Steve Montador facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Steve Montador
Montador while practicing with the Blackhawks
Born	(1979-12-21)December 21, 1979 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Died	February 15, 2015(2015-02-15) (aged 35) Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	Calgary Flames Mulhouse Scorpions Florida Panthers Anaheim Ducks Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres Chicago Blackhawks Medveščak Zagreb
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2000–2014

Steven Richard "The Matador" Montador (born December 21, 1979 – died February 15, 2015) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman and was known for his strong play.

Montador played 571 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for teams like the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, and Chicago Blackhawks. He finished his career in 2014 with Medveščak Zagreb in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

He was not chosen in the NHL draft but signed with the Flames in 2000. He helped their minor league team, the Saint John Flames, win the Calder Cup in 2001. Montador also played in France, helping the Mulhouse Scorpions win their league title in 2004–05. He passed away in 2015 when he was 35 years old.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting in Junior Hockey

Steven Montador began playing minor ice hockey with the Mississauga Senators. He also played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. This is a big event for young hockey players.

He started his junior hockey career in 1995. He played for teams like the North Bay Centennials and Peterborough Petes. In his four years, he scored 174 points and had 429 penalty minutes. In his last junior season (1999–2000), he was the top-scoring defenceman for the Petes.

Even though he played well, no NHL team drafted him. He then signed a tryout contract with the Calgary Flames. He joined their minor league team, the Saint John Flames, in 2000.

Winning the Calder Cup

Montador played his first professional game on April 13, 2000. He then signed a full contract with the Flames. In the 2000–01 season, he helped the Saint John Flames win the Calder Cup. This was a big championship win for the team.

Journey to the NHL

Montador spent most of the 2001–02 season with Saint John. He scored 9 goals and 25 points there. He was called up to the Calgary Flames and made his NHL debut on November 23, 2001. He got his first NHL point in that game.

His first NHL goal came on January 8, 2002, against the New York Islanders. He also played for Team Canada in the 2001 Spengler Cup. He played 11 games for Calgary that season.

In 2002–03, Montador joined the Flames full-time. He played 50 games, scoring one goal and one assist.

Stanley Cup Final Run

During the 2003–04 season, Montador was often an extra defenceman for the Flames. He played in 26 regular season games. When other defencemen got injured, he got more chances to play.

Montador and teammate Mike Commodore were called "the Doors." They became very important during the 2004 Stanley Cup playoff run. Montador scored the winning goal in overtime in a key game against the San Jose Sharks. The Flames made it to the Stanley Cup Final, but lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Playing in Europe

Because of a player lockout, the 2004–05 NHL season was cancelled. Many players went to Europe to play. Montador signed with the Mulhouse Scorpions in France. He played 15 games and helped them win their league title.

Moving Between NHL Teams

Montador returned to the NHL for the 2005–06 season. The Flames traded him to the Florida Panthers in December 2005. He became a full-time defenceman for the Panthers.

He played 73 games in 2007–08, scoring 8 goals and 23 points. This was his best season for points. After that, he signed with the Anaheim Ducks. He played 65 games for them before being traded to the Boston Bruins in March 2009.

Montador then signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. He played 78 games in 2009–10, scoring 23 points. In 2010–11, he had his career high of 26 points.

Final NHL Years

In 2011, the Sabres traded Montador's rights to the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago signed him to a four-year contract. He played 52 games for the Blackhawks in 2011–12.

However, his season ended early due to a serious concussion. He needed almost a year to recover. He played only 14 games for Chicago's minor league team, the Rockford IceHogs, in 2012–13. The Blackhawks then ended his contract. Montador left the NHL to play for Medveščak Zagreb in Croatia. He played 11 games there, which was his final season.

Life Off the Ice

Steven Montador cared about helping others. He supported the Right to Play charity. He even traveled to Africa to work with children through the organization.

He was also part of the National Hockey League Players' Association's bargaining committee. This group helps players and the league agree on rules and contracts.

Montador had experienced concussions, including some as a child. He spent time learning about how head injuries affect the brain. His brother, Chris, said that Steve had promised to donate his brain for medical research. This was to help doctors understand brain issues better.

His Passing

Steven Montador was found deceased in his home on February 15, 2015. He was 35 years old. His brother mentioned that "he just either stopped breathing or his heart went." A few days later, his girlfriend gave birth to their son.

Many players in the NHL were saddened by his passing. They remembered his positive attitude. Some people who knew him noticed changes in his behavior before he passed away.

Researchers later studied Montador's brain. They found he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This is a brain condition that doctors believe is caused by repeated concussions. Because of this discovery, lawyers for his family planned to take legal action against the NHL.

Career Statistics