Craig Schira Explained

Team:Free Agent
Former Teams:Binghamton Senators
Frisk Asker
HPK
Luleå HF
Rögle BK
HV71
Adler Mannheim
Linköping HC
Position:Defence
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:195
Birth Date:21 April 1988
Birth Place:Spiritwood, Saskatchewan, Canada
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2009

Craig Schira (born April 21, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played under contract with Linköping HC in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Playing career

Schira played for the Regina Pats and the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League as a junior.[1] On March 9, 2009, Schira signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League.[2] He was assigned to the Binghamton Senators for the 2009–10 season where he completed his first professional season.

In the 2013–14 he continued his European career by signing a two-year deal with Finnish Liiga team HPK.

Entering his fourth year with Rögle BK of the SHL in the 2020–21 season, Schira having declined in his offensive output with the club, was loaned on a short-term basis to fellow SHL competitors HV71 on December 11, 2020.[3] Schira made 4 appearances and collected 2 goals before ending his loan with HV71. On December 31, 2020, Schira left Rögle BK by moving to Germany to sign for the remainder of the season with Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[4]

Schira spent two years in a return to Sweden with Linköping HC of the SHL, before leaving at the conclusion of his contract following the 2022–23 season on March 15, 2023.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2003–04Saskatoon BlazersSMHL504172114
2003–04Regina PatsWHL20002
2004–05Regina PatsWHL6017825
2005–06Regina PatsWHL71528337261122
2006–07Regina PatsWHL713232674100004
2007–08Regina PatsWHL20110
2007–08Vancouver GiantsWHL638223058100110
2008–09Vancouver GiantsWHL7116435946172464
2009–10Binghamton SenatorsAHL688132127
2010–11Binghamton SenatorsAHL67310131870110
2011–12Binghamton SenatorsAHL73491327
2012–13Frisk AskerGET451718355150444
2013–14HPKLiiga549162516
2014–15HPKLiiga555232848
2015–16Luleå HFSHL514121616110772
2016–17Luleå HFSHL4269154321010
2017–18Rögle BKSHL524242828
2018–19Rögle BKSHL41212141220000
2019–20Rögle BKSHL312356
2020–21Rögle BKSHL60000
2020–21HV71SHL42020
2020–21Adler MannheimDEL252131260110
2021–22Linköping HCSHL4013416
2022–23Linköping HCSHL361348
AHL totals 2081532477270110
SHL totals 303226688129151782

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2005Canada WesternU1760222
2006CanadaWJC184th70228
Junior totals 1304410

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Craig Schira. hockeydb.com . May 31, 2010 .
  2. Web site: Bulletin: Senators sign Vancouver Giants defenceman Craig Schira . . 2009-03-09 . 2010-06-01.
  3. Web site: Craig Schira is on loan from Rogle . . December 11, 2020 . December 11, 2020 . Swedish.
  4. Web site: Craig Schira is moving to Mannheim . . December 31, 2020 . January 5, 2021 . German.
  5. Web site: Craig Schira leaves LHC . . March 15, 2023 . March 15, 2023 . Swedish.