Jeff Cowan (born September 27, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Cowan was a left winger and played 434 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2019, he was named the interim head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team.[1]

Jeff Cowan
Born (1976-09-27) September 27, 1976 (age 48)
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Calgary Flames
Atlanta Thrashers
Los Angeles Kings
Vancouver Canucks
Iserlohn Roosters
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1996–2012

Playing career

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After coming out of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League, Cowan was not drafted in the NHL Entry Draft; he was signed by the Calgary Flames on October 2, 1995.[2] He would play for the Flames' minor league affiliates (the Roanoke Express of the ECHL and the Saint John Flames of the AHL) for the next few years, before making Calgary's roster in the 1999–2000 NHL season. He would play for the Flames for two seasons before being traded with Kurtis Foster to the Atlanta Thrashers for Petr Buzek on December 18, 2001.[2]

In 2003–04, his third season with the Thrashers, Cowan was enjoying a career year, scoring 9 goals and 24 points through 58 games. However, he was once again traded on March 9, 2004, to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Kip Brennan.[2] He finished the season with a career-high 11 goals, 16 assists and 27 points.

On December 30, 2006, the Kings placed Cowan on waivers and was subsequently claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.[2] Towards the end of his first season with Vancouver, Cowan rose to brief prominence, scoring an unexpected 6 goals in 4 games.[3] During that span, a bra was thrown on the ice after his second goal of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, coining the moniker "Cowan the Bra-barian". The unique celebration was popularized among fans and in response, the entire Canucks team signed a bra that was auctioned to raise money for breast cancer research.[4]

As the Canucks entered the playoffs as the third seed, Cowan scored the first playoff goal of his NHL career in game one of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks. The following game, he scored the game-winning overtime goal to tie the series 1-1.[3] Vancouver was, however, defeated in five games by Anaheim.

Before the start of the 2007–08 season, Cowan was re-signed by the Canucks to a two-year, $1.45-million contract extension.[3] However, Cowan failed to build on the momentum he had drawn the previous campaign. He was injured early in the season, suffering a strained hip flexor on October 13, 2007, following a fight with the Oilers' Zack Stortini. Shortly after he returned, he was re-injured in a December 9 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, separating his shoulder on a hit from enforcer Georges Laraque.[3] Cowan finished the season with just 1 assist in 46 games. Shortly before the 2008–09 season, he was put on waivers and cleared. Instead of being assigned to the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, he was sent to the Peoria Rivermen as the Moose had already met their five NHL veteran maximum.[5] On April 30, 2009, Cowan was recalled from Peoria for the Canucks' 2009 playoff run.[6]

On August 20, 2009, Cowan signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.[7] While not featuring with the Sabres, Cowan was assigned and played the 2009–10 season, with the Portland Pirates of the AHL. He appeared in 62 games, recording a professional high of 18 goals.

As an unsigned free agent over the summer, on December 17, 2010, Cowan belatedly signed a professional try-out contract with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, later agreeing to a standard contract for the remainder of the 2010–11 season. On August 12, 2011, Cowan concluded his NHL career by signing his first contract abroad in Europe on a one-year contract to play with the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL.[8]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1993–94 Guelph Storm OHL 17 1 0 1 5
1994–95 Guelph Storm OHL 51 10 7 17 14 14 1 1 2 0
1995–96 Barrie Colts OHL 66 38 14 52 29 5 1 2 3 6
1996–97 Roanoke Express ECHL 47 21 13 34 42
1996–97 Saint John Flames AHL 22 5 5 10 8
1997–98 Saint John Flames AHL 69 15 13 28 23 13 4 1 5 14
1998–99 Saint John Flames AHL 71 7 12 19 117 4 0 1 1 10
1999–00 Saint John Flames AHL 47 15 10 25 77
1999–00 Calgary Flames NHL 13 4 1 5 16
2000–01 Calgary Flames NHL 51 9 4 13 74
2001–02 Calgary Flames NHL 19 1 0 1 40
2001–02 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 38 4 1 5 50
2002–03 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 66 3 5 8 115
2003–04 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 58 9 15 24 68
2003–04 Los Angeles Kings NHL 13 2 1 3 24
2005–06 Los Angeles Kings NHL 46 8 1 9 73
2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 21 0 2 2 32
2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 42 7 3 10 93 10 2 0 2 22
2007–08 Vancouver Canucks NHL 46 0 1 1 110
2008–09 Peoria Rivermen AHL 71 5 10 15 94 7 1 1 2 0
2009–10 Portland Pirates AHL 62 18 13 31 57 4 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Toronto Marlies AHL 47 8 8 16 23
2011–12 Iserlohn Roosters DEL 51 8 6 14 44 2 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 413 47 34 81 695 10 2 0 2 22

References

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  1. ^ "Sea Dogs Make Coaching Change". OurSports Central. December 2, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jeff Cowan - NHL Profile". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "Cowan's not cowed by tough road". The Province. September 18, 2008. Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  4. ^ "Vigneault again calling on Mr. Fix-it". The Province. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  5. ^ "Pettinger, Krog will encounter Cowan in Peoria". The Province. October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  6. ^ "Canucks recall Jeff Cowan". Vancouver Canucks. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on May 3, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
  7. ^ "Sabres sign Jeff Cowan". Buffalo Sabres. August 20, 2009. Retrieved August 20, 2009.
  8. ^ "Roosters sign Jeff Cowan". Iserlohn Roosters. August 12, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
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