# Colin Shields

Colin Shields MBE (born 27 January 1980) is a former Scottish professional ice hockey forward who played most of his career in the United Kingdom's Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). He is the EIHL's all-time leading point scorer.

## Playing career
### Amateur

Shields started his career in North America and played for Cleveland Jr. Barons in the NAHL for two seasons, 1998–2000. Shields was a sixth-round pick for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. Shields opted to attend and play for the University of Maine for three seasons, finishing as the top scorer for the 2003–04 season.

### Professional

For the 2004–05 season Shields was split between the San Diego Gulls, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies and Greenville Grrrowl of the ECHL, tallying 35 points in 62 games. For 2005–06, Shields moved back to his native United Kingdom for a spell with the Belfast Giants of the EIHL, where he played alongside former NHL star Theoren Fleury. 2006–07 saw a return to the ECHL, with 43 points in 57 games for the Fresno Falcons and Idaho Steelheads. Shields had a career year in 2007–08 for the Newcastle Vipers of the EIHL, scoring 73 points in 57 games. This led to a two-year contract with the Belfast Giants. Shields served as captain of the Giants, replacing George Awada, who was ruled out with injury.
On 7 April 2011, it was announced that Shields had left the Giants to sign for Morzine-Avoriaz in France.
On 22 March 2012, it was announced that Shields had signed to play the 2012–13 season for the Sheffield Steelers in the EIHL.

## Retirement and life after hockey

He announced his retirement effective from the end of the 2018–19 season on 26 March 2019.
In November 2021, Shields was inducted into the Ice Hockey UK Hall of Fame.
Ahead of the 2022-23 Elite League season, Shields was announced as a new addition to the Premier Sports broadcast team - alongside Aaron Murphy, Paul Adey and Angela Taylor.
Shields was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to ice hockey.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1997–98 | Kitchener Dutchmen | MWJHL | | | | | |
| 1998–99 | Cleveland Jr. Barons | NAHL | 55 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–2000 | Cleveland Jr. Barons | NAHL | 55 | 46 | 49 | 95 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2001–02 | University of Maine | HE | 42 | 29 | 17 | 46 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | University of Maine | HE | 34 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | University of Maine | HE | 44 | 18 | 26 | 44 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | San Diego Gulls | ECHL | 34 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies | ECHL | 19 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Greenville Grrrowl | ECHL | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 27 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 22 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 2006–07 | Fresno Falcons | ECHL | 24 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Idaho Steelheads | ECHL | 33 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | Newcastle Vipers | EIHL | 47 | 30 | 31 | 61 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 2008–09 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 54 | 29 | 41 | 70 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 56 | 34 | 63 | 97 | 65 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010–11 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 54 | 18 | 48 | 66 | 34 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | Pingouins de Morzine–Avoriaz | FRA | 26 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 2012–13 | Sheffield Steelers | EIHL | 22 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 20 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013–14 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 52 | 15 | 35 | 50 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 51 | 13 | 26 | 39 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 41 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 52 | 26 | 23 | 49 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 51 | 27 | 28 | 55 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | Belfast Giants | EIHL | 32 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| ECHL totals | ECHL totals | ECHL totals | 119 | 25 | 53 | 78 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
| EIHL totals | EIHL totals | EIHL totals | 559 | 234 | 369 | 603 | 244 | 42 | 13 | 27 | 40 | 10 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1997 | Great Britain | WJC C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 1998 | Great Britain | WJC C | | | | | |
| 2000 | Great Britain | WJC C | 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| 2001 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| 2002 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 2003 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 2004 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2005 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 2006 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
| 2009 | Great Britain | OGQ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2009 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 14 |
| 2010 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2011 | Great Britain | WC D1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | Great Britain | WC D1A | 5 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | Great Britain | OGQ | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| 2013 | Great Britain | WC D1A | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2014 | Great Britain | WC D1B | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 2015 | Great Britain | WC D1B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | Great Britain | OGQ | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | Great Britain | WC D1B | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | Great Britain | WC D1B | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| 2018 | Great Britain | WC D1A | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | Great Britain | WC | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 8 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 12 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 95 | 42 | 40 | 82 | 66 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| All-Hockey East Rookie Team | 2001–02 |
| All-Hockey East Second Team | 2003–04 |
| AHCA East Second-Team All-American | 2003–04 |
| Hockey East All-Tournament Team | 2004 |