Steve Montador
Steve Montador | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born |
Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada | December 21, 1979|||||
Died |
February 15, 2015 Mississauga, Ontario , Canada | (aged 35)|||||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | |||||
Weight | 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb) | |||||
Position | Defence | |||||
Shot | Right | |||||
Played for |
NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||||
Playing career | 2000–2014 |
Steven Richard "The Matador"
An
He died in 2015 at the age of 35.
Playing career
Junior and American Hockey League
Montador played minor ice hockey with the Mississauga Senators of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).[2] He played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Marlboros minor ice hockey team.[3]
He began his
Despite his play in the OHL, Montador went unselected in the
National Hockey League
Montador spent the majority of the 2001–02 season with Saint John where he scored 9 goals and 25 points in 67 games.[4] He earned his first recall to Calgary early in the season and made his NHL debut on November 23, 2001 – and recorded his first point with an assist – against the Buffalo Sabres.[5] Montador's first NHL goal came on January 8, 2002, against goaltender Garth Snow in a 5–2 victory over the New York Islanders, and he also played with Team Canada at the 2001 Spengler Cup.[8] He appeared in 11 games for Calgary and recorded three points.[4] In 2002–03, Montador again began the year with Saint John where, during one early-season contest, he tied an AHL record for shots in a game with 14.[9] He was recalled to Calgary days later to replace defenceman Bob Boughner, who suffered a broken thumb.[9] Montador remained with the Flames for the remainder of the season; he recorded a goal and an assist in 50 games.[4]
Staying with the Flames for the entire 2003–04 season, Montador was often the Flames' extra defenceman and appeared in just 26 regular season contests,[10] during which he scored a goal and two assists.[5] Injuries to defencemen Toni Lydman and Denis Gauthier created an opportunity for Montador to enter the lineup as a regular for most of the Flames' 2004 Stanley Cup playoff run.[1] Montador and fellow extra defenceman Mike Commodore were nicknamed "the Doors" and both became key contributors to the Flames' post-season success.[10] Montador became a playoff hero for the team after he scored the overtime winning goal in game one of the Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks.[1] The Flames reached the Stanley Cup Finals, but were defeated in seven games by the Tampa Bay Lightning.[11]
As a
Montador played full-time on the Panthers' defence; he finished the 2005–06 season with 58 games played combined between the two teams, scored 2 goals and added 5 assists. He then recorded nine points in 72 games in 2006–07 and then set personal highs in games played (73), goals (8) and points (23).[4] Following the season, Montador left the Panthers and returned to the west as he signed a one-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks.[15] His stay in Anaheim was short lived as, after recording 20 points in 65 games for the team, the Ducks traded Montador on March 4, 2009, to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Petteri Nokelainen.[16] He finished the regular season with an assist in 13 games, then added four points in 11 playoff games.[4]
Again a free agent, Montador signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract with the Buffalo Sabres. The team hoped that he could add a physical presence to their team after losing Jaroslav Špaček to the Montreal Canadiens.[17] Montador recorded 23 points in 78 games for Buffalo in
Montador appeared in 52 games for the Blackhawks in 2011–12, scored five goals and added nine assists. However his season was ended after he suffered a serious concussion during a game. He required almost a full year to recover from the injury, and as a result played only 14 games for Chicago's AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs late in the 2012–13 season before Chicago opted to buy-out the remaining two years of his contract.[20] Montador left the NHL to join Croatian team Medveščak Zagreb of Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He appeared in 11 games for Medveščak and recorded three assists in what was the final season of his career.[4]
Personal life
Off the ice, Montador was a supporter of the
Montador spoke openly of the depression he suffered following his concussion issues in Chicago,[22] and according to his brother Chris, had spent a great deal of time researching the effects of head injuries. Chris noted that both he and his brother had suffered concussions as children, and that Steve had promised to donate his brain to medical researchers studying brain issues.[23]
Death
On February 15, 2015, Montador was found dead in his
Montador's death at age 35 was a shock to players throughout the NHL; many of his former teammates spoke positively of his influence and attitude.[21] Daniel Carcillo reflected on his friendship with Montador in an interview for The Players' Tribune and cited Montador as a positive influence who helped him overcome his substance abuse problems. Carcillo noted that he witnessed Montador's mental state slowly deteriorate before his death and called upon the NHL community to establish a formal exit-procedure for players having post-concussion syndrome.[25][26] Chris Montador had also noted a change in Steve's behavior prior to his death.[23]
Researchers studying Montador's brain noted that he had suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition that doctors have noted is caused by concussions.[27] As a consequence of the revelation, lawyers representing his estate stated their intention to file a lawsuit against the NHL.[28] That lawsuit was terminated in late 2020, but was renewed in October 2021.[29]
Career statistics
