Brendan Frederick Shanahan (born 23 January 1969, in
Mimico, Ontario), is a Canadian ice hockey right
wing and alternate captain for the New York Rangers
of the National Hockey League. With his physical
play and goal scoring ability, Shanahan has scored
600 goals in his career, and is the leader among
active players for goals scored. He helped the
Detroit Red Wings win three Stanley Cups. The son of
Irish parents, Rosaleen and Donal, he played
lacrosse while growing up in his home town of
Mimico, Ontario, a neighbourhood of Toronto, with
his brothers Danny, Brian, and Shaun.
Shanahan was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the
first round of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He was the
second player selected, after Pierre Turgeon.
Expectations for Shanahan were high after a stellar
career with the London Knights of the OHL.
With titles in the Olympics, World Championship and
Stanley Cup he is member of the elite Triple Gold
Club and one of only five (as of 2006) to be a
member of the unofficial "Quad Gold Club", adding a
Canada Cup/World Cup of Hockey title to the other
three. His number 19 has been retired by his junior
team, the London Knights.
According to THN, Shanahan holds an unofficial NHL
record for most modern day recorded career Gordie
Howe hat trick's with 9. However not all teams have
kept records of this feat, and it is even believed
that Gordie Howe himself only officially had one.
During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Shanahan was the
brainchild of what was dubbed "The Shanahan Summit,"
a two-day conference in Toronto that he organized.
It gathered players, coaches, and other influential
voices to discuss improvements to the flow and tempo
of the game. Ten recommendations were presented to
the league and players association.
Shanahan married Catherine Janney (ex-wife of former
St. Louis linemate Craig Janney) on 4 July 1998;
they have three children - twins Maggie and Jack
were born on 23 November 2002, and daughter
Catherine Rosaleen was born on 16 October 2004.
Shanahan became a United States citizen on 17 May
2002, though Shanahan maintains that he will
continue to play for Canada in international
competition. He lives in the Boston area during the
off-season.
