Steve Maltais is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a left winger. He was born on January 25, 1969, in Arvida, Quebec, Canada. Maltais began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Laval Titan in 1986. He played for the Titan for three seasons, scoring 126 goals and 129 assists in 182 games.
In 1989, Maltais was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Capitals' minor league affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks, for two seasons before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1991. Maltais played for the Blackhawks for parts of three seasons before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1993.
Maltais played for the Lightning for one season before being traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999. He played for the Thrashers for two seasons before retiring from professional hockey in 2001. Maltais played in a total of 89 NHL games, scoring 16 goals and 18 assists.
After retiring from professional hockey, Maltais became a coach. He coached the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United Hockey League (UHL) from 2001 to 2003. He then coached the Chicago Hounds of the UHL from 2003 to 2006. In 2006, Maltais became the head coach of the Chicago Express of the ECHL. He coached the Express for one season before the team folded.
Maltais is best known for his time with the Chicago Wolves of the International Hockey League (IHL). He played for the Wolves from 1994 to 2001 and was the team's captain for six seasons. Maltais is the Wolves' all-time leader in goals (454), assists (497), and points (951). He helped lead the Wolves to two Turner Cup championships in 1998 and 2000.
Maltais was a prolific scorer in the IHL, scoring 454 goals and 497 assists in 840 games. He was named to the IHL First All-Star Team four times and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 1996. Maltais was also named to the AHL First All-Star Team in 1993 while playing for the Skipjacks.
Maltais was known for his hard work and dedication on and off the ice. He was a fan favorite in Chicago and was known for his leadership and toughness. Maltais was inducted into the Chicago Wolves Hall of Fame in 2009.
In conclusion, Steve Maltais had a successful hockey career, primarily in the IHL and with the Chicago Wolves. He was a prolific scorer and a respected leader on and off the ice. After retiring from professional hockey, Maltais became a coach and continued to contribute to the sport.
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