Craig Rivet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 16 seasons. He was born on September 13, 1974, in North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Rivet began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Kingston Frontenacs in 1992. He played for the Frontenacs for three seasons and was named the team captain in his final year. In 1994, he was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft.
Rivet made his NHL debut with the Canadiens in the 1995-96 season and played for the team for 11 seasons. He was known for his physical play and his ability to block shots. He was also a reliable defenseman who could play in all situations, including on the power play and penalty kill.
In 2007, Rivet was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Buffalo Sabres for two seasons before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011. However, he never played a game for the Blue Jackets and was traded back to the Sabres, where he finished his NHL career.
Throughout his career, Rivet played in 923 NHL games, scoring 50 goals and 188 assists for a total of 238 points. He also played in 63 playoff games, scoring three goals and 11 assists for a total of 14 points.
Rivet was known for his leadership skills and was named the captain of the Canadiens in 2006. He was also a respected player in the NHL and was named to the NHL All-Star Game in 2004.
After retiring from the NHL, Rivet became involved in coaching and player development. He worked as an assistant coach for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHL and also worked as a player development coach for the Buffalo Sabres.
In addition to his hockey career, Rivet was also involved in charitable work. He was a spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society and was involved in fundraising for cancer research.
Overall, Craig Rivet had a successful career in the NHL, playing for four different teams and earning a reputation as a reliable defenseman and a respected leader.
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