Eric Belanger is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played as a center. He was born on December 16, 1977, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Belanger began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Beauport Harfangs in 1994. He played for the Harfangs for two seasons before being drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.
Belanger made his NHL debut with the Kings in the 1998-99 season and played for them for four seasons. He then played for the Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals, Phoenix Coyotes, and Edmonton Oilers. Belanger was known for his defensive skills and faceoff abilities, which made him a valuable player for his teams.
Belanger played a total of 820 NHL games, scoring 105 goals and 186 assists for 291 points. He also played in 44 playoff games, scoring four goals and nine assists for 13 points. Belanger's best season was in 2006-07 when he played for the Wild and scored 17 goals and 35 assists for 52 points in 81 games.
Belanger also represented Canada in international competitions. He played for Canada in the 1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he won a silver medal. He also played for Canada in the 2000 IIHF World Championships, where he won a bronze medal.
Belanger retired from professional hockey in 2013 after playing for the Oilers. After his retirement, he became a player development coach for the Phoenix Coyotes and later for the Los Angeles Kings. In 2018, he was named the head coach of the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL, where he began his hockey career.
In conclusion, Eric Belanger had a successful hockey career, playing for several NHL teams and representing Canada in international competitions. He was known for his defensive skills and faceoff abilities, which made him a valuable player for his teams. After his retirement, he continued to be involved in hockey as a coach.
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