Stéphane Fiset Explained

Played For:Quebec Nordiques
Colorado Avalanche
Los Angeles Kings
Montreal Canadiens
League:NHL
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:235
Ntl Team:CAN
Birth Date:June 17, 1970
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Draft:24th overall
Draft Year:1988
Draft Team:Quebec Nordiques
Career Start:1990
Career End:2002

Stéphane Fiset (born June 17, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League and now coaches Thetford Mines in the QCHL.

Playing career

Fiset was drafted in the 2nd round, 24th overall, in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques. He played 34 minutes in 6 games in his rookie season with Quebec, playing behind Ron Tugnutt, as well as a host of other goalies who got time that season. Fiset got his first NHL victory on October 29, 1991 against the Winnipeg Jets in Le Colisee de Quebec, by a score of 7–2. Over the next few years, Fiset bounced from the NHL to the Nordiques' minor league affiliates, slowly gaining more and more time in net for the Nordiques. After the 1992–93 season, Ron Hextall was traded to the New York Islanders, opening the door for Fiset to be the starter. Fiset did not disappoint. Within two years, Quebec finished first in the Eastern Conference, during the shortened 1994–95 lockout season.

When Quebec moved to Colorado, the future looked bright for Fiset and the Avalanche. This soon changed. He split time with Jocelyn Thibault in the beginning of the season. However, when Patrick Roy was traded to Colorado from Montreal, Fiset became his backup. Fiset was a part of the 1996 Stanley Cup winning team, but was traded to the Los Angeles Kings a few days later. He was the Kings' first choice starter until the 1999–2000 season, where he split time with Jamie Storr. In the 2000–01 season a knee injury inflicted in a collision with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim's Dan Bylsma kept him out of 25 games, followed by a second knee injury that kept him out for another 31 games, reducing Fiset to only 7 games played. After the Kings acquired Félix Potvin as insurance, he then effectively lost his starting position and although still hampered by his knees, was traded at the back end of the 2001–02 season to the Montreal Canadiens, but only played two games. With persistent health issues over the previous two years and loss of form Fiset announced his retirement on September 9, 2002.

International play

Fiset played in the 1989 Junior World Championships, as well as in 1990. In '89 Canada finished fourth, and Fiset was pulled in a 7–1 drubbing by the Soviet Union after giving up 6 goals. He followed this up in 1990 with a great showing. Team Canada had a gold medal finish and the IIHF Directorate Top Goalie Award. He played in 2 games (and won both of them) during Canada's 1994 gold medal victory.

Goalie masks

Fiset wore one of the most recognizable goalie masks in the history of the NHL. The design is an ice wall reminiscent of the Quebec Nordiques' igloo logo. The fleur-de-lis, the Nordiques alternate logo, was on each ear of the mask. When he played for the Los Angeles Kings, he also donned a memorable mask with the face of King Tut as it appeared on the Pharaoh's tomb.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP W L T MIN GA SV%GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1987–88Victoriaville TigresQMJHL40 15 9 4 2221 46 1 3.94 .8752 0 2 163 10 0 3.68
1988–89Victoriaville TigresQMJHL43 25 14 3 2401 138 1 3.45 12 9 2 711 33 0 2.78
1989–90Victoriaville TigresQMJHL24 14 6 4 1383 63 1 2.73 14 7 6 790 49 0 3.72
1989–90Quebec NordiquesNHL6 0 5 1 342 34 0 5.96 .829
1990–91Halifax CitadelsAHL36 10 15 8 1902 131 0 4.13 .874
1990–91Quebec NordiquesNHL3 0 2 1 186 12 0 3.87 .902
1991–92Halifax CitadelsAHL29 8 14 6 1675 110 3 3.94 .888
1991–92Quebec NordiquesNHL23 7 10 2 1133 71 1 3.76 .890
1992–93Halifax CitadelsAHL3 2 1 0 180 11 0 3.67 .892
1992–93Quebec NordiquesNHL37 18 9 4 1939 110 0 3.40 .8841 0 0 21 1 0 2.86 .923
1993–94Cornwall AcesAHL1 0 1 0 60 4 0 4.00 .826
1993–94Quebec NordiquesNHL50 20 25 4 2798 158 2 3.39 .890
1994–95Quebec NordiquesNHL32 17 10 3 1879 87 2 2.78 .9104 1 2 209 16 0 4.59 .878
1995–96Colorado AvalancheNHL37 22 6 7 2107 103 1 2.93 .8981 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 1.000
1996–97Los Angeles KingsNHL44 13 24 5 2482 132 4 3.19 .906
1997–98Los Angeles KingsNHL60 26 25 8 3497 158 2 2.71 .9092 0 2 93 7 0 4.52 .897
1998–99Los Angeles KingsNHL42 18 21 1 2403 104 3 2.60 .915
1999–00Los Angeles KingsNHL47 20 15 7 2592 119 1 2.75 .9014 0 3 200 10 0 3.00 .898
2000–01Lowell Lock MonstersAHL3 1 0 2 190 9 0 2.84 .909
2000–01Los Angeles KingsNHL7 3 0 1 318 19 0 3.58 .8531 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 1.000
2001–02Manchester MonarchsAHL23 7 7 6 1228 64 0 3.13 .902
2001–02Montreal CanadiensNHL2 0 1 0 109 7 0 3.85 .8831 0 0 38 3 0 4.72 .842
NHL totals390 164 153 44 21,785 1114 16 3.07 .89914 1 7 562 37 0 3.95 .888

International

YearTeamEventGPWLTMINGASOGAA
1989CanadaWJC63203291803.28
1990CanadaWJC75114201812.57
1994CanadaWC2200120301.50
Junior int'l totals138317493612.88
Senior int'l totals2200120301.50

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009–10, p.521, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada,