Donald Brashear facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Donald Brashear
Brashear with the Washington Capitals during the 2008–09 season.
Born	(1972-01-07) January 7, 1972 (age 53) Bedford, Indiana, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	240 lb (109 kg; 17 st 2 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
LNAH team Former teams	Jonquiere Marquis Montreal Canadiens Vancouver Canucks Philadelphia Flyers Washington Capitals New York Rangers Modo Hockey
National team	United States
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1992–present

Donald Brashear (born January 7, 1972) is an American-Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a left wing and is known for his tough playing style. He has played for many teams, including five in the National Hockey League (NHL). Brashear spent 23 years playing professional hockey. He was often among the top players in the NHL for penalty minutes. He holds the Vancouver Canucks' record for most penalty minutes in a single season.

Early Life and Hockey Start

Donald Brashear was born in Bedford, Indiana. As a child, he moved to Val-Bélair, Quebec, Canada. He lived in foster care for some time. At age eight, he found a new foster home in Val-Bélair. There, he started playing hockey with his new siblings. To help pay for his hockey gear, Donald sold baked goods and worked as a paper boy. He played in the famous Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament three times.

Professional Hockey Career

Early NHL Years

Donald Brashear began his professional career in 1992. He was signed by the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent. He played for their minor league team, the Fredericton Canadiens. In the 1993–94 AHL season, he scored 38 goals and had 66 points. He also had 250 penalty minutes that season.

Brashear made his NHL debut on November 15, 1993, with the Canadiens. He got his first NHL point with an assist in that game. Two days later, he scored his first NHL goal. After playing for Montreal for four seasons, he was traded. In 1996, he joined the Vancouver Canucks. He finished that season with 13 points and 245 penalty minutes.

In the 1997–98 NHL season, Brashear led the NHL in penalty minutes. He set a Canucks team record with 372 penalty minutes. He also scored 18 points that year. The 1998–99 NHL season was the only time he played all 82 games in a season. He again led the Canucks in penalty minutes. In the 1999–2000 NHL season, he scored a career-high 11 goals.

A Notable On-Ice Incident

During a game on February 21, 2000, Brashear was involved in a fight. It was against Marty McSorley of the Boston Bruins. Later in the game, McSorley hit Brashear with his stick. This hit caused Brashear to fall to the ice. He suffered a concussion from the hit. McSorley was suspended by the NHL for his actions. Brashear was able to return to play before the season ended.

Mid-Career with Flyers and Capitals

Brashear continued to play for the Vancouver Canucks. In the 2001–02 NHL season, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. Between the two teams, he set a career high with 32 points. He also had 199 penalty minutes that season. In 2002–03, he received the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy. This award is given to the Flyers' most improved player.

In the 2003–04 NHL season, he had 212 penalty minutes, ranking fifth in the league. He was part of a game against the Ottawa Senators that became the most penalized game in NHL history. Brashear was involved in a fight that led to many other fights breaking out.

Due to the NHL lockout in 2004–05, Brashear played in a semi-pro league called the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH). He scored 18 goals and 50 points in 47 games.

After the lockout, the Washington Capitals signed Brashear in 2006. He signed a one-year, $1 million contract. His role was to help protect star player Alexander Ovechkin. Brashear was known for his intimidating presence on the ice. He was suspended one game in 2006–07 for punching a player after a fight. He finished that season with 13 points and 156 penalty minutes. In the 2007–08 NHL season, he played 80 games and served as an alternate captain.

In the 2008–09 NHL season, Brashear's point total dropped to four. During the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was suspended for six games. This was for a hit on Blair Betts of the New York Rangers.

Later Career and Return to Hockey

Brashear wanted to stay with the Capitals but was not re-signed. He then signed a two-year contract with the New York Rangers. On November 12, 2009, he played in his 1,000th NHL game. This was a big milestone in his career.

Brashear struggled with the Rangers and was sent to their minor league team, the Hartford Wolf Pack. In 2010, he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers. They then bought out his contract, making him a free agent. At the end of the 2009–10 season, Brashear ranked 15th all-time in NHL history for penalty minutes.

After his NHL career, Brashear returned to the LNAH. He played for Sorel-Tracy GCI and Rivière-du-Loup 3L. In 2014, he came out of retirement to play for Modo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He played one more season in the LNAH in 2015–2016 before retiring again. In the 2023–2024 season, Brashear returned to the LNAH once more. He joined the Jonquiere Marquis and even got into a fight in his first game back.

International Play

Donald Brashear has played for the United States twice. He made his international debut at the 1997 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He scored two goals and five points in eight games. The U.S. team finished in sixth place. He played for the U.S. again at the 1998 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He played in six games and had ten penalty minutes. The U.S. team finished in 12th place that year.

Playing Style

Donald Brashear (right) delivering a cross-check to the New Jersey Devils' Anssi Salmela

Brashear was known as an "enforcer" in hockey. His main job was to protect his teammates. He would step in if opponents played too roughly or took "cheap shots." He was a strong forechecker, meaning he would aggressively pursue opponents with the puck. He was also good at delivering body checks.

When fighting, Brashear used his balance and upper-body strength. He was skilled at controlling his opponents before landing punches. Even though he was naturally left-handed, he could use both hands effectively in fights. Throughout his NHL career, Brashear was considered one of the toughest and most feared players.

In 2010, The Hockey News named Brashear the "Enforcer of the Decade." They noted that he was so feared that opponents often avoided fighting him. Hockey analyst Bill Clement said Brashear knew when his fighting skills were needed. He would choose the right moments to fight to help his team gain momentum.

Other Activities

Mixed Martial Arts

In 2011, Brashear signed a contract to compete in mixed martial arts (MMA). His first fight was on June 4, 2011. He won the fight by knockout in just 21 seconds.

Personal Life

Donald Brashear has two sons, Jordan and Jaxxon. He also has a skill for languages. He speaks French and English, and has learned some Russian and Spanish. He enjoys music and plays the piano and acoustic guitar.

In 2007, Brashear and some friends started a house building company called DEC Construction. He often works on construction sites during the off-season. His great-uncle, Carl Brashear, was a famous Master Diver in the United States Navy. Carl Brashear's life story inspired the movie Men of Honor.

In October 2019, it was reported that Brashear was working at a Tim Hortons restaurant in Quebec City.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International

All statistics taken from NHL.com

Mixed Martial Arts Record

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	1-0	Mathieu Bergeron	TKO (punches)	Ringside MMA	June 4, 2011	1	0:21	Quebec City, Quebec, Canada	MMA debut, first win

See Also

• Fighting in ice hockey
• Black players in ice hockey
• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
• List of NHL players with 2,000 career penalty minutes

Images for kids

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  Donald Brashear (left) fights Sheldon Brookbank