Sheldon Souray is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on July 13, 1976, in Elk Point, Alberta, Canada. Souray began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Tri-City Americans in 1992. He played for the team for four seasons, during which he established himself as a solid defenseman with a powerful shot.
In 1994, Souray was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Devils in the 1997-98 season, playing in 14 games. However, he spent most of his time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Albany River Rats. Souray played for the Devils for three seasons before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2000.
Souray played for the Canadiens for five seasons, during which he established himself as one of the league's top offensive defensemen. He had a powerful shot and was known for his ability to score goals from the blue line. In the 2006-07 season, Souray had a career-high 26 goals and 64 points, which earned him a spot on the NHL First All-Star Team.
After his stint with the Canadiens, Souray played for the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, and Anaheim Ducks. He continued to be a productive player, but injuries began to take a toll on his career. Souray suffered a wrist injury in 2009 that required surgery and caused him to miss most of the 2009-10 season. He also suffered a concussion in 2011 that caused him to miss significant time.
Souray's last NHL season was in 2012-13, when he played for the Ducks. He played in 44 games and had seven points before suffering a season-ending injury. After the season, Souray became an unrestricted free agent and did not sign with another team.
In total, Souray played in 758 NHL games and scored 109 goals and 191 assists for 300 points. He was known for his powerful shot, physical play, and leadership qualities. Souray was also a fan favorite and was known for his charitable work off the ice.
Since retiring from hockey, Souray has remained involved in the sport. He has worked as a television analyst for the NHL Network and has also been involved in coaching youth hockey. Souray's hockey career was a successful one, and he will be remembered as one of the top offensive defensemen of his era.
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