Scott Niedermeier, whose biography is presented in this article, is the legendary Canadian hockey player who has played for many different clubs in the NHL for many years. He is the only player to win all of the most prestigious North American and international tournaments, including the Olympics, the World Cup and the Stanley Cup.
Biography
Robert Scott Niedermeier was born in August 1973 in the Canadian city of Edmonton. He is not the only hockey player in his family: his younger brother Rob plays in the NHL for the “New Jersey Devils”, and cousin Jason Stradwick stands for the “Edmonmonton Oilers”.
Professional career
Scott Niedermeier was drafted by the Kamloops Blazers Club in 1989, playing in the Western Hockey League. From the first season, the 18-year-old defender proved himself to be one of the most promising players in the tournament. In 64 matches of the regular season Niedermeier scored 14 goals and gave 55 assists.
The next season was a record for Scott. With a score of 82 (26 + 56) points, he got into the national team of all the stars of the ZHL, and also became the best student player and owner of the “Daryl Kay Seaman Trophy” - awards for the best junior in the Canadian League. It was then that scouts from the best NHL clubs drew attention to the young hockey player.
Scott Niedermeier began the 1991/92 season as one of the team leaders. He was distinguished by high performance - in 35 games he scored 7 goals and gave 32 assists. However, he could not finish the season until the end, as he changed the team.
12 "diabolical" years
In 1992, in the NHL draft, Scott Niedermeier was selected under the first number “Devils” from New Jersey. In his debut regular draw for himself, he went on ice in only 4 fights.
In the 1992/93 season, Niedermeier firmly entrenched in the basic composition of the new team. He played in 80 matches, scored 11 goals and assisted teammates 29 times. Thanks to these indicators, he ended up in the NHL rookie team.
The next season, Scott improved his overall performance - he scored 46 (10 + 36) points in 81 games. He is also the first time for himself and for the “New Jersey Devils” won the Stanley Cup.
Particularly sensational was the final series against the Detroit Red Wings. “Devils”, despite their status as an outsider, defeated the opponent with a score of 4-0. A year later, the team from New Jersey reached the finals of the most prestigious hockey trophy in North America again, but there they lost to the Dallas Stars club.
The “Devils” with Niedermeier in the squad got a chance to take revenge for this offensive defeat in the 1999/00 season. They used it to the full - they defeated the club from Dallas in the final series, the second time in history becoming the owners of the Stanley Cup.
Very successful for Scott was the 2002/03 season. His 39 (11 + 28) points in the regular season and 18 (2 + 16) in the playoff series greatly helped the “Devils” again win the most prestigious trophy in North America.
In the next, last season for himself in New Jersey, Scott Niedermeier finished on a major note. In the regular season, he scored 54 (14 + 40) points, which allowed him to join the team of all NHL Stars, as well as become the owner of the “James Norris Trophy” - awards for the best defender in the tournament.
Moving to Anaheim
During the lockout in the NHL, the Canadian defender did not play anywhere, but managed to change the team. Since August 2005, Scott Niedermeier is a hockey player playing for Anaheim Ducks. He signed a contract with the Ducks, according to which the fee for 4 years was to be about $ 27 million.
Niedermeier began his debut season in Anaheim as captain of the team. In 82 matches played, the Canadian defender scored 13 goals and made 50 assists, thereby updating his performance record.
The 2006/07 season again became a stellar time for Niedermeier. He updated his striking record with 69 (15 + 54) points, while Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup. Scott was also awarded the Conn Smyth Trophy Award, which is presented to the player who has become the most useful in the playoff series.
Niedermeier spent three more fairly successful seasons at Anaheim Ducks, after which he ended his playing career.
Performances at international competitions
Scott Niedermeier was a successful hockey player not only at the club level. For the first time trying on the form of the Canadian youth team in 1991, he became the world champion in its composition.
For the national team, the defender made his debut in 1996 at the World Cup. In 2002, Niedermeier, together with the Canadian national team in Salt Lake City, became the Olympic champion.
But the “golden” story of the hockey player did not end there. In 2004, Canadians became champions of the planet, as well as owners of the World Cup. In almost every match in these tournaments, Scott Niedermeier played a very active role.
In 2010, the 37-year-old veteran took part in the home Olympic Games, where he was the team captain. In the overtime finals, the Canadian team squeezed its eternal rivals from the United States. Thus, Scott Niedermeier became a two-time Olympic champion. After the Games, he completed appearances in the national team of his country.