Jordan Staal (born September 10, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing and an alternate captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is regarded as one of the NHL's premier penalty-killers, both for his strong defensive skills, along with his scoring touch that makes him a threat for shorthanded goals. Staal has 3 brothers, all of whom play professional hockey. Jordan, Jared, Eric (his teammate and team captain), and Marc all play in the NHL/AHL.
Staal grew up playing minor hockey for the Thunder Bay Kings AAA organization. After his minor midget year, Staal was selected in the 1st round (2nd overall) by the Peterborough Petes. He was the second Staal after older brother Eric was drafted second overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. After a two-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career, in which he won a J. Ross Robertson Cup and appeared in the 2006 Memorial Cup with the Peterborough Petes, Staal was drafted second overall by the Penguins in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He made the immediate jump from junior to the NHL after being drafted and set several NHL records in his rookie season, including youngest player to score on a penalty shot, to score two shorthanded goals in one game, to score a hat trick, and the most shorthanded goals by a rookie in one season. Staal was also a Calder Memorial Trophy nominee and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Among his former Penguins teammates, Staal was known as "Gronk". The nickname, which is a reference to the Marvel comic book supervillain, was given to him by former Penguins teammate Colby Armstrong, because of his strong and large on-ice presence.
Staal is one of four brothers playing professional hockey in North America, three of whom are in the NHL, including Eric who also plays for (and captains) the Hurricanes, and Marc of the New York Rangers. The youngest brother Jared signed with the Carolina Hurricanes on May 29, 2010, but has yet to actually play an NHL game and is now playing for the Providence Bruins of the AHL.
Read more about Jordan Staal: International Play, Staal Family, Awards, Records, Career Statistics
Famous quotes containing the word jordan:
“Let me just say, at once: I am not now nor have I ever been a white man. And, leaving aside the joys of unearned privilege, this leaves me feeling pretty good ...”
—June Jordan (b. 1936)