Éric Fichaud

Éric Joseph Fichaud (born November 4, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 95 games in the National Hockey League with four teams between 1996 and 2000. He was selected in the first round of the 1994 NHL entry draft, 16th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Junior career Fichaud played net for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 1994, he led his team to the Memorial Cup, winning a host of awards, including the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as top goaltender and playoff MVP awards. A classic butterfly goaltender in the Patrick Roy mold, Fichaud looked to be a future National Hockey League starting netminder.

Professional career Shortly after being drafted, Fichaud was traded to the New York Islanders for Benoît Hogue, a 1995 3rd round pick (Ryan Pepperall) and a 1996 5th round pick (Brandon Sugden), without ever playing a game for Toronto. Fichaud never lived up to the lofty expectations his fantastic junior career had led to, bouncing between the minor leagues and the NHL. Shoulder injuries played a key role, and despite Fichaud's best efforts, he was unable to recapture his previous form. Eventually, Fichaud settled into the role as the starting goalie for the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1991–92 Montreal-Bourassa Canadiens QMAAA 28 12 15 1 1678 110 0 3.95 — 9 5 4 567 32 0 3.39 — 1992–93 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QMJHL 43 18 13 1 2039 149 0 4.38 .864 — — — — — — — — 1993–94 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QMJHL 63 37 21 3 3493 192 4 3.30 .899 26 16 10 1560 86 1 3.31 .892 1993–94 Chicoutimi Sagueneens M-Cup — — — — — — — — — 4 2 2 240 10 1 2.50 — 1994–95 Chicoutimi Sagueneens QMJHL 46 21 19 4 2637 151 4 3.44 .898 7 2 5 428 20 0 2.80 .909 1995–96 New York Islanders NHL 24 7 12 2 1234 68 1 3.31 .897 — — — — — — — — 1995–96 Worcester IceCats AHL 34 13 15 6 1989 97 1 2.93 .913 2 1 1 127 7 0 3.30 .883 1996–97 New York Islanders NHL 34 9 14 4 1760 91 0 3.10 .899 — — — — — — — — 1997–98 New York Islanders NHL 17 3 8 3 807 40 0 2.97 .905 — — — — — — — — 1997–98 Utah Grizzlies IHL 1 0 0 0 40 3 0 4.45 .870 — — — — — — — — 1998–99 Nashville Predators NHL 9 0 6 0 448 24 0 3.22 .895 — — — — — — — — 1998–99 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 8 5 2 1 480 25 0 3.13 .905 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 9 3 5 1 490 24 1 2.94 .883 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Quebec Citadelles AHL 6 4 1 1 368 17 0 2.77 .910 3 0 3 177 10 0 3.39 .921 2000–01 Montreal Canadiens NHL 2 0 2 0 62 4 0 3.89 .875 — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Quebec Citadelles AHL 42 19 19 2 2441 127 1 3.12 .913 2 0 1 98 3 0 1.84 .955 2001–02 Manitoba Moose AHL 5 2 3 0 279 13 1 2.80 .903 — — — — — — — — 2001–02 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 9 — — — 401 11 0 1.65 .944 3 — — 197 8 0 2.44 .922 2002–03 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 27 14 7 3 1447 55 4 2.28 .925 8 5 3 472 17 0 2.16 .917 2003–04 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 31 16 11 3 1836 70 1 2.29 .917 — — — — — — — — 2004–05 Radio X de Quebec LNAH 9 6 2 0 505 19 — 2.26 .924 8 8 0 480 9 — 1.13 — 2005–06 Radio X de Quebec LNAH 41 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 2006–07 Radio X de Quebec LNAH 44 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 2007–08 CRS Express de Saint-Georges LNAH 34 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — NHL totals 95 22 47 10 4799 251 2 3.14 .897 — — — — — — — —