Sean Avery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|
| Position | Left Wing |
| Shoots | Left |
| Height Weight |
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 195 lb (88 kg/13 st 13 lb) |
| NHL Team F. teams |
New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings Detroit Red Wings |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | April 10, 1980 , Pickering, ON |
| NHL Draft | Undrafted |
| Pro career | 1999 – present |
Sean Avery (born April 10, 1980 in Pickering, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He formerly played for the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. Prior to the NHL, Avery played for the Owen Sound Platers and the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.
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[edit] Playing career
[edit] Detroit Red Wings (1999–2003)
Avery is not a relatively large player (5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and 185 lb (84 kg/13.2 st)) and he was not selected in the NHL Entry Draft. In 1999, Avery was signed by the Detroit Red Wings and broke into the NHL, playing 36 games with the Red Wings during the 2001-02 season. The Red Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup that season though Avery did not partake in the playoffs. Avery did not play the required 40 games, so his name was left off the cup.
Midway through the 2002-03 season, the Los Angeles Kings traded Mathieu Schneider to the Detroit Red Wings for Avery, Maxim Kuznetsov, a first round selection (Jeff Tambellini) in 2003 and a second round selection in 2004. Sean finished the season with 15 points in 51 games.
[edit] Los Angeles Kings (2003–2007)
In 2003-2004 Avery played 76 games for the Kings, scoring nine goals and 19 assists. Avery also led the NHL in penalty minutes with 261. His tenure with the Kings was marked by a number of publicized controversial utterances.
During the NHL lockout, Avery played in the Finnish SM-liiga for Pelicans. In 2 games he scored 3 goals, but then left Finland unexpectedly and returned to North America. He then played in the UHL alongside Chris Chelios, Bryan Smolinski, and Derian Hatcher for the Motor City Mechanics. He tallied 26 points in 16 games, 15 goals and 11 assists. Those 15 goals included two hat tricks, allowing Avery to become the first player in Mechanics history to record two hat tricks in one season. He also had 149 penalty minutes. Avery made news during the 2004-05 lockout, when he was quoted as saying that the management of the National Hockey League Players Association lied to its members about the lockout. [1]
Denis Gauthier of the Phoenix Coyotes bodychecked Kings forward Jeremy Roenick in a 2005 preseason game, giving Roenick a concussion. Avery's response was "I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not back anything up," generating much controversy with the French-Canadian public. [2] Avery also made news during the regular season when Georges Laraque of the Edmonton Oilers, a Black Canadian, claimed that Avery called him a "monkey" during an October 11, 2005 contest between the two teams. The incident was never proven and Avery adamantly denies it ever occurred. [3] Avery was fined $1,000 by the NHL on November 15, 2005 for intentionally diving during a game, then was fined $1,000 more a day later after publicly criticizing the NHL's director of hockey operations, Colin Campbell. [4]
Avery and Anaheim Mighty Ducks broadcaster and former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Brian Hayward had a heated discussion in the Kings dressing room on April 7, 2006, over Hayward's on air comments during the April 4 Kings vs Ducks game, in which he accused Avery of avoiding a fight with Ducks' forward Todd Fedoruk. Avery began the argument by uttering that Hayward was an "embarrassment", a "(terrible) announcer", and was a "(terrible) player". Hayward responded by saying "How would you know? When I played, you were in your third year of eighth grade." [5] Near the end of the season, the Kings decided to suspend Avery, stating that he would not be with the team for the remainder of the year. A source claimed Avery had an argument with assistant coach Mark Hardy after refusing to participate in a practice drill. [6]
On July 24, 2006 the Los Angeles Kings signed Avery to a $1.1 million, one-year contract. Avery was a restricted free agent, so the Kings avoided going into salary arbitration by signing him to a deal. [7]
[edit] New York Rangers (2007–present)
Avery was traded by the Kings to the New York Rangers on February 5, 2007, together with John Seymour, for players Jason Ward, Jan Marek and Marc-Andre Cliche.[8] Avery recorded a career-high four points in a game against the Boston Bruins on March 17. He notched one goal and added three assists to help the Rangers beat the Bruins 7-0.[9] Avery later played in his first career playoff game on April 12 against the Atlanta Thrashers. He recorded his first playoff points with a goal and an assist in the series against the Thrashers.
