Steve Bégin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Bégin
Born	(1978-06-14) June 14, 1978 (age 47) Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Calgary Flames Montreal Canadiens Dallas Stars Boston Bruins Nashville Predators
NHL Draft	40th overall, 1996 Calgary Flames
Playing career	1997–2013

Stéphan Bégin (born June 14, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre for 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Calgary Flames picked him in the second round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 40th player chosen overall.

Bégin played for several NHL teams. These include the Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, and Nashville Predators. After missing a whole season because of an injury, Bégin returned to play for the Flames in 2012–13. However, another injury made him retire from the sport.

Before the NHL, Bégin played junior hockey for the Val-d'Or Foreurs. His team won the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) championship in 1998. He also helped the Saint John Flames win the American Hockey League's (AHL) Calder Cup in 2001. He was named the most valuable player of those playoffs, winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy. Bégin was known as a defensive player and a "grinder" in the NHL. He played over 500 games in his career.

Stéphan Bégin's Early Life and Family

Stéphan Bégin was born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. He grew up in a single-parent home. His father, Gilles, raised him and worked as a landscaper. Stéphan often helped his dad with work until he was 18 years old.

Family friends first introduced Stéphan to hockey. He started playing when he was six years old. In his younger years, he was a player who scored many goals. He wore used hockey gear because his father found it hard to pay for the sport. Even from a young age, Stéphan was sure he would play in the National Hockey League (NHL). As a kid, he played in the 1992 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He played with a team from Francheville, Quebec.

Bégin moved to Val-d'Or, Quebec, to play junior hockey. There, he met his wife, Amélie. They have two daughters and later made their home in Montreal.

Stéphan Bégin's Hockey Journey

Junior Hockey Career

Bégin played three years for the Val-d'Or Foreurs in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). This was from 1995 to 1998. He scored 44 goals and had 117 points. He also spent 520 penalty minutes in 157 games. The Calgary Flames chose him in the second round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

After the 1996–97 QMJHL season, the Flames sent Bégin to their American Hockey League (AHL) team. This team was the Saint John Flames. He had two assists in four playoff games with them.

Bégin got a spot with the Calgary Flames at the start of the 1997–98 season. He played his first NHL game on October 1, 1998, against the Detroit Red Wings. He played in five games before returning to Val-d'Or on October 28. His team, the Foreurs, then won the President's Cup. This made them QMJHL champions.

Bégin played for the Canadian national team only once that season. He was an alternate captain for the junior team. This was at the 1998 World Junior Hockey Championship. He had no points and ten penalty minutes in seven games. Canada finished in eighth place.

Playing for the Calgary Flames

After junior hockey, Bégin played his first full pro season with Saint John in 1998–99. He had 20 points and 156 penalty minutes in 73 games. He scored his first pro goal on October 8, 1998. This was against the St. John's Maple Leafs. Bégin spent most of the next two seasons in Saint John.

He played a few games with Calgary during this time. He played 13 games with the Flames in 1999–2000. He scored his first NHL goal on February 12, 2000. This goal was against goaltender Sean Burke of the Phoenix Coyotes. He played four NHL games in 2000–01. That season, he had his best year in Saint John, scoring 28 points in 58 games.

In the playoffs, Bégin led Saint John to win the Calder Cup championship. He scored 17 points in 19 games. He also won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs. His 17 points were fourth best in the AHL, and his 10 goals were second.

Bégin played his first full NHL season in 2001–02. He played 53 games for the Flames. He scored 7 goals and had 12 points, plus 79 penalty minutes. He had 4 goals and 4 assists in 50 games for Calgary in 2002–03. He left Calgary in the off-season. He was part of a three-team trade on July 3, 2003. Bégin went to the Buffalo Sabres with Chris Drury. In return, the Flames got Rhett Warrener and Steve Reinprecht.

Time with Montreal Canadiens

Bégin playing for the Boston Bruins.

Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff praised Bégin as a hard-working player. He said Sabres fans would enjoy watching him. However, Bégin never played a game for the Sabres. He was put on the waiver draft before the 2003–04 NHL season started. The Montreal Canadiens then claimed him.

