Sheldon Souray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sheldon Souray
Souray with the Edmonton Oilers in September 2007
Born	(1976-07-13) July 13, 1976 (age 48) Elk Point, Alberta, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	237 lb (108 kg; 16 st 13 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	New Jersey Devils Montreal Canadiens Edmonton Oilers Hershey Bears Dallas Stars Anaheim Ducks
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	71st overall, 1994 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	1995–2013

Sheldon Souray (born July 13, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenceman, which is a player who helps protect the team's goal. Sheldon played for 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for teams like the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, and Anaheim Ducks. He was famous for his incredibly powerful shot, called a slapshot. He even set an unofficial NHL record for the hardest shot at an Oilers competition in 2009.

Sheldon Souray's Hockey Journey

Starting with the New Jersey Devils (1997–2000)

Before joining the NHL, Sheldon played for the Fort Saskatchewan Traders in a junior league. The New Jersey Devils picked him in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 71st player chosen overall.

Sheldon worked hard to get ready for the NHL. He made his first NHL appearance in the 1997–98 season. In his first year, he scored three goals and had ten points in 60 games. This showed everyone he could play regularly in the NHL. His first NHL goal was a powerful slapshot that helped the Devils win a game against the New York Rangers.

Sheldon played for the Devils until the middle of the 1999–2000 season. He became known as a strong, physical defender with a very hard shot. The Devils traded him to the Montreal Canadiens in March 2000. They wanted more scoring from their defence as they aimed for the Stanley Cup.

Time with the Montreal Canadiens (2000–2007)

Souray's uniform on display at the Canadian Museum of History.

After moving to the Canadiens, Sheldon's scoring started to get better. He began to use his powerful shot more often. In the 2000–01 season, injuries limited him to 52 games. Even so, he still matched his best scoring numbers from the year before.

In the 2001–02 season, he continued to improve, but a wrist injury bothered him. He played through it for a while but eventually had to stop playing to recover. This injury was serious and kept him out for the entire 2002–03 season.

When Sheldon returned in the 2003–04 season, he had an amazing year. He scored 15 goals and had 35 points. This was a big surprise because he was mostly known for his defence before. His powerful slapshot was back, and the Canadiens used him more on the power play. He even played in the 2004 All-Star Game and tied for the hardest shot contest with a blast of 102.2 miles per hour.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Sheldon played in Sweden for Färjestad BK. He also got to play for Team Canada in the 2005 IIHF World Championships.

Sheldon had another good season in 2005–06, scoring 12 goals and 39 points. But the 2006–07 season was his best. He scored 26 goals, had 38 assists, and 64 points. This was incredible for a defenceman! His slapshot was so feared that he even used it as a trick in a shootout. He also broke the NHL record for most power-play goals by a defenceman with 19 goals. Sheldon was chosen to start in his second NHL All-Star Game that season. He was one of the top defencemen in the entire NHL.

Playing for the Edmonton Oilers (2007–2011)

In 2007, Sheldon signed a five-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers. This was special because the Oilers were his favorite team when he was growing up. However, his first season with the Oilers was tough due to injuries. He reinjured his shoulder early in the season and missed many games.

In the 2008–09 season, he bounced back, scoring 23 goals and 53 points. He was chosen for the NHL All-Star Game again. At the Oilers' own Skills Competition in 2009, Sheldon set an unofficial NHL record for the hardest shot, clocking in at 106.7 miles per hour! This record stood for a long time. During this season, he even got a funny nickname: "Studly Wonderbomb," because of his powerful shot.

Injuries returned in the 2009–10 season. He suffered a concussion and a hand injury, limiting him to only 37 games.

After this, Sheldon had some disagreements with the Oilers' management about how his injuries were handled. He asked to be traded. The Oilers tried to trade him or have another team claim him, but his high salary and injury history made it difficult. He ended up playing for the Hershey Bears in the minor league for a season. Finally, in 2011, the Oilers ended his contract, making him a free agent. This allowed him to find a new team.

Comeback with the Dallas Stars (2011–2012)

Sheldon signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Stars in 2011. He had recovered from his injuries and made a great comeback. He took on a more defensive role but still used his powerful slapshot on the power play. The Stars wanted him to play physically but also to stay healthy.

On November 4, 2011, Sheldon scored his 100th NHL goal, which was a power-play slapshot. Fans and teammates in Dallas quickly respected him for his strong play and booming shot. He was healthy again and played in 64 games, scoring six goals and 21 points.

Final Season with the Anaheim Ducks (2012–2013)

In 2012, Sheldon signed a three-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. During the shorter 2012–13 season, he stayed healthy and continued his strong defensive play. He also scored seven goals and 17 points in 44 games. The Ducks made it to the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, which was Sheldon's first time in the playoffs since 2006. He reached another milestone by getting his 300th career NHL point.

Sheldon was later placed on the injured list with shoulder and wrist problems. He officially announced his retirement from hockey on June 30, 2015.

Awards and Achievements

• WHL West Second All-Star Team – 1996
• Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2004, 2007 (as a starter), and 2009.
• Won the Hardest Shot at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition in 2004 (tied with Adrian Aucoin).
• Won the Hardest Shot at the Edmonton Oilers Skills Competition in 2009.

Records

• NHL record for most power-play goals by a defenceman in one season: 19 goals in 2006–07. (He broke the record previously held by Denis Potvin and Adrian Aucoin).
• Edmonton Oilers team record for fastest two goals ever scored in a regular season game: seven seconds (shared with Aleš Hemský).
• Montreal Canadiens team record for most points by a defenceman in one game: six points (one goal and five assists).

Sheldon's Life Outside Hockey

Sheldon Souray was born in Elk Point, Alberta. He is of Métis descent, which means he has Indigenous heritage in Canada. He has an older sister. His family moved a few times when he was young so he and his sister could go to school and play sports.

Sheldon has a tattoo of a Métis Chief. He says it reminds him to be a good role model for Native and Métis children, as he is very proud of his heritage.

Sheldon was married to actress Angelica Bridges from 2002 to 2007, and they have two daughters. In 2021, he married Tess Annique, and they have one son. They live in Las Vegas.

Sheldon is also a co-owner of a pizzeria in Montreal, along with former NHL goalie Martin Brodeur.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2005	Canada	WC			9	1	1	2	6
Senior totals					9	1	1	2	6