Steve Eminger is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on October 31, 1983, in Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. Eminger began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Kitchener Rangers in 1999. He played for the Rangers for four seasons, during which he was named to the OHL All-Rookie Team in 2000 and the OHL Second All-Star Team in 2002.
Eminger was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the first round, 12th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Capitals in the 2002-03 season and played in 17 games. Eminger spent the next few seasons splitting time between the Capitals and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears.
In 2008, Eminger was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He played in 12 games for the Flyers before being traded again, this time to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Eminger played for the Lightning for two seasons before being traded to the Florida Panthers in 2010. He played in 50 games for the Panthers before being traded once again, this time to the Anaheim Ducks.
Eminger played for the Ducks for one season before signing as a free agent with the New York Rangers in 2011. He played for the Rangers for two seasons, during which he helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012. Eminger then signed with the Boston Bruins in 2013 but played in only six games before being placed on waivers and ultimately retiring from professional hockey.
Throughout his NHL career, Eminger played in a total of 488 games, scoring 25 goals and 87 assists for a total of 112 points. He was known for his defensive play and his ability to play both as a defenseman and a forward. Eminger was also a reliable penalty killer and was often used in that role by his coaches.
In addition to his NHL career, Eminger also represented Canada internationally. He played for Canada at the 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he helped the team win a silver medal.
Overall, Steve Eminger had a successful career in professional hockey, playing for several different teams and earning a reputation as a reliable and versatile player. While he may not have been a superstar, he was a valuable member of every team he played for and made significant contributions to their success.
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