He played an energetic role for the Canadiens. He scored 10 goals for Montreal in 52 games. After playing with an injury in 2003–04, Bégin had shoulder surgery. This made him miss five months of playing time. When he returned, an NHL labor dispute was happening. So, he was sent to the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs in February 2005. He immediately took on a leadership role there.

Bégin returned to the Canadiens in 2005–06. He set new career highs in goals (11), points (23), and penalty minutes (113). The Montreal media gave him the Jacques-Beauchamp Molson Trophy. This team award goes to a Canadiens player who plays a "dominant role" without getting other honors. Bégin had many injuries, missing time due to rib and shoulder problems. He played only 52 games in 2006–07 and 44 games in 2007–08. He scored 18 points combined over these two seasons.

Dallas, Boston, and Nashville Teams

Bégin was playing less for the Canadiens in 2008–09. After not playing for five games in a row, he said he wanted to be traded. The Canadiens agreed. On February 26, 2009, they traded him to the Dallas Stars. In exchange, they received defenseman Doug Janik.

Stars' general manager Les Jackson spoke highly of Bégin. He called him a "gritty, honest player" with a strong work ethic. He also said Bégin was good at penalty killing and a true competitor. Bégin had 12 points in 62 games that season, playing for both Montreal and Dallas.

After leaving Dallas, Bégin signed a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins. This was for the 2009–10 season. He played in 77 games for Boston, which was the most in any single season of his career. He recorded 14 points. He scored his first career playoff goal in his 30th playoff game. This goal was against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins decided not to re-sign Bégin, who was 32. This was due to their salary limits and a wish for a younger team.

Without a contract, Bégin was a free agent when the 2010–11 season began. He eventually signed a one-year contract with the Nashville Predators on October 22, 2010. However, he was sent to their AHL team, the Milwaukee Admirals. Bégin spent most of the season in Milwaukee. He played only two games with Nashville.

Return to Calgary and Retirement

Bégin had a hip injury and was a free agent before the 2011–12 season. He signed a tryout offer with the Vancouver Canucks. But the team released him during the pre-season. Bob Hartley, coach of ZSC Lions in Switzerland, offered him a spot. Bégin was ready to delay his hip surgery to play in Switzerland. However, Hartley convinced him to get the surgery done. His recovery kept Bégin from playing anywhere that season.

When Hartley became the Flames' head coach before the 2012–13 NHL season, he offered Bégin a tryout. Bégin's hard work during the team's training camp earned him a contract with the Flames. They believed he could be a good penalty killer and energy player. After two years since his last NHL game, Bégin returned to the league. He played his 500th game on February 24, 2013, against the Coyotes. He played 36 games for the Flames, scoring four goals and four assists.

For his successful return, the Calgary chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association nominated him. He was the Flames' choice for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. This award is for dedication and perseverance.

Bégin signed a one-year AHL contract with the Abbotsford Heat for the 2013–14 season. He could not play due to another injury. Doctors told him he would miss the entire season. So, Bégin announced his retirement from professional hockey on January 16, 2014.

Stéphan Bégin's Playing Style

Stéphan Bégin's father taught him that his best chance in hockey was as a defensive player. He stressed the importance of working hard. Bégin was taught to look up to players like Mario Tremblay, Guy Carbonneau, and Bob Gainey. These players were known for their roles, not just for scoring. He did not focus on stars like Guy Lafleur or Wayne Gretzky.

Bégin played most of his career as a "grinder." This means he was willing to play a very physical game. His style often led to bruises and injuries. But he enjoyed this part of the game. When he returned to the Flames in 2013, he said, "What I missed the most was the pain of playing hockey. The pain from blocking shots, getting hit, hitting people... I missed it a lot."

This attitude impressed his coaches. Bob Hartley said that players like Bégin are very valuable. He believed there are not enough players with Bégin's commitment in the NHL. Hartley always admired how Bégin played. He looked at his spirit and leadership. He called what Bégin did for the team "pretty amazing."

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play

Awards and Honours