Shjon Podein

Shjon Walter Podein (born March 5, 1968) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues. He was named the Head High School Hockey Coach at Benilde-St. Margaret's School in St. Louis Park (MN) High School on March 16, 2011. He had been active in the youth program for three years before being named coach.

Playing career

Podein graduated from John Marshall High School in 1986. He originally enrolled at US International University, but left the team mid-year to transfer to the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the WCHA. While ineligible as a transfer student, he finished the year with the Rochester Mustangs of the USHL. After his sophomore year, the Edmonton Oilers drafted him 166th in the 1988 NHL entry draft.

Podein made his professional debut in the 1990–91 season with the Cape Breton Oilers of the AHL. He made his NHL debut in the 1992–93 season with the Oilers but was returned to Cape Breton, where he won the Calder Cup. Over the next season Podein saw limited time with the parent club and was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers on July 27, 1994.

With the Flyers, Podein developed into a penalty-killer and checking forward. Podein played five seasons and over 300 games with Philadelphia, and reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1997, won by the Detroit Red Wings .

On November 12, 1998, the Flyers traded Podein to the Colorado Avalanche for Keith Jones. While helping Colorado capture the Stanley Cup in the 2000–01 season, Shjon also scored a career-high 15 goals and equaled his best points total at 32. Shjon is often remembered for wearing his uniform a full 25 hours after winning game seven of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Avalanche traded Podein to the St. Louis Blues for Mike Keane on February 11, 2002. Shjon played his last NHL season in 2002–03. He then played in Sweden with Växjö Lakers Hockey and finished his career in Japan with the HC Nikko Icebucks.

Away from the ice, Shjon set up the "Shjon Podein Children's Foundation". Podein was noted for his dedication to charity work and youth hockey programs. In recognition, Podein received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2001.

Podein did the traditional "Let's play hockey" cheer for the Minnesota Wild game on Feb. 19, 2008.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1985–86 John Marshall High School HS-MN 25 34 30 64 — — — — — — 1986–87 Rochester Mustangs USHL 29 17 21 39 — — — — — — 1986–87 United States International University GWHC 6 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1987–88 University of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 30 4 4 8 49 — — — — — 1988–89 University of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 36 7 5 12 46 — — — — — 1989–90 University of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 35 21 18 39 45 — — — — — 1990–91 Cape Breton Oilers AHL 63 14 15 29 65 4 0 0 0 5 1991–92 Cape Breton Oilers AHL 80 30 24 54 46 5 3 1 4 2 1992–93 Cape Breton Oilers AHL 38 18 21 39 32 9 2 2 4 29 1992–93 Edmonton Oilers NHL 40 13 6 19 25 — — — — — 1993–94 Cape Breton Oilers AHL 5 4 4 8 4 — — — — — 1993–94 Edmonton Oilers NHL 28 3 5 8 8 — — — — — 1994–95 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 44 3 7 10 33 15 1 3 4 10 1995–96 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 79 15 10 25 89 12 1 2 3 50 1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 82 14 18 32 41 19 4 3 7 16 1997–98 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 82 11 13 24 53 5 0 0 0 10 1998–99 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 14 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 1998–99 Colorado Avalanche NHL 41 2 6 8 24 19 1 1 2 12 1999–00 Colorado Avalanche NHL 75 11 8 19 29 17 5 0 5 8 2000–01 Colorado Avalanche NHL 82 15 17 32 68 23 2 3 5 14 2001–02 Colorado Avalanche NHL 41 6 6 12 39 — — — — — 2001–02 St. Louis Blues NHL 23 2 4 6 2 10 0 0 0 6 2002–03 St. Louis Blues NHL 68 4 6 10 28 7 0 1 1 6 2003–04 Växjö Lakers Allsv 33 11 16 27 52 5 0 0 0 2 2004–05 Växjö Lakers Allsv 29 9 12 21 38 1 0 0 0 25 2005–06 Nikkō Ice Bucks ALH 26 7 7 14 55 3 0 3 3 10 NHL totals 699 100 106 206 439 127 14 13 27 132

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1993 United States WC 6th 6 1 3 4 8 1994 United States WC 4th 8 3 1 4 14 1998 United States WC 12th 4 0 0 0 4 Senior totals 18 4 4 8 26

Awards and honors Award Year AHL Calder Cup (Cape Breton Oilers) 1992–93 NHL Stanley Cup (Colorado Avalanche) 2000–01 King Clancy Memorial Trophy 2000–01