Stephane Matteau is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on September 2, 1969, in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada. Matteau began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Hull Olympiques in 1986. He played for the Olympiques for three seasons, scoring 98 goals and 117 assists in 174 games.
Matteau was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the second round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, but he never played for the Flames. Instead, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 1990. Matteau played for the Canadiens for two seasons, scoring 23 goals and 25 assists in 118 games. He was then traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992, where he played for three seasons and scored 41 goals and 44 assists in 181 games.
In 1994, Matteau was traded to the New York Rangers, where he had the most memorable moment of his career. In the 1994 playoffs, Matteau scored two overtime goals in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New Jersey Devils. The second goal, in double overtime of Game 7, is known as the "Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!" goal and is one of the most famous goals in Rangers history. The Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup that year, and Matteau's heroics in the playoffs made him a fan favorite in New York.
After the 1994 season, Matteau played for several more teams in the NHL. He played for the St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, and Ottawa Senators before retiring in 2002. Matteau finished his NHL career with 144 goals and 172 assists in 848 games.
After retiring from playing, Matteau became a coach and worked with several teams in the QMJHL and the American Hockey League (AHL). He also worked as a scout for the Rangers and the Panthers.
Overall, Stephane Matteau had a successful career in the NHL, but he will always be remembered for his heroics in the 1994 playoffs with the Rangers. His "Matteau! Matteau! Matteau!" goal is one of the most famous moments in Rangers history and is still celebrated by fans today.
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