oduya which led to him being named man of the match. Although he helped the Giants to the league championship, he was involved in several incidents including one game in which he attempted to climb out of the penalty box in order to reach a Coventry Blaze fan who had taunted him, and threatened match officials as a result of frustrating officiating.[6] Following a particularly frustrating encounter with a British ice hockey official (in which the referee got disciplined as a result of his actions),[citation needed] Fleury, clearly enraged, stated in a press conference after the game, that he would not return to the league for the next season, citing the poor standard of officiating in the EIHL.

He was also voted the Elite League Player of the year by the British Ice Hockey Writers Association.

He said on several occasions that if he had been able to make a comeback to the NHL, the only team for which he would play would be the Calgary Flames.[citation needed]

Owner

Fleury was part of an ownership group for the Calgary Hitmen that included wrestler Bret Hart and fellow hockey player Joe Sakic.

Currently

As of January, 2007, he resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and has started a concrete sealing business.[7]

Fleury will be playing for the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League on August 9th, 2008, when they play the Yuma Scorpions at Foothills Stadium. [8]

There were some rumours in Slovenian media in 2007/2008 season that Fleury will play for HDD Olimpija Ljubljana in Erste Bank Hockey League in 2008/2009 season. Rumours were explained with his connection to Olimpija's coach Mike Posma and key forward Todd Elik who would bring Fleury to Ljubljana.

Awards

Records

  • Calgary Flames franchise records
    • points scored (830)
    • goals scored (364) - since passed by Jarome Iginla
    • most first goals of the season (3)
    • most shots in one season (353)
    • 3 or more goal games in one season (5; tied with Hakan Loob)
    • most shots in one game (13; tied with Al MacInnis)
    • most penalties in one game (8 - 5 minors and 3 10-minute misconducts; tied with Charlie Bourgeois)
  • 53rd in goals on NHL all-time rankings (455)
  • 63rd in assists on NHL all-time rankings (633)
  • 55th in points on NHL all-time rankings (1088)
  • NHL record 3 short-handed goals in one game (only short-handed hat trick ever recorded)
  • NHL record highest plus/minus rating in one game, plus-9 (February 10, 1993 against the San Jose Sharks)
  • Holds single season record for assists (92) and points (160) for Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
  • All-time record holder for goals (201), assists (271), and points (472) for the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Books about

  • Fury: Inside the life of Theoren Fleury is a biography by Andrew H. Malcolm, published by McClelland & Stewart Inc. The book was criticized for glossing over Fleury's association with the infamous Graham James.[9]

Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1984–85 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 71 29 46 75 82 — — — — —
1985–86 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 72 43 65 108 124 13 7 13 20 16
1986–87 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 66 61 68 129 110 9 7 9 16 34
1987–88 Moose Jaw Warriors WHL 65 68 92 160 235 — — — — —
1987–88 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 2 3 4 7 7 8 11 5 16 16
1988–89 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 40 37 37 74 81 — — — — —
1988–89 Calgary Flames NHL 36 14 20 34 46 22 5 6 11 24
1989–90 Calgary Flames NHL 80 31 35 66 157 6 2 3 5 10
1990–91 Calgary Flames NHL 79 51 53 104 136 7 2 5 7 14
1991–92 Calgary Flames NHL 80 33 40 73 133 — — — — —
1992–93 Calgary Flames NHL 83 34 66 100 88 6 5 7 12 27
1993–94 Calgary Flames NHL 83 40 45 85 186 7 6 4 10 5
1994–95 Calgary Flames NHL 47 29 29 58 112 7 7 7 14 2
1994–95 Tappara SM-l 10 8 9 17 22 — — — — —
1995–96 Calgary Flames NHL 80 46 50 96 112 4 2 1 3 14
1996–97 Calgary Flames NHL 81 29 38 67 104 — — — — —
1997–98 Calgary Flames NHL 82 27 51 78 197 — — — — —
1998–99 Calgary Flames NHL 60 30 39 69 68 — — — — —
1998–99 Colorado Avalanche NHL 15 10 14 24 18 18 5 12 17 20
1999–2000 New York Rangers NHL 80 15 49 64 68 — — — — —
2000–01 New York Rangers NHL 62 30 44 74 122 — — — — —
2001–02 New York Rangers NHL 82 24 39 63 216 — — — — —
2002–03 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 54 12 21 33 77 — — — — —
2004–05 Horse Lake Thunder NPHL 7 4 10 14 28 — — — — —
2005–06 Belfast Giants EIHL 34 22 52 74 270 7 1 12 13 34
NHL Totals 1084 455 633 1088 1840 77 34 45 79 116

International play

Olympic medal record
Men's Ice Hockey
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City Ice Hockey

Played for Canada in:

References

  1. ^ 'Punch-up in Piestany' - "On This Day" - CBC Archives
  2. ^ Alan Hahn, Fish Sticks: The Fall and Rise of the New York Islanders, page 92
  3. ^ "More problems for Fleury", Chicago Sun-Times, January 23, 2003, retrieved November 1, 2007 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |publication-date= (help)
  4. ^ "NHL shelves Fleury for six months", Chicago Sun-Times, April 12, 2003, retrieved November 1, 2007 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |publication-date= (help)
  5. ^ "Fleury wins appeal to play in independent league", USA Today, January 21, 2005, retrieved November 1, 2007 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |publication-date= (help)
  6. ^ ""Fleury threatens ref in British league"". TSN. 2006-03-06. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  7. ^ "Link to his new business website's 'About' page". Fleury's Concrete Coatings. Retrieved 2007-01-24.
  8. ^ {{url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/08/04/fleury_vipers/
  9. ^ FURY: INSIDE THE LIFE OF THEOREN FLEURY, By Andrew H. Malcolm

See also

Preceded by Co-winner of the NHL Plus/Minus Award
(with Marty McSorley)
1991 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Calgary Flames captains
1995-97 		Succeeded by
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