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Sean Avery (born April 10, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He formerly played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars. Prior to the NHL, Avery played for the Owen Sound Platers and the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Avery's success in his role of distracting other players has arguably made him one of the most reviled players in the league. Avery’s “double life” of being a professional athlete while having an interest in fashion has prompted New Line Cinema to commission a screenplay.[1]
[edit] Detroit Red Wings (1999–2003)Avery was not drafted and was signed by the Red Wings as a free agent in 1999. He played one final season in juniors before turning professional in 2000 in the American Hockey League (AHL). He broke into the NHL in the 2001–02 season, playing 36 games with the Red Wings. The Red Wings went on to win the Stanley Cup that season, but Avery did not play 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, Avery was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in the trade for defenseman Mathieu Schneider. Sean finished the season with 15 points in 51 games. Years later, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said that one reason he unloaded Avery was because he seemed to lack respect for the game.[2] [edit] 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.[3] During the lockout, Avery lived for three weeks with former teammate Chris Chelios, until Chelios' patience wore thin. "He turned my house upside down," Chelios said.[4] 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.[5] 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 a contest between the two teams. The incident was never proven and Avery adamantly denies it ever occurred.[6] 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.[7] 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."[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] [edit] New York Rangers (2007–2008)On February 5, 2007, Avery was traded by the Kings to the New York Rangers in a multi-player deal.[11] After Avery joined the Rangers, he scored 20 points in 29 games to help the team complete a 17-4-6 end-of-season run to qualify for the playoffs. 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.[12] 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.[13] Colin Campbell and the NHL fined Avery, Darcy Tucker, the Rangers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs for actions during warmups before their Nov. 10, 2007, game.[14] 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,[15] and served CJCL with a notice of libel.[16] On December 3, the radio station retracted on air its allegations made about Avery.[17] 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.[18] In the early morning of April 30, 2008, after a playoff game against the Penguins, Avery went to the hospital with a lacerated spleen.[19][20] He was released from the St. Vincent's Medical Center on May 4.[21] [edit] Dallas Stars (2008)Avery signed a four-year, $15.5 million contract with the Dallas Stars on July 2, 2008.[22] He had been a roommate of current Stars co-general manager Brett Hull when the two played for the Red Wings. Hull thought the Stars needed more fire and emotion on the ice, and felt Avery would fit the bill.[23] Avery's performance largely mirrored the Stars' sluggish early performance; he only scored three goals before he and the team parted ways due to controversial remarks about fellow NHL players (see below). His play was a source of frustration to his teammates; according to TSN's James Duthie, one anonymous Star said that Avery "doesn't pay attention" and hasn't been able to grasp the Stars' system.[24] During a November 1 game against the Boston Bruins, Avery was accused of unleashing a torrent of obscenities at a fan who was heckling him in the penalty box. A complaint was filed with the NHL, but no action was taken.[25] [edit] Controversial "sloppy seconds" comment
On December 2, 2008, prior to the Stars' morning skate in preparation for a game against the Calgary Flames, Avery approached the assembled reporters in the dressing room and informed them that he was about to make a statement. He proceeded to make the following comment directed towards Flames' defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating Avery's ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert, and presumably also Kings forward Jarret Stoll, who is dating Avery's ex-girlfriend Rachel Hunter.[26]
Within hours, the NHL suspended him indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the league or the game of hockey." His comments were met with near-unanimous condemnation by the Stars organization, fellow players and fans alike. Stars owner Tom Hicks said that the team would have suspended Avery had the NHL not acted first.[27] Avery apologized the next day, calling his actions "a bad attempt to build excitement for the game."[28] On December 5, the NHL fixed Avery's suspension at six games, retroactive to the December 2 game against the Flames. He agreed to undergo an anger management evaluation, and structured counseling if necessary, due to what the NHL called "unacceptable and antisocial" behavior "at odds with the manner in which his more than 700 fellow players conduct themselves." The league also disclosed that Avery had been warned before about his behavior by both Commissioner Gary Bettman and league disciplinarian Colin Campbell.[29] On December 14, 2008—only hours after the last game of Avery's suspension—the Stars announced that Avery would not return to the team. However, Hull said the Stars would continue to honor Avery's contract and support him while he gets help.[30] Earlier, TSN reported that Stars' management were actively pursuing all options to permanently rid themselves of Avery.[24] Hull said one factor in the decision was that coach Dave Tippett and the rest of the team did not want to take Avery back. Earlier, Tippett had said he had specifically told Avery not to talk to the media about his former girlfriends, and was very upset when he did so.[31] [edit] Return to the Rangers (2009-present)After completing his program, Avery was placed on waivers by the Stars on February 7, 2009,[32] and cleared waivers on February 9.[33] Rumors began to surface that the New York Rangers were possibly interested in bringing back Avery. As many were predicting, Avery was then assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, although he remained a member of the Stars' organization.[34] On March 2, after weeks of the possible return and buzz league wide, Avery was placed on re-entry waivers by Dallas and claimed by the Rangers on March 3.