Steve Shields is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on July 19, 1972, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and grew up playing hockey in the Toronto area. Shields played college hockey at the University of Michigan, where he was a standout goaltender for the Wolverines.
After college, Shields was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He spent several years playing in the minor leagues before making his NHL debut with the Sabres in the 1995-96 season. Shields quickly established himself as a reliable backup goaltender for the Sabres, and he played a key role in the team's run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999.
In the 2000-01 season, Shields was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he became the team's starting goaltender. He had several strong seasons with the Sharks, including a career-best 2.19 goals against average in the 2003-04 season. However, the Sharks struggled to make the playoffs during Shields' tenure with the team, and he was eventually traded to the Boston Bruins in 2005.
Shields played one season with the Bruins before retiring from professional hockey in 2006. Over the course of his NHL career, he played in 246 games and had a record of 92-103-30 with a 2.68 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. Shields was known for his calm and steady demeanor in the net, and he was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
After retiring from hockey, Shields became involved in coaching and player development. He worked as a goaltending coach for several teams, including the AHL's Rochester Americans and the NHL's Florida Panthers. Shields also founded a goaltending school called Pro Crease Goaltending, which provides training and development for young goaltenders.
Overall, Steve Shields had a successful career as a professional hockey goaltender. He played for several NHL teams and was known for his reliability and consistency in the net. After retiring from hockey, Shields continued to be involved in the sport as a coach and mentor to young players.
🏒