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1996–97 | North Bay Centennials | OHL | 63 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 129 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1997–98 | North Bay Centennials | OHL | 37 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1997–98 | Erie Otters | OHL | 26 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | ||
1998–99 | Erie Otters | OHL | 61 | 9 | 33 | 42 | 114 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | ||
1999–00 | Peterborough Petes | OHL | 64 | 14 | 42 | 56 | 97 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
1999–00 | Saint John Flames | AHL | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2000–01 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 58 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 95 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 13 | ||
2001–02 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 67 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 107 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 11 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 50 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2003–04 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 26 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 50 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
2004–05 | Mulhouse Scorpions | FRA | 15 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2005–06 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2005–06 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 51 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2006–07 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 72 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 119 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2007–08 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 73 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2008–09 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 65 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 125 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2008–09 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | ||
2009–10 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 78 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 75 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
2010–11 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 73 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 83 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
2011–12 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 52 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 14 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | KHL Medveščak Zagreb | KHL | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 571 | 33 | 98 | 131 | 807 | 43 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 36 |
References
- ^ a b c Lefebvre, Jean (2004-05-11). "Montador emerges from the shadows". Calgary Herald. p. C3.
- ^ "Steve Montador". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
- ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-09.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Steve Montador player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e Hanlon, Peter; O'Brien, Sean, eds. (2005). 2005–06 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. pp. 52–53.
- ^ a b Cruickshank, Scott (2002-12-07). "Montador gets last laugh". Calgary Herald. p. E5.
- ^ Kennedy, Aaron (2001-05-29). "It's celebration time for Flames". New Brunswick Telegraph Journal.
- ^ Kimberley, Todd (2002-01-15). "Montador leaves lasting impression". Calgary Herald. p. D1.
- ^ a b Kimberley, Todd (2002-11-15). "Montador takes his shots at AHL record". Calgary Herald. p. F6.
- ^ a b "Defensive Flames: Commodore, Montador fuel Stanley Cup dream". Windsor Star. 2004-05-18. p. D1.
- ^ "Fedotenko scores both Tampa goals". ESPN. 2004-06-07. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
- ^ Allen, Kevin (2004-12-20). "Vive la difference". Calgary Herald. p. C1.
- ISBN 978-0-7710-9598-6.
- ^ Cruickshank, Scott (2005-12-03). "Flames net a Panther with offensive bite: Montador, Johner dealt". Calgary Herald. p. E4.
- ^ "Steve Montador biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ Shinzawa, Fluto (2009-03-05). "Bruins active at the deadline". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ Vogl, John (2009-07-02). "Sabres lay it on the blue line". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ Vogl, John (2011-06-29). "Sabres send Montador's rights to Chicago". Buffalo News.
- ^ "Hawks have high hopes for new defenseman Montador". The Post-Tribune. Merrillville, IN. 2011-09-24. Archived from the original on 2016-04-17. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ a b "Former Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador dead at 35". Chicago Sun-Times. 2015-02-15. Archived from the original on 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ a b Sportak, Randy (2015-02-17). "Only good memories". Calgary Sun. p. 3.
- ^ Sportak, Randy (2015-02-16). "Monty remembered". Calgary Sun. p. S3.
- ^ a b c Campbell, Ken (2015-02-19). "Steve Montador 'knew he was going to pass away early'". The Hockey News. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ Francis, Eric (2015-02-20). "Four days after untimely death of former Calgary Flames D Steve Montador, his son is born". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
- ^ Jhaveri, Hemal (2015-04-22). "Daniel Carcillo opens up about Steve Montador's death: 'I was inconsolable.'". USA Today. Retrieved 2015-04-22.
- ^ "Daniel Carcillo - Why the NHL community Needs to Look out for Its Own: Players' POV". The Players' Tribune. YouTube. 2015-04-22. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2015-04-22.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-06-21.
- ^ "Steve Montador's family plans to sue NHL: reports". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
- ^ Westhead, Rick (October 29, 2021). "Father of Steve Montador files second wrongful death lawsuit against NHL". Retrieved October 19, 2023.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database