Sean Avery

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Dallas Stars
league = NHL


image_size = 200px
position = Left wing
shoots = Left
height_ft = 5
height_in = 9
weight_lb = 195
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1980|4|10
birth_place = Pickering, ON
draft = Undrafted
former_teams = Los Angeles Kings
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start = 1999

Sean Avery (born April 10, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). He formerly played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers. Prior to the NHL, Avery played for the Owen Sound Platers and the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

Playing career

Detroit Red Wings (1999–2003)

In 1999, Avery was signed by the Detroit Red Wings and broke into the NHL, playing 36 games with the Red Wings during the 2001–02 season. The Red Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup that season, though Avery did not partake in the playoffs nor did he play the required 40 games to get his name engraved on the Cup.

Midway through the 2002–03 season, the Los Angeles Kings traded Mathieu Schneider to the Detroit Red Wings for Avery, Maxim Kuznetsov, a first round selection (Jeff Tambellini) in 2003 and a second round selection in 2004. Sean finished the season with 15 points in 51 games.

Los Angeles Kings (2003–2007)

In 2003–04 Avery played 76 games for the Kings, scoring nine goals and 19 assists. Avery also led the NHL in penalty minutes with 261. His tenure with the Kings was marked by a number of publicized controversial utterances.

During the NHL lockout, Avery played in the Finnish SM-liiga for Pelicans. In 2 games he scored 3 goals, but then left Finland unexpectedly and returned to North America. He then played in the UHL alongside Chris Chelios, Bryan Smolinski, and Derian Hatcher for the Motor City Mechanics. He tallied 26 points in 16 games, 15 goals and 11 assists. Those 15 goals included two hat tricks, allowing Avery to become the first player in Mechanics history to record two hat tricks in one season. He also had 149 penalty minutes. Avery made news during the lockout, when he was quoted as saying that the management of the National Hockey League Players Association lied to its members about the lockout. [cite web | url = http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/07/06/avery050705.html | title = Top brass not at NHL bargaining table]

Denis Gauthier of the Phoenix Coyotes bodychecked Kings forward Jeremy Roenick in a 2005 preseason game, giving Roenick a concussion. Avery's response was "I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not back anything up," generating much controversy with the French-Canadian public. [cite web | url = http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=137855&hubname= | title = Kings' Avery sounds off on French NHLers] Avery also made news during the regular season when Georges Laraque of the Edmonton Oilers, a Black Canadian, claimed that Avery called him a monkey during an contest between the two teams. The incident was never proven and Avery adamantly denies it ever occurred. [cite web | url = http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2005/10/14/avery_laroque051014.html | title = Avery says Laraque made up racial slur] Avery was fined $1,000 by the NHL on November 15, 2005, for intentionally diving during a game, then was fined $1,000 more a day later after publicly criticizing the NHL's director of hockey operations, Colin Campbell. [cite web | url = http://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/nhl/kings/la-sp-kingrep16nov16,1,2760874.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-nhl-kings | title = League Fines Avery for His Comments After First Fine | author = Foster, Chris]

Avery and Anaheim Mighty Ducks broadcaster and former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Brian Hayward had a heated discussion in the Kings dressing room on April 7, 2006, over Hayward's on air comments during the April 4 Kings vs Ducks game, in which he accused Avery of avoiding a fight with Ducks' forward Todd Fedoruk. Avery began the argument by uttering that Hayward was an "embarrassment", a "(terrible) announcer", and was a "(terrible) player". Hayward responded by saying "How would you know? When I played, you were in your third year of eighth grade." [cite web | url = http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=161766&hubname= | title = Avery confronts NHL broadcaster Hayward] Near the end of the season, the Kings decided to suspend Avery, stating that he would not be with the team for the remainder of the year. A source claimed Avery had an argument with assistant coach Mark Hardy after refusing to participate in a practice drill. [cite web | url = http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=162402&hubname=nhl | title = Report: Kings part ways with Sean Avery]

On July 24, 2006 the Los Angeles Kings signed Avery to a $1.1 million, one-year contract. Avery was a restricted free agent, so the Kings avoided going into salary arbitration by signing him to a deal. [cite web | url = http://www.kingshockey.com/articles.cfm?id=20 | title = Kings Sign Avery To One-Year Contract | author = Matsuda, Gann]

New York Rangers (2007–2008)

Avery was traded by the Kings to the New York Rangers on February 5, 2007, together with John Seymour, for players Jason Ward, Jan Marek and Marc-Andre Cliche. [cite web | url = http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=195031&hubname | title = Kings deal Avery to Rangers] Avery recorded a career-high four points in a game against the Boston Bruins on March 17. He notched one goal and added three assists to help the Rangers beat the Bruins 7–0. [cite web | url = http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores107/107076/NHL706086.htm | title = Rangers 7, Bruins 0] Avery later played in his first career playoff game on April 12 against the Atlanta Thrashers. He recorded his first playoff points with a goal and an assist in the series against the Thrashers. He cut down on penalty minutes by about 65% in 2006–07 compared to seasons past.