[35] Rangers head coach John Tortorella, who, while working as an analyst for TSN, had previously stated that Avery was a "selfish ass" and that he had no business in the NHL, said that he was now willing to give him a second chance.[36] On April 4 during a game against the Boston Bruins Avery was involved in an incident where his stick came in contact with the backside of goaltender Tim Thomas' mask during a commercial timeout. Thomas went after Avery and both received penalties for roughing.[37] On Wednesday, April 22, 2009 in game 4 of the playoff series against the Washington Capitals, Avery whacked Milan Jurcina on an icing touch-up with his stick and fist that made Jurcina fall to the ice, bleeding. After receiving a minor on that penalty, he then high-sticked Brian Pothier and nearly cost the Rangers a 3-1 lead in the series since the Rangers were short-handed at the end of the game while only maintaining a one goal lead. He was subsequently benched for the following game by coach Tortorella. Following the Rangers' elimination in game seven of the first-round series, Avery praised Tortorella despite the benching, saying it was the right decision and that Tortorella is the coach for whom he wants to play.[38] Avery has missed the first four games of the 2009-10 season with a sprained knee. [edit] Style of playDespite Avery's relatively unimposing physical stature (5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st)), he is considered to be one of the best agitators in the NHL. Due to his unorthodox and highly confrontational style of play, Avery has made many enemies in the NHL, and is considered a pest by many, especially by opposing star players and enforcers. In a 2007 poll of 283 NHL players, 66.4% said that Sean Avery was the most hated player in the league.[39] [edit] "The Sean Avery rule"During an April 13, 2008 first round playoff game against the New Jersey Devils, Avery turned his back on the play in order to face and screen goaltender Martin Brodeur during a two-man advantage on the power play. He waved his hands and stick in front of Brodeur in an attempt to distract him and block his view. The puck was later cleared out of the Devils' end zone but on the second Rangers offensive attack, Avery scored the power play goal. (The Rangers lost that game 4-3 in overtime but eventually won the series against the Devils.) Although screening is a common tactic used (especially on the power play), notable in this instance was that Avery had spent the initial part of the play facing Brodeur while ignoring the puck. While it was not an explicit rules violation at the time of the game, many NHL commentators and players described Avery's actions as unsportsmanlike.[40] 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, which would now result in a minor penalty.[41] Don Cherry told Toronto radio station The Fan 590 of 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.'"[42] Avery's tactics during that series against the Devils earned multiple power plays, and he had scored in each of the first three games. Avery had particularly agitated Brodeur during these games, crashing into him on several occasions, shoved and punched him, and goaded him into trips and swipes. During game two, Avery confronted Brodeur despite the play headed towards the other end, with Brodeur even leaning his head against Avery's helmet during the exchange. At the end of the series, Brodeur refused to shake Avery's hand. [edit] Career statistics
[edit] Transactions
Source: "NHL.com - Players: Sean Avery". NHL.com. http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8468224&view=notes. Retrieved 2009-03-03. [edit] Personal lifeAvery has a younger brother, Scott (born 1988).[43] Avery played a small role in the movie "The Rocket" (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.[44] 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.[45] 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 Punk'd. 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.[46] 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 Manhattan prostitute (not to be confused with actress Kristin Davis).[47] Avery denied the accusation and claimed he was a victim of a practical joke, blaming his enemies for using his name.[48] He said he and his teammates just laughed the whole thing off hysterically. Davis's attorney said that his client has "never had any contact ever" with Avery, and even claimed that there is no black book.[49] [edit] Warren 77In the summer of 2009, Avery opened a sports bar, Warren 77, located at 77 Warren Street (between West Broadway and Greenwich St.) in New York, NY. On opening night, many figures from the hockey world were present, including Brendan Shanahan, Ken Daneyko, and Henrik Lundqvist, who performed for the crowd. . The décor is meant to reflect an old New York style, with Andy Warhol originals and pictures of icons on the walls, as well as pictures of the Rangers, past and present. Matt Abramcyk, a former art dealer, and Chris Miller, co-owner of the Beatrice Hotel are co-owners of the sports bar. [50] [edit] Interest in fashionIn April 2008 it was announced that Avery would be spending the summer off-season 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"[51] He joined in a fashion partnership with friend and former director of Calvin Klein's celebrity services, Lauryn Flynn.[52] In June 2008, Avery guest-edited Mensvogue.com, the website for Men's Vogue magazine.[53] He is also a vintage wine aficionado whose collection has been featured in an NHL.com interview. Avery revealed on ESPN that as a child he would play with dolls that he would steal from his babysitter.[54] Avery's interest mainly resides with women's fashion. Avery has said with men's fashion, "You do suits and pants and that's about that. Women's clothes tell a story. That's what's interesting to me."[1] In 2009 Avery worked with men's fashion label Commonwealth Utilities to present a clothing line for Fashion Week in New York City.[55] [edit] References
[edit] External links
Categories: 1980 births | Canadian ice hockey centres | Dallas Stars players | Detroit Red Wings players | Grand Rapids Griffins players | Hartford Wolf Pack players | Ice hockey personnel from Ontario | Kingston Frontenacs alumni | Living people | Los Angeles Kings players | Manchester Monarchs players | Motor City Mechanics players | New York Rangers players | Owen Sound Platers alumni | Pelicans players | People from Durham Region | Undrafted National Hockey League players | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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