Stephane Fiset
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| Position | Goaltender |
| Catches | Left |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 195 lb (89 kg) |
| NHL Team | Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, Quebec Nordiques |
| Nationality |  Canada |
| Born | June 17, 1970, Montreal, QC, CAN |
| NHL Draft | 24th overall, 1988 Quebec Nordiques |
| Pro Career | 1988 – 2002 |
Stephane Fiset (born June 17, 1970 in Montreal, Quebec) is an ice hockey goaltender who is retired.
Contents |
[edit] NHL Playing Career
Fiset was drafted in the 2nd round 24th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques. Fiset played thirty-four minutes in 6 games in his rookie season with Quebec, playing behind Ron Tugnutt, as well as a plethora of other goalies who got time that season. Fiset would get his first NHL victory on October 29, 1991 against the Winnipeg Jets in Le Colisee de Quebec, with a score of 7-2. Over the next few years, Fiset bounced from the NHL to the Nordiques minor league affiliates, slowly gaining more and more time in net for the Nordiques. 1992 would be the last season in Quebec that he would be the backup. After the 1992-93 season, Ron Hextall was traded to the New York Islanders, opening the door for Fiset to be the starter. Fiset did not disappoint. Within 2 years, Quebec finished first in the Eastern Conference, during the shortened 1994-95 lockout season.
When Quebec moved to Colorado, the future looked bright for Fiset and the Avalanche. This soon changed. He split time with Jocelyn Thibault in the beginning of the season, but became a backup after future Hall of Famer Patrick Roy was traded to Colorado from Montreal. Fiset was a part of the 1996 Stanley Cup winning team, but was traded to the Los Angeles Kings a few days later. He would be the Kings' starter until the 1999-00 season, where he split time with Jamie Storr. The next season the Kings acquired Felix Potvin and Fiset would only make 7 appearances for the team that season. Fiset was then traded to the Montreal Canadiens, but only played 2 games. He announced his retirement on September 9, 2002. Injuries played a large role in Fiset's retirement.
Fiset's NHL career GAA was a respectable 3.07. In 14 playoff appearances, Fiset went 1-7 with a 3.94 GAA.
[edit] International Play
Fiset played in the 1989 Junior World Championships, as well as in 1990. In '89 Canada finished fourth, and Fiset was pulled in a 7-1 drubbing by the Soviet Union after giving up 6 goals. He followed this up in 1990 with a great showing. Team Canada had a gold medal finish and the IIHF Directorate Top Goalie Award. He played in 2 games (and won both of them) during Canada's 1994 gold medal victory.
[edit] Injuries
Injuries were the main culprit that held Fiset back from becoming one of the elite netminders in the NHL. A knee injury, inflicted during a collision with Anaheim Mighty Ducks' Dan Bylsma, kept him out of twenty-five games in 2000-01, as well as another knee injury later that season that kept him out for thirty-one games never completely went away, and led to his premature retirement.
[edit] Goalie Mask
Fiset has one of the most recognizeable Goalie masks in the history of the NHL. The design is an ice wall that is supposed to be related to the Quebec Nordiques' igloo logo. There was also Fleur-de-lys, the Nordiques alternate logo, on each ear of the mask.
[edit] Awards
- QMJHL First All-Star Team (1989),
- Canadian Major Junior Goaltender of the Year (1989),
- WJC-A All-Star Team (1990),
- Named Best Goaltender at WJC-A (1990)
[edit] Miscellanea
Though a native of Montreal, Fiset was not a hockey fan as a child. He has said to have not watched hockey on television as a child, and did not go to any Canadiens games.
On December 22, 1996, Brett Hull scored his 500th career National Hockey League goal against Stephane Fiset.
