Stephane Veilleux is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on November 16, 1981, in Saint-Georges, Quebec, Canada. Veilleux began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Val-d'Or Foreurs in 1998. He played for the Foreurs for four seasons, scoring 118 goals and 135 assists in 244 games.
Veilleux was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the third round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Wild in the 2002-03 season, playing in 33 games and scoring two goals and four assists. Veilleux became known for his physical play and his ability to play on the penalty kill. He played for the Wild for eight seasons, scoring 45 goals and 56 assists in 460 games.
In 2010, Veilleux was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played for the Lightning for one season, scoring five goals and six assists in 77 games. Veilleux then signed with the New Jersey Devils in 2011 but was traded back to the Wild in 2012. He played for the Wild for one more season before signing with the Swiss team, EHC Biel, in 2014.
Veilleux retired from professional hockey in 2015 after playing one season with EHC Biel. In his NHL career, he scored 50 goals and 62 assists in 506 games. Veilleux also played in 33 playoff games, scoring two goals and three assists.
Throughout his career, Veilleux was known for his hard work and dedication to the game. He was a reliable penalty killer and a physical presence on the ice. Veilleux was also known for his leadership qualities, serving as an alternate captain for the Wild during his time with the team.
After retiring from hockey, Veilleux became a coach. He served as an assistant coach for the Iowa Wild, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, from 2016 to 2019. In 2019, Veilleux was named the head coach of the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the QMJHL.
In conclusion, Stephane Veilleux had a successful career in professional hockey, playing in the NHL for over a decade. He was known for his physical play, his ability to play on the penalty kill, and his leadership qualities. After retiring from hockey, Veilleux became a coach and is currently the head coach of the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the QMJHL.
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