On August 1, 2007 Avery, as a restricted free agent, earned an arbitration award of $1.9-million for the 2007–08 season, which the Rangers accepted thus keeping him with the team for at least another year. [cite web | url = http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang0802,0,5591465.story | title = Rangers accept Avery's $1.9M arbitration award | author = Zipay, Steve]

Colin Campbell and the NHL fined Avery, Darcy Tucker, the Rangers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs for pre-game actions during warmups before their November 10 meeting. [cite web | url = http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=343188&page=NewsPage&service=page | title = NHL fines Rangers, Maple Leafs, Avery, Tucker | author = NHL.com] Howard Berger of Toronto radio station CJCL The Fan 590 alleged that the reason for the altercation was a remark made by Avery concerning Jason Blake's diagnosis with a rare form of Leukemia. However Avery denied making the comments, [cite web | url = http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=222807&hubname=nhl | title = Avery denies making comments to Blake | author = The Sports Network] and served CJCL with a notice of libel. [cite web | url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/11132007/sports/rangers/avery__i_was_libeled_821477.htm | title = Avery: I Was Libeled | last=Brroks | first=Larry | publisher=New York Post | date=2007-11-13 | accessdate=2007-12-04] On December 3, the radio station retracted on air its allegations made about Avery. [cite news | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3140337 | title=Toronto radio station retracts claim Avery made cancer-related remarks | publisher=Associated Press | date=2007-12-03 | accessdate=2007-12-04]

On November 29, 2007, Avery had arthroscopic surgery on his left wrist and did not return to the ice until the game against the Ottawa Senators on December 23.

When Avery scored his seventh goal of the season, ten seconds into a game against the Buffalo Sabres on February 16, 2008, he set a record for fastest goal scored by a Ranger at home ice. [cite news| url=http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2008021613 | title=NY Rangers 5, Buffalo 1 | publisher=Associated Press | last=Podell | first=Ira | date=2008-02-16 | accessdate=2008-02-16]

In the early morning of April 30, 2008, after a playoff game against the Penguins, Avery went to the hospital with a lacerated spleen. [ [http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=236340&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_nhl Rangers' Avery taken to hospital with lacerated spleen] ] [ [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/hockey/rangers/2008/04/30/2008-04-30_sources_rangers_star_sean_avery_hospital.html Sources: Rangers star Sean Avery hospitalized] ] He was released from the St. Vincent's Medical Center on May 4. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/05/sports/Sports-Briefs.php iht.com/articles, Sunday's Sports in Brief] ]

Dallas Stars (2008)

Avery signed a four-year, $15.5 million contract with the Dallas Stars on July 2, 2008. [cite press release| url=http://stars.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367566 | title=Stars Sign Sean Avery | publisher=Dallas Stars | date=2008-07-02 | accessdate=2008-07-11]

tyle of play

Avery is not a relatively large player (height|feet=5|inch=9 and convert|195|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on), but despite that considered as one of the best agitators in the NHL.

Because of his style of play, Avery has made many enemies in the NHL and is by many considered a pest. In a 2007 poll of 283 NHL players, 66.4% said that Sean Avery was the most hated player in the league. [cite web | url = http://www.thehockeynews.com/en/news/news.asp?idNews=24100 | title = The Hockey News player poll results]

Avery has five career Gordie Howe hat tricks.

"The Sean Avery rule"

During an April 13, 2008 first round playoff game against the New Jersey Devils, Avery used a controversial tactic to screen the opposing goaltender. While essentially ignoring the play on the ice when his team had a two-man advantage, Avery faced Martin Brodeur and waved his hands and stick in front of Brodeur in an attempt to distract him and block his view. Although not illegal, many NHL commentators and players described Avery's actions as unsportsmanlike. The following day, the NHL issued an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule to cover actions such as the one employed by Avery. [cite news| url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3346729 | title=NHL amends unsportsmanlike conduct rule in response to Avery's antics | publisher=ESPN.com | date=2008-04-14 | accessdate=2008-04-14] Following the Rangers victory in Game 5 of the series, Avery reached for Brodeur's hand, but Brodeur did not reciprocate.

