Introduction
Shane "The Sheriff" Hnidy (born November 8, 1975) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. Between 2000 and 2011, he played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Minnesota Wild. Since 2011, Hnidy has been part of the Winnipeg Jets broadcast team on TSN Radio 1290 and the colourman with Dennis Beyak during Winnipeg Jets games on TSN Television.
Playing career
Hnidy played junior hockey with the Swift Current Broncos and Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL. He was drafted in the 7th round (173rd overall) in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, although he played no games for the team. After turning professional in 1996, he played for minor league teams Saint John of the AHL, Grand Rapids of the IHL, Cincinnati and Adirondack of the AHL before being traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2000 where he established his NHL career. He has also played for the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators.
On January 2, 2008, the Boston Bruins acquired Hnidy and a 6th rounder in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft for Brandon Bochenski.
On July 3, 2009, Hnidy signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Minnesota Wild to a one-year contract.
As of the opening of the 2010-11 season, Hnidy remained an unsigned free agent. On February 23, 2011, it was announced Hnidy would be re-joining the Boston Bruins on a try-out basis. On February 26, 2011, Hnidy signed a contract with the Bruins for the remainder of the season, to serve as a depth defenseman. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup by defeating the Vancouver Canucks in a 7-game Stanley Cup Final. Though his name does not appear on the Stanley Cup, he was awarded a Stanley Cup ring and was included on the official team picture. He was given a day with the Stanley Cup on August 18, 2011, and officially retired on August 31, 2011.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1991–92 | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | 56 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1992–93 | Swift Current Broncos | WHL | 45 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 62 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | 27 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | 69 | 7 | 26 | 33 | 113 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | 72 | 5 | 29 | 34 | 169 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 29 | ||
| 1995–96 | Prince Albert Raiders | WHL | 58 | 11 | 42 | 53 | 100 | 18 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 34 | ||
| 1996–97 | Baton Rouge Kingfish | ECHL | 21 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 44 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Grand Rapids Griffins | IHL | 77 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 210 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | ||
| 1998–99 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 68 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 121 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1999–00 | Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 68 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 153 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Grand Rapids Griffins | IHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 52 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 84 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2001–02 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 33 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 57 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 2002–03 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 67 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 130 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 37 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2004–05 | Florida Everblades | ECHL | 19 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 56 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 2005–06 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 66 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 72 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 63 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 33 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 43 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 41 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 2008–09 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 65 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 45 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 70 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
| NHL totals | 550 | 16 | 55 | 71 | 633 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 34 | ||||
Transactions
- June 28, 1994 - drafted by Buffalo Sabres in the 7th round, 173rd overall
- August 6, 1998 - signed as free agent by Detroit Red Wings
- June 25, 2000 - traded by Red Wings to Ottawa Senators
- March 9, 2004 - traded by Senators to Nashville Predators for 2004 draft pick used to pick Peter Regin
- June 30, 2005 - traded by Predators to Atlanta Thrashers
- July 5, 2007 - signed as unrestricted free agent by Anaheim Ducks
- January 2, 2008 - traded by Ducks to Boston Bruins
- July 3, 2009 - signed as unrestricted free agent by Minnesota Wild
- August 10, 2010 - invited to training camp by Phoenix Coyotes
- February 23, 2011 - joined the Boston Bruins on a try out basis
- February 26, 2011 - signed as free agent by Boston Bruins