Shawn Belle

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
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team=Montreal Canadiens
league = NHL
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 220
nickname =
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1985|1|3|mf=y
birth_place = Edmonton, AB
draft = 30th overall
draft_year = 2003
draft_team = St. Louis Blues
career_start = 2005
former_teams = Minnesota Wild

Shawn Belle (born January 3, 1985) is an African Canadian defenceman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Belle was a highly touted prospect playing for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL when he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1st round, 30th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. After being drafted Belle returned to the Americans and played for 2 more years there. Belle has spent time with Team Canada’s junior program. He has played on two U-18 gold medals teams in 2002 and 2003 as well as the U-20 team in 2003 and 2004. He also participated in the 2003 and 2004 Canada-Russia Challenge, while representing Team WHL.

During the 2004–2005 season Belle was traded to the Dallas Stars. For the 2005–2006 season Belle turned pro and joined the Stars minor league affiliate Iowa Stars. He played 45 games with the Stars before being traded to the Minnesota Wild and joining their affiliate Houston Aeros for the remainder of the season. For the 2006–2007 season Belle played the majority of the year with the Aeros but also made his NHL debut with the Wild, skating in 9 games and recording 1 assist.

On July 11 2008, he got traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He is expected to start the 2008-2009 season for the Hamilton Bulldogs, or crack the Montreal Canadiens lineup, as a 7th defenceman, during training camp.

Career statistics

--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2000-01 Regina Pats WHL 4 0 3 3 0 -- -- -- -- --2000-01 Tri-City Americans WHL 2 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --2001-02 Tri-City Americans WHL 64 1 17 18 51 5 2 1 3 22002-03 Tri-City Americans WHL 66 7 14 21 77 -- -- -- -- --2003-04 Tri-City Americans WHL 55 9 20 29 68 11 3 5 8 152004-05 Tri-City Americans WHL 62 13 32 45 76 5 1 1 2 62005-06 Houston Aeros AHL 16 1 1 2 18 8 1 0 1 42005-06 Iowa Stars AHL 45 1 2 3 63 -- -- -- -- --2006-07 Minnesota Wild NHL 9 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --2006-07 Houston Aeros AHL 57 4 14 18 73 -- -- -- -- --2007-08 Houston Aeros AHL 63 1 2 3 74 3 0 0 0 2-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NHL Totals 9 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --

Trivia

*Was born on the same date and year as basketball player Linas Kleiza who plays for the Denver Nuggets.

Transactions

* June 21, 2003 - Drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the 1st round, 30th overall.
* June 25, 2004 - Traded to the Dallas Stars for Jason Bacashihua.
* March 9, 2006 - Traded to the Minnesota Wild with Martin Skoula for Willie Mitchell and a 2nd round pick in 2007.
* July 11, 2008 - Traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Corey Locke.

ee also

*List of WHL seasons
*List of NHL players
*List of NHL seasons
*List of AHL seasons

External links

*

ee also

*List of black NHL players