Because of his style of play, Avery has made many enemies in the NHL. In a 2007 poll of 283 NHL players, 66.4% said that Sean Avery was the most hated player in the league.[10] Many consider him a pest. He cut down on penalty minutes by about 65% in 06-07 compared to seasons past.
On August 1, 2007, Avery, as a restricted free agent, earned an arbitration award of $1.9-million for the 2007-08 season, which the Rangers accepted thus keeping him with the team for at least another year.[11]
Colin Campbell and the NHL fined Avery, Darcy Tucker, the Rangers, and the Maple Leafs for pre-game actions during warmups before their November 10 meeting.[12] Howard Berger of Toronto radio station CJCL The Fan 590 alleged that the reason for the altercation was a remark made by Avery concerning Jason Blake's diagnosis with a rare form of Leukemia. However Avery denied making the comments,[13] and served CJCL with a notice of libel.[14] On December 3, the radio station retracted on air its allegations made about Avery.[15]
On November 29, 2007, Avery had arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist and did not return to the ice until the game against the Senators on December 23.
When Avery scored his seventh goal of the season ten seconds into the game on February 16, 2008, he set a record for fastest goal scored by a Ranger at home.[16]
In the early morning of April 30, 2008 after a playoff game against the Penguins, Avery went to the hospital with a lacerated spleen.[17] [18] He was released from the St. Vincent's Medical Center on May 4.[19]
Avery has five career Gordie Howe hat tricks.
[edit] "The Sean Avery Rule"
During an April 13, 2008 first round playoff game against the New Jersey Devils, Avery used a tactic to screen the opposing goaltender. While essentially ignoring the play on the ice when his team had a two-man advantage, Avery faced Martin Brodeur and waved his hands and stick in front of Brodeur in an attempt to distract him and block his view. Although not illegal, many NHL commentators and players described Avery's actions as inappropriate. The following day, the NHL issued an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule to cover actions such as the one employed by Avery.[20]. Following the Rangers victory in Game 5 of the series, Martin Brodeur did not shake Avery's hand.
[edit] Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1996-97 | Owen Sound Platers | OHL | 58 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 86 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1997-98 | Owen Sound Platers | OHL | 47 | 13 | 41 | 54 | 105 | 11 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 23 | ||
| 1998-99 | Owen Sound Platers | OHL | 28 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 70 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1998-99 | Kingston Frontenacs | OHL | 33 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 88 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | ||
| 1999-2000 | Kingston Frontenacs | OHL | 55 | 28 | 56 | 84 | 215 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 26 | ||
| 2000-01 | Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 58 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 304 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | ||
| 2001-02 | Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 36 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 106 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2001-02 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 36 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 68 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002-03 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 39 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 120 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002-03 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 33 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002-03 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 2003-04 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 76 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 261 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2004-05 | Pelicans | SM-liiga | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 26 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2004-05 | Motor City Mechanics | UHL | 16 | 15 | 11 | 26 | 149 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2005-06 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 75 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 257 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006-07 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 55 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 116 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006-07 | New York Rangers | NHL | 29 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 58 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 27 | ||
| 2007-08 | New York Rangers | NHL | 57 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 154 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 6 | ||
| OHL Totals | 221 | 87 | 166 | 253 | 564 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 56 | ||||
| AHL Totals | 109 | 28 | 28 | 56 | 492 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 27 | ||||
| NHL Totals | 379 | 65 | 102 | 167 | 1067 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 33 | ||||
[edit] Personal life
Sean Avery played a small role in the movie "The Rocket" (2005), as Bob Dill. His storyline in the movie was only one scene, and it was to show how Maurice Richard became a target, not only for his ability to play great hockey, but also because he is a francophone.[21] In the film, Avery coincidentally portrays a member of the New York Rangers, two years before actually joining the team.