Don Cherry told Toronto radio station The FAN 590 on Avery's tactic, "I've known this kid since he was about 16 years old; Once a jerk, always a jerk. You can't blame the referee, because 'he couldn't believe what he was seeing.'" [cite news| url=http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=234281&lid=sublink03&lpos=headlines_nhl | title=Avery's antics sparks NHL to make new rule | publisher=TSN.ca | date=2008-04-15 | accessdate=2008-10-03]

Career statistics

Personal life

Avery played a small role in the movie "Maurice Richard" (2005), as Bob Dill. His storyline in the movie was only one scene, where he showed how Richard became a target, not only for his ability to play great hockey, but also because of his francophone background. [cite web | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460505/ | title = Maurice Richard] In the film, Avery coincidentally portrays a member of the New York Rangers, two years before actually joining the team.

Avery appeared in a December 2006 episode of "MADtv" with Kings teammates Tom Kostopoulos and Scott Thornton.

He was linked romantically to Rachel Hunter but they ended their year-long relationship in June 2005. [cite web | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20050710/ai_n14721500 | title = At least the smile hasn't drooped | author = Ford, Fiona] He dated Elisha Cuthbert until she broke up with him in August 2007. Avery can be seen in the episode of "Punk'd" where Cuthbert was "victimized". He has also been featured on an episode of "MTV Cribs" and TRL.

Avery was on the "Sexiest Man Alive 2007" list by "People" magazine, on which Matt Damon was number one. [cite web | url = http://www.people.com/people/package/video/0,,20154290_20154496_20159873,00.html | title = Sexiest Man Alive 2007 | author = People.com]

On March 29, 2008, the "New York Daily News" reported that Avery was listed in a "little black book" seized from the computer of Kristin Davis, a madam from the Manhattan area. [cite web | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/29/2008-03-29_sean_avery_in_hookers_black_book.html | title = Sean Avery in hooker's black book | author = Connor, Tracy. Martinez, Jose.] Avery denied the accusation and claimed he was a victim of a practical joke, blaming his enemies for using his name. [cite web | url = http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/29/2008-03-29_sean_avery_is_no_lonely_ranger_laughs_of.html | title = Sean Avery is no lonely Ranger: Laughs off link to madam's black book | author = JOHN DELLAPINA and CARRIE MELAGO] He said he and his teammates just laughed the whole thing off hysterically. Davis' attorney said that his client has "never had any contact ever" with Avery, and even claimed that there is no black book. [cite web | url = http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/ny-sprang305631800mar30,0,2919306.story | title = Lawyer: Client never had contact with Avery | author = Staple, Aruthur]

In April 2008 it was announced that Avery would be spending the summer offseason interning at "Vogue" magazine. According to one fashion report "Avery is a self-confessed clotheshorse who has been known to give girlfriends advice on how to dress, and in interviews has expressed a dream to become a fashion editor after his days on the ice" [ [http://www.wwd.com/memopad/article/124369 Memo Pad: And his qualifications are?... Eye of the beholder...] ] He joined in a fashion partnership with friend and former director of Calvin Klein's celebrity services, Lauryn Flynn. [ [http://offtherack.people.com/2008/06/09/hockey-star-sean-avery-turns-celeb-stylist/ People] ] Starting June 23, Avery guest-edited Mensvogue.com, the website for "Men's Vogue" magazine. [ [http://www.mensvogue.com/magazine/articles/2008/06/sean-avery Mensvogue.com] ] He is also a vintage wine aficionado whose collection has been featured in an NHL.com interview.

References

External links

*hockeydb|25942
*TSN-NHL-profile|2014
*Espn nhl|2749
*nhlprofile|8468224
* [http://www.cardozaplayer.com/article_details.php?cid=87&contentType=1&typeSub=0 Sean Avery: Hockey’s Bad Boy Gets Pretty]
*imdb name|id=1936239|name=Sean Avery

Persondata
NAME = Avery, Sean
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = ice hockey player
DATE OF BIRTH = April 10, 1980
PLACE OF BIRTH = Pickering, Ontario, Canada
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =