New lease on life for Canadiens' Souray

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After missing the entire 2002-2003 National Hockey League season with a wrist injury that required four surgeries, Montreal Canadiens Sheldon Souray is back with a vengeance.

The 6 foot 4, 228-pound defensemen from Fishing Lake Metis Settlement is one of the top two defensemen on his team, and as of the first week of February, leads NHL defensemen in goals with 15.

The 27-year-old Souray, who grew up in Edmonton, started his junior career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with Fort Saskatchewan before moving on to the Western Hockey League. It was while playing with the Tri City Americans that Souray was selected in the third round-71st overall-by the New Jersey Devils in the 1994 NHL entry draft. During the draft, Souray realized that attaining his goal of playing in the NHL was a possibility.

"Being drafted by the Devils and then going to my first training camp was definitely when I realized that I could play in the NHL," said Souray.

Souray's first full season with the Devils was in the 1997-1998 campaign.

"I really learned a lot from being around guys like Scott Stevens. [He] taught me so much while I was with the Devils organization," Souray said of the rugged defensemen.

Late in the 1999-2000 season, Souray was traded to the Montreal Canadiens where he's been ever since.

Watching the entire season from the press box last year while rehabilitating his wrist gave Souray a new outlook on the game.

"I spent the season working out Sak (Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu) who was working his way back from his illness," he said, referring to Koivu's bout with cancer. "Being there to watch Sak battle back from his illness put things into perspective for me. We get paid to play a game we love to play, and when something like that happens it makes you realize that it really is just a game and there are more important things in life."

Things like family. Souray is married to former Baywatch actress Angelina Bridges, who gave birth to their first child in September, a daughter they named Valentina.

"Being a dad has changed my perspective a lot. It's nice to have someone to come home to at the end of the day, but it makes the road trips a little tough. You just appreciate the time you have at home when you're there."

There have also been a number of notable highlights on the ice for Souray this season.

In November the Molson Heritage Classic was played outdoors in front of 57,000 fans at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, with Souray's Canadiens versus the Edmonton Oilers. The game made history as the only modern era regular season NHL game to be played outdoors and many of Souray's family and friends were able to watch him play in the historic game.

"I got 45 tickets for the game. It was like pulling teeth getting that many tickets," said Souray, who assisted on the game-winning goal in the 4-3 Canadiens victory.

"My dad used to take me to Oilers games when I was younger, so I got to watch Gretzky, Messier, Coffey and those guys while growing up in Edmonton, and to play in the game is definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

Then in December, Souray scored his first career hat trick on the road in Nashville in a 5-4 overtime win versus the Predators where Souray scored the game winner. He had the puck from his third goal and the stick he used in the game framed for Valentina.

In January, he established a record with the Montreal Canadiens for the most points scored by a defensemen-six, one goal and five assists-in an 8-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In early February, Souray took part in the NHL All-Star Game played in St. Paul, Minnesota as part of the Eastern Conference All-Star Team. At the annual skills competition, Souray recorded the hardest shot, with a 102.2 m.p.h. blast, which is the third hardest ever recorded at the event. He added an assist in the All-Star game to top off the weekend.

Said Souray of the whole event, "never thought I'd be here with some of these guys, All-Stars I look up to, and it's terrific just to be back playing this year ... this is incredible."

Souray has played more than 300 NHL games so far. And even though he's been part of the League since the 1997-1998 season, he sometimes can't believe the path his life has taken.

"Every day I sit and think about how fortunate I am to get paid to play a game I love. I am always thankful that I've been able to reach my goal of playing professional hockey."