Avery appeared in a December 2006 episode of MADtv with Los Angeles Kings teammates Tom Kostopoulos and Scott Thornton.
He has been linked romantically to Rachel Hunter but they ended their year-long relationship in June 2005.[22] He dated Elisha Cuthbert until she broke up with him in August 2007.
Sean Avery can be seen in the episode of "Punk'd" when Elisha Cuthbert gets punk'd. He has also been featured on an episode of MTV Cribs. He can also be seen in an episode of TRL.
Sean Avery is a vintage wine aficionado whose collection has been featured in an NHL.com interview.
Sean Avery was on the "Sexiest Man Alive 2007" list by People magazine, on which Matt Damon was number one.[23]
On March 29, 2008 Sean Avery was accused of being involved with the prostitute Kristin Davis, who was arrested earlier in the week and claimed that former New York governor Eliot Spitzer was also one of her clients. Sean Avery was said to be in her "little black book" of approximately 2,000 contacts which had his name and private number.[24] Avery denied the accusation and claimed he was a victim of a practical joke, blaming his enemies for using his name.[25] He said he and his teammates just laughed the whole thing off hysterically. The attorney of Madam Kristin Davis said that his client has "never had any contact ever" with Sean Avery, and even claimed that there is no black book.[26]
In April 2008 it was announced that Avery would be spending the summer offseason interning at Vogue magazine. According to one fashion report "Avery is a self-confessed clotheshorse who has been known to give girlfriends advice on how to dress, and in interviews has expressed a dream to become a fashion editor after his days on the ice" [27] He is joining in a fashion partnership with his friend, and former director of Calvin Klein's celebrity services, Lauryn Flynn. [28]
[edit] References
- ^ Top brass not at NHL bargaining table.
- ^ Kings' Avery sounds off on French NHLers.
- ^ Avery says Laraque made up racial slur.
- ^ Foster, Chris. League Fines Avery for His Comments After First Fine.
- ^ Avery confronts NHL broadcaster Hayward.
- ^ Report: Kings part ways with Sean Avery.
- ^ Matsuda, Gann. Kings Sign Avery To One-Year Contract.
- ^ Kings deal Avery to Rangers.
- ^ Rangers 7, Bruins 0.
- ^ The Hockey News player poll results.
- ^ Zipay, Steve. Rangers accept Avery's $1.9M arbitration award.
- ^ NHL.com. NHL fines Rangers, Maple Leafs, Avery, Tucker.
- ^ The Sports Network. Avery denies making comments to Blake.
- ^ Brroks, Larry (2007-11-13). Avery: I Was Libeled. New York Post. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
- ^ "Toronto radio station retracts claim Avery made cancer-related remarks", Associated Press, 2007-12-03. Retrieved on 2007-12-04.
- ^ Podell, Ira. "NY Rangers 5, Buffalo 1", Associated Press, 2008-02-16. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.
- ^ Rangers' Avery taken to hospital with lacerated spleen
- ^ Sources: Rangers star Sean Avery hospitalized
- ^ iht.com/articles, Sunday's Sports in Brief
- ^ "NHL amends unsportsmanlike conduct rule in response to Avery's antics", ESPN.com, 2008-04-14. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
- ^ Maurice Richard.
- ^ Ford, Fiona. At least the smile hasn't drooped.
- ^ People.com. Sexiest Man Alive 2007.
- ^ Connor, Tracy. Martinez, Jose.. Sean Avery in hooker's black book.
- ^ JOHN DELLAPINA and CARRIE MELAGO. Sean Avery is no lonely Ranger: Laughs off link to madam's black book.
- ^ Staple, Aruthur. Lawyer: Client never had contact with Avery.
- ^ http://www.wwd.com/memopad/article/124369
- ^ People
[edit] External links
- Sean Avery's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Sean Avery at TSN.ca
- Sean Avery at ESPN.com
- Sean Avery's NHL player profile
- Sean Avery: Hockey’s Bad Boy Gets Pretty
- Sean Avery at the Internet Movie Database
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Avery, Sean |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | ice hockey player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 10, 1980 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pickering, Ontario, Canada |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
