2023-04-20 12:11:00
After 16 years as a professional ice hockey player, Canadian James Sheppard is retiring with immediate effect. The 34-year-old offensive player was under contract with the spusu Vienna Capitals for the last two seasons, for which he scored 77 points in a total of 92 games. Sheppard’s contract in Vienna would also have included the coming season of the win2day ICE Hockey League.
KAC series as a highlight
James Sheppard joined the spusu Vienna Capitals in October 2021. The Canadian immediately took on a leadership role under head coach Dave Barr, with whom the forward had previously worked in the NHL at Minnesota Wild. This became clear, among other things, in the quarter-final series of the 2021/22 season once morest EC-KAC. Sheppard recorded three goals and three assists in the seven games once morest Klagenfurt. In the decisive seventh duel, in which the Viennese, who were stricken by corona cases, fixed the promotion to the semifinals, Sheppard only scored the goal in the final third to equalize 2: 2 in the meantime, the man from Nova Scotia prepared the winning goal by Matt Bradley. In the 2021/22 season, the Canadian was the capital’s second-best scorer with 43 points. Sheppard scored 34 points last season.
Successful in Europe following many years in the NHL
Sheppard, now 34, was drafted ninth overall by Minnesota in the 2006 NHL draft. The Canadian was traded to the San Jose Sharks in 2011 following suffering a serious knee injury. In March 2015, the New York Rangers secured the offensive player’s services. Sheppard played 431 games during his NHL career. From 2015 to 2017, the left-handed shooter went onto the ice for EHC Kloten. In 2015, Sheppard won the prestigious Spengler Cup with Team Canada. Sheppard’s commitment in Switzerland was followed by four seasons in Germany. From 2017 to 2020, the North American stormed for the Eisbären Berlin, and Sheppard completed the 2020/21 season with the Kölner Haien. The center spent the last two years of his career in Vienna. With the spusu Vienna Capitals, Sheppard reached the semifinals both times.
Sheppard: End of career following two great years in Vienna
“I feel the time has come to end my career. My wife and I have been commuting back and forth between Europe and Canada over the past few years. It gets more and more stressful over time. We are ready to start the next chapter. Playing pro for 16 years is a long time. I really enjoyed my two years with the spusu Vienna Capitals. Vienna is a great city to play in. We’re lucky to have met a lot of great people here. It’s nice to be able to end my career following two great years.” says James Sheppard.
Kalla: “Sheppard an important pillar”
“James Sheppard has been a key pillar of our squad for the past two seasons. During his time with the spusu Vienna Capitals, he always assumed his leadership role and was also an asset off the ice. We would like to thank James for his commitment over the past two years and congratulate him on his great career.” so Caps-General-Manager Franz Kalla.
James Sheppard Wanted Poster
Position: attack
Birth date: 25.04.1988
Alter: 34 years
Size: 188cm
Weight: 101kg
shooting hand: links
Nationality: You have
Balance sheet caps: 92 games, 77 points (28 goals, 49 assists)
Record NHL: 431 games, 100 points (26 goals, 74 assists)
Current basic squad of the spusu Vienna Capitals, season 2023/2024
Tor (1): Lorenz Widhalm (19, Austria)
Defensive (5): Nico Brunner (30, Austria), Dominic Hackl (26, Austria), Timo Pallierer (21, Austria), Bernhard Posch (22, Austria), Niklas Würschl (23, Austria)
Offensive (6): Patrick Antal (22, Austria), Mathias Böhm (20, Austria), Niki Hartl (31, Austria), Lukas Kainz (27, Austria), Armin Preiser (22, Austria), Leon Widhalm (19, Austria)
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