Scott Niedermayer

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size=250px
image_caption = Niedermayer (left) and the 2007 Anaheim Ducks present George W. Bush with a jersey
team=Anaheim Ducks
league = NHL
position = Defence
shoots = Left
former_teams = New Jersey Devils
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 200
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1973|8|31
birth_place = Edmonton, AB
draft = 3rd overall
draft_year = 1991
draft_team = New Jersey Devils
career_start = 1991
career_end =

Scott Niedermayer (born August 31, 1973) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and team captain, currently with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. Niedermayer is known for his skating stride, and knack for leading or joining the offensive rush. He is considered to be one of the top defensemen in the league. Though he was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Niedermayer grew up in Cranbrook, British Columbia. He is the older brother of fellow Duck Rob Niedermayer and cousin of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Jason Strudwick. As of 2007, Niedermayer is the only player to take home every major North American and International Championship in his career: he has won the Memorial Cup, World Junior Hockey Championship gold, World Hockey Championship gold, Olympic gold, the Stanley Cup and the World Cup.cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/columns/wigge/niedermayer042706.html|title=Niedermayer has become a Mighty Duck]

Playing career

Scott Niedermayer was drafted in the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils with the third overall selection from the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and was considered one of the most promising and offensively talented defenceman ever drafted out of the CHL. The Devils drafted Niedermayer using the first round draft pick they had previously acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Tom Kurvers on 16 October, 1989.

Niedermayer would go on to play 12 straight seasons with New Jersey. He had great success with the club, and won three Stanley Cups with the team, in 1995, 2000, and 2003. In the 1999-2000 NHL Playoffs, he tied the record (held by Larry Murphy and Paul Coffey) for most shorthanded goals scored by a defenceman in the playoffs with 2.

On August 4, 2005, Niedermayer was signed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as a free agent. It was reported that New Jersey offered him more money to re-sign with them than he received at Anaheim, but his desire to play alongside his brother Rob outweighed the financial advantages. In his first season with the Ducks (The 2005-06 NHL Season), Niedermayer scored the most points he had ever had in a season, and helped carry the Mighty Ducks to the Stanley Cup Western Conference Finals, until being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers.

In the 2006-07 NHL season, Niedermayer had already established himself as one of the best defencemen in the NHL, and another one of the best defencemen in the NHL was added to his team, Chris Pronger. This tandem of Pronger and Niedermayer helped the newly-named Anaheim Ducks set franchise records in almost all categories, including most points and wins in a season, and best overall record, with Niedermayer also setting a personal record for most points in a season. Scott's defence and leadership helped Anaheim win their first Stanley Cup, defeating the Ottawa Senators 4-1 in the finals. Scott's leadership and prowess on the ice garnered him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

In a break from tradition, Scott handed the Cup to his younger brother, Rob (one of the team's alternate captains), after taking his lap around the Honda Center ice. Custom dictates that the alternate captain who has waited the longest to win the Cup (in the Ducks' case, Chris Pronger) gets to skate the Cup after the captain takes his lap.

Niedermayer is the only player in the history of hockey to have won what many consider to be the "six major championships for Canadian players," those championships being the Stanley Cup, Memorial Cup, World Junior Ice Hockey Championship gold, IIHF World Championship gold, Olympic gold, and a World Cup of Hockey title.cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=334628|title=Superstar Scott Niedermayer continues to mull over retirement decision|publisher=National Hockey League|accessdate=2007-07-26] Though he had just won the Cup with the Ducks, Niedermayer announced on 19 June 2007, that he was contemplating retirement. [cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/news_story.asp?ID=211266&hubName=main|title=Niedermayer contemplating retirement|publisher=TSN|accessdate=2007-07-26] Later on, he showed that he hasn't quite decided whether he would retire or not yet when on July 1, 2007, he told reporters that he is indeed "leaning towards retirement,". As a result of his delay in making a decision, the Ducks "suspended" him, purely for salary-cap reasons and not as a punitive measure. [cite web|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070907.NIEDERMAYER07/TPStory/Sports|title= Niedermayer waffles on retirement|publisher=Globe and Mail|accessdate=2007-09-07]

