SHELDON SOURAY
Drafted 1994 by the New Jersey Devils (3rd round, 71st overall)
Three-time NHL All-Star (2004, 2007, 2009)
Represented 5 NHL clubs (NJD, MTL, EDM, DAL, ANA)
202 goals, 219 assists, 421 points
758 NHL GP over 13 seasons
The year was 2004, the host was Brett Lindros, and the player was Sheldon Souray.
Then in his third season with the Montreal Canadiens, Jim Carrey movie references were abound as Souray and Lindros check out the fastest cars in the world at the time, which as it turns out, aren't that well-suited for six-foot-four hockey players!
Eventually a three-time NHL All-Star, Souray, who as you’ll also see is a big Iron Maiden fan, discusses his trade to the Montreal Canadiens and a record-setting night with the club.
Then and Now
Souray, of Métis heritage, was born in Elk Point, Alberta. He made his NHL debut Oct. 17, 1997 with the team that drafted him, the New Jersey Devils. Known for a blistering shot – he registered 102.2 MPH on the radar gun at the 2004 NHL All-Star game – Souray made his mark on the game with his strong presence on the blueline.
While a member of the Canadiens, Souray hit career highs with the club in his 2006-07 campaign with 26 goals, 38 assists, and 64 points. He also earned himself a Canadiens' club record for a defenceman with a six-point night (1-5–6) Jan. 10, 2004, besting Doug Harvey and Lyle Odelein's previous five-point record.
After playing for the Devils and Canadiens, Souray went on to sign as a free agent in 2007 with his home province club, the Edmonton Oilers. His final two seasons were spent in Dallas, followed by Anahiem.
Following the end of his playing career, Souray also penned a letter to the Players' Tribune describing his journey to the NHL, in which he thanks the former teammates, coaches, and idols, who most impacted him as he lived out his childhood dream. You can read Souray's letter in its entirety, written in 2015, here.