Theoren Fleury

Theoren Wallace Fleury (b. June 29, 1968 in Oxbow, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player in the Elite Ice Hockey League who had a very successful but troubled career in the National Hockey League. He plays right wing.

Playing career

Fleury is the story of a stellar career dogged by alcoholism and off-ice issues.

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In Junior hockey, he played for Graham James who was convicted of sexual assault on some of his players but no mention was made of Fleury and no comment has been made by Fleury.

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Acknowledged as one of the stars of the game despite his relatively small size, he was drafted by the Calgary Flames 166th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and won the Stanley Cup with the Flames in 1989. By the time he left the Flames in 1999 for the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Rene Corbet, Wade Belak and Robyn Regehr, he was the team's all-time leading scorer with 830 points - 364 goals and 466 assists.

Related Topics:
Calgary Flames - 1987 NHL Entry Draft - Stanley Cup - 1989 - Colorado Avalanche - Rene Corbet - Wade Belak - Robyn Regehr

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He scored 40 goals in the 1998-99 NHL season before signing with the New York Rangers as a free agent on July 5, 1999. He won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Winter Olympics, and signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2002-03 NHL season.

Related Topics:
1998-99 NHL season - New York Rangers - July 5 - 1999 - 2002 Winter Olympics - Chicago Blackhawks - 2002-03 NHL season

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However, by this time, wrestling with off-ice worries, including his father's cancer operation, his substance abuse problems had began to surface. In 1996, he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Although seemingly under control for half a year by the time he won Olympic gold, he suffered a relapse and in October 2002 he was suspended for six months and placed in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program for violating his aftercare program. His drug problems have been a source of great taunting from opposing fans, primarily those of the New York Islanders (whose hatred of him stemmed from his days with the rival Rangers), who dubbed him "Crackhead Theo."

Related Topics:
Cancer - 1996 - Crohn's Disease - Olympic - New York Islanders

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He began the 2002-03 NHL season serving out the 25-game suspension. Soon after his return, however, he missed a practice, claiming he had overslept, and in January, he was involved in an incident at a strip club in Columbus, Ohio. He was suspended in 2003 for again violating the substance abuse program.

Related Topics:
2002-03 NHL season - Strip club - Columbus, Ohio

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Fleury's future is in doubt. Some are calling for him to retire, and there are also rumours he might return to play for the Flames - indeed, he has been quoted as saying the Calgary Flames are the only team he wants to play for. Regardless, his place in hockey history is secure and he will be recognised as one of the best players of the game.

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In an attempt to restore his career, Fleury attempted to join the North Peace Hockey League's Horse Lake Thunder, which is based on the Horse Lake First Nations, Alberta. His first game was to be on January 6, 2005, but he was ruled ineligible because he was under an NHL contract during the previous season. After two appeals, Fleury and the Thunder were able to overturn the decision. In Fleury's first game with the Thunder, on January 22, 2005, he scored one goal and two assists. Fleury's cousin, as well as former NHLer, Gino Odjick also plays for the Thunder. The team competes for the Allan Cup.

Related Topics:
North Peace Hockey League - Horse Lake Thunder - Horse Lake First Nations, Alberta - January 6 - 2005 - January 22 - Gino Odjick - Allan Cup

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Fleury has now signed for the 2005-06 season with the Belfast Giants of the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League.

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