On September 6, 2007 Scott Niedermayer held a press conference where he stated he is still undecided on his playing status. Anaheim Ducks training camp began on September 11, Niedermayer was not present, and he was subsequently suspended by the Ducks.cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=218073&hubname=nhl|title=Ducks officially suspend Niedermayer|publisher=The Sports Network|accessdate=2007-09-11] In April 2008, it was reported that the Ducks fined him $500 000 for missing the training camp. cite web|url = http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie/?id=235404&lid=sublink01&lpos=headlines_nhl|title =McKenzie: Niedermayer fined by Ducks, not NHL | publisher = TSN | date = 2008-04-22 | accessdate = 2008-04-22] On September 28, 2007 Chris Pronger was named captain of the Ducks, replacing Niedermayer.

28 games into the Ducks' 2007-08 season, Niedermayer announced on December 5th, 2007, that he will return and play for the remainder of the season within "7-10 days."cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=224476&hubname=nhl|title=Ducks confirm Niedermayer's return|publisher=The Sports Network|accessdate=2007-12-05]

In the summer ensuing a first-round elimination in the 2007-2008 NHL playoffs by the Dallas Stars, Niedermayer again briefly contemplated retirement, before announcing on June 26th, 2008 intentions to fulfill at least one more year of two remaining on his contract. When asked on if the upcoming 2008-2009 season will be his last, he commented, "If I had to place a guess, I would say yes, but I’ve been wrong before in my thinking."

On October 7, 2008, he was named team captain for the Ducks [cite web|url=http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=251961&lid=sublink011&lpos=headlines_main|title=Ducks name veteran Nidermayer team captain|accessdate=2008-10-07|publisher=The Sports Network] .

Personal life

Scott and his wife Lisa have four sons: Logan John, Jackson Robert, Joshua Leo, and Luke Scott.cite web|url=http://ducks.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8458517&service=page&tab=prf|title=Scott Niedermayer Anaheim Ducks team biography|publisher=TSN|accessdate=2007-07-26]

Awards and achievements

*1990-91 - WHL - West First All-Star Team (Kamloops Blazers)
*1990-91 - CHL - Scholastic Player of the Year (Canadian Major Junior)
*1991-92 - WHL - West First All-Star Team (Kamloops Blazers)
*1991-92 - Memorial Cup - Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy (MVP)
*1992-93 - NHL All-Rookie Team (Defenceman)
*1994-95 - Stanley Cup (New Jersey Devils)
*1997-98 - Played in NHL All-Star Game
*1997-98 - NHL - Second All-Star Team (Defenceman)
*1999-00 - Stanley Cup (New Jersey Devils)
*2000-01 - Played in NHL All-Star Game
*2002-03 - Stanley Cup (New Jersey Devils)
*2003-04 - Played in NHL All-Star Game
*2003-04 - NHL - First All-Star Team (Defenceman)
*2003-04 - NHL - James Norris Memorial Trophy (Defenceman of the Year)
*2006-07 - Nominated as Starter for NHL All-Star Game (but did not play)
*2006-07 - NHL - Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP)
*2006-07 - NHL - First All-Star Team (Defenceman)
*2006-07 - Stanley Cup (Anaheim Ducks)

Movements

* June 9, 1991 - Drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 1st round, 3rd overall.
*August 4, 2005 - Signed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as a free agent.

Career statistics

International play

Played for Canada in:

*1991 World Junior Championships (gold medal)
*1992 World Junior Championships
*1996 World Cup of Hockey (silver medal)
*2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
*2004 World Championships (gold medal)
*2004 World Cup of Hockey (gold medal)

International statistics

References

ee also

*Captain (ice hockey)
*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*Notable families in the NHL
*Rob Niedermayer
*List of NHL players with 1000 games played

External links

*hockeydb|3965
*
* [http://www.anaheimducks.com/team/bio.php?id=57 Anaheim Ducks profile]
*
* [http://www.nhlpa.com/WebStats/PlayerBiography.asp?ID=4163 NHLPA profile]
* [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/atoz/article_1100215.php "Ducks' Niedermayer finally at home"]

Note: Scott Niedermayer served as the Devils captain for the latter half of the 2003-04 NHL season. Scott Stevens was injured & out of the lineup during that time.