Raymond Garfield Sheppard (born May 27, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1987 to 2000. Sheppard was born in Pembroke, Ontario, but grew up in Petawawa, Ontario.

Ray Sheppard
Born (1966-05-27) May 27, 1966 (age 57)
Pembroke, Ontario, Canada
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
PositionRight Wing
ShotRight
Played forBuffalo Sabres
New York Rangers
Detroit Red Wings
San Jose Sharks
Florida Panthers
Carolina Hurricanes
SC Langnau
NHL draft60th overall, 1984
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career1986–2001

Playing career edit

Sheppard was selected 60th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He played 817 career NHL games, scoring 357 goals and 300 assists for 657 points. His best season statistically was the 1993–94 season when he scored 52 goals and 93 points for the Detroit Red Wings. He also played for the New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, and the Carolina Hurricanes. On March 21, 1996, Sheppard scored the first home ice hat trick in Panthers franchise history.[1]

He achieved a rare feat during his career, scoring at least twenty goals in a season for six different NHL teams (accomplishing it in 1999). This was a record of until Bill Guerin passed him by scoring twenty goals with seven teams.

Sheppard has been named the second-best golfer amongst athletes (of sports other than golf) by Golf Digest.[2] He currently serves on the board of directors for the Panthers Alumni Association.

Career statistics edit

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1982–83Brockville BravesCJHL4827366381
1983–84Cornwall RoyalsOHL684436806932460
1984–85Cornwall RoyalsOHL49253358519212144
1985–86Cornwall RoyalsOHL63816114225674110
1986–87Rochester AmericansAHL551813311115123152
1987–88Buffalo SabresNHL743827651461122
1988–89Buffalo SabresNHL672221431510110
1989–90Rochester AmericansAHL535821787159
1989–90Buffalo SabresNHL184260
1990–91New York RangersNHL5924234721
1991–92Detroit Red WingsNHL7436266227116284
1992–93Detroit Red WingsNHL703234662972350
1993–94Detroit Red WingsNHL825241932672134
1994–95Detroit Red WingsNHL4330104017174375
1995–96Detroit Red WingsNHL52242
1995–96San Jose SharksNHL5127194610
1995–96Florida PanthersNHL14821042188160
1996–97Florida PanthersNHL68293160452020
1997–98Florida PanthersNHL6114173121
1997–98Carolina HurricanesNHL104262
1998–99Carolina HurricanesNHL742533581665162
1999–2000Florida PanthersNHL471010204
2000–01SC LangnauNLA13134170
NHL totals8173573006572128130205017

Awards and honours edit

AwardYear
OHL
First All-Star Team1986
Red Tilson Trophy1986
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy1986
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy1986
AHL
Calder Cup (Rochester Americans)1987
NHL
All-Rookie Team1988

Transactions edit

  • Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft in the third round as the 60th overall pick.[3]
  • Acquired by the New York Rangers for $1 USD from the Buffalo Sabres in 1990.[4]
  • August 5, 1991 - Signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Detroit Red Wings.
  • October 24, 1995 - Traded by the Detroit Red Wings to the San Jose Sharks for Igor Larionov and a conditional 1998 draft pick.
  • March 16, 1996 - Traded by the San Jose Sharks, along with a fourth round pick in 1996, to the Florida Panthers for 2nd and fourth round picks in 1996.
  • March 24, 1998 - Traded at the deadline by the Florida Panthers to the Carolina Hurricanes for Kirk McLean.
  • November 15, 1999 - Signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Florida Panthers.
  • Announced retirement at the end of 1999–2000 NHL season.

References edit

  1. ^ "PANTHERS SIGN SHEPPARD TO THREE-YEAR CONTRACT". The Buffalo News. August 8, 1996. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Golf Digest Ranks the Best Golfers from the World of Sports
  3. ^ Ray Sheppard at www.hockeydb.com
  4. ^ Tim Crothers (1994-03-21). "Ray Sheppard". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2009-01-23. Ray Sheppard was once bought for a buck. As in four quarters. A crummy eight bits. In 1990 New York Ranger general manager Neil Smith actually paid that paltry sum for Sheppard. ... But two seasons later, after having scored just four goals in 18 games, he was sent to the minors and then jettisoned by the Sabres in that $1 transaction with the Rangers.

External links edit