Jeff Odgers

John Jeffrey Odgers (born May 31, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played over 800 games in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers. Mainly an enforcer, Odgers compiled a total of 2,364 penalty minutes in 821 regular season games. He also scored 75 goals and 70 assists for 145 points. Odgers served as captain of the San Jose Sharks for the latter half of the 1994–95 season and the entire 1995–96 season. He was also known for his mustache while with the Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers.

Jeff Odgers
Odgers with the Atlanta Thrashers
Born (1969-05-31) May 31, 1969
Spy Hill, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for San Jose Sharks
Boston Bruins
Colorado Avalanche
Atlanta Thrashers
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 1990–2003

Playing career

Odgers was undrafted by any NHL team.[1] He attended a developmental tryout camp on the invitation of Chuck Grillo and was then invited to pre-season camp with the Minnesota North Stars. Though unsigned by the North Stars, Odgers received a personal services contract with the San Jose Sharks and was assigned to the Kansas City Blades of the IHL.[2] Odgers played 61 games in the San Jose Sharks' inaugural season.[3] Odgers led the Sharks with most penalty minutes (since broken). He would later be the captain of the Sharks in 1994-95 until 1996, when he joined the Boston Bruins in a trade that sent him and 1996 5th round pick to Boston in exchange for Al Iafrate. After one season with Boston, Odgers would sign as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche, Where he would remain until he was selected from the team by the Minnesota Wild in the 2000 Expansion Draft. Odgers wouldn't end up playing a game with Minnesota before the season began as he was left unprotected for the 2000 NHL Waiver Draft and claimed by the Atlanta Thrashers on September 29, 2000. Odgers is the Sharks’ all-time leader in penalty minutes with 1,001, The Avalanches’ single season leader in penalty minutes with 259, which he achieved during the 1998-99 season, The Avalanches’ all time leader in fighting majors at 73, and remains the Thrashers/Jets' single season leader in penalty minutes, which he set in the 2000-01 season.

In September 2006, Odgers served as color commentator for an Atlanta Thrashers pre-season game. It was believed to be an on-air tryout alongside longtime Thrashers announcer Dan Kamal to replace Billy Jaffe, who had joined the New York Islanders. Odgers got the job, and served as the color commentator with Kamal on Atlanta AM radio station 680 The Fan for two seasons. At the beginning of the 2008-09 season it was announced that he would not return because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Odgers spent the 2008-09 season as a trainer for his son John's team, the Yorkton Midget Kinsmen Terriers of the South Saskatchewan Minor Hockey League (SSMHL). For the 2009-10 season Odgers coached the Bantam AA Yorkton Terriers of the SSMHL. Another son, Dakota, was a member of that squad.[4] Odgers currently plays senior hockey for the Rocanville Tigers of the Triangle Hockey League.[2][5]

Outside hockey, Odgers manages his family farm as well as conducts safety training at the Mosaic K3 Mine Site in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan.[6]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1986–87Brandon Wheat KingsWHL7071421150—————
1987–88Brandon Wheat KingsWHL70171835202411214
1988–89Brandon Wheat KingsWHL71312960277—————
1989–90Brandon Wheat KingsWHL64372865209—————
1990–91Kansas City BladesIHL77121931318—————
1991–92Kansas City BladesIHL1222456930313
1991–92San Jose SharksNHL617411217—————
1992–93San Jose SharksNHL66121527253—————
1993–94San Jose SharksNHL81138212221100011
1994–95San Jose SharksNHL484371171111223
1995–96San Jose SharksNHL7812416192—————
1996–97Boston BruinsNHL807815197—————
1997–98Providence BruinsAHL400031—————
1997–98Colorado AvalancheNHL685813213600025
1998–99Colorado AvalancheNHL752352591510114
1999–2000Colorado AvalancheNHL6212316240000
2000–01Atlanta ThrashersNHL826713226—————
2001–02Atlanta ThrashersNHL46448135—————
2002–03Atlanta ThrashersNHL74246171—————
NHL totals 821 75 70 145 2,364 47 2 1 3 73

See also

References
  1. Mark Malinowski (2009-06-15). "Getting to Know: Jeff Odgers". The Hockey News. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  2. Calvin Daniels (2004). Guts and Go: Great Saskatchewan Hockey Stories. Heritage House. pp. 97–102. ISBN 978-1-894384-80-3. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  3. "Jeff Odgers". hockeyDB.com. Internet Hockey Database. 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  4. "Yorkton". Team Contacts. SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN MINOR HOCKEY LEAGUE. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  5. "Tigers Roster". Triangle Hockey League. Archived from the original on 10 August 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  6. Hart, Micah. "Catching Up With "The Sheriff"". Interview with Jeff Odgers. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
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