Sheldon Brookbank

**Sheldon Brookbank** (born on October 3, 1980 in Lanigan, Saskatchewan, Canada) is a Canadian former ice hockey player who played in the NHL for the Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks.

## Playing Career

Sheldon played three seasons with the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, before turning pro. He played one season with the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL, and then played two seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.

He was then signed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and played two seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks; however, he was not re-signed to the team and in August 2005, he signed a contract with the Predators.

In the 2005–06 season with the Predators' affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, Sheldon had 9 goals, 35 points, and 232 penalty minutes. The 2006–07 season saw him named as captain of the Admirals as well as his first call up to the NHL.

He appeared in 3 games with the Predators, and had 1 assist and 12 penalty minutes. Sheldon won the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League's Outstanding Defenceman and was an AHL First Team All-Star. While in the AHL that season, he led all defencemen in points at 53 points.

On July 2, 2007, Sheldon was signed by the Blue Jackets. He joined the Devils on October 2, 2007 after being waived by the Blue Jackets where he played in 44 games with the Devils in the 2007–08 season and had 8 assists as well.

On February 3, 2009, He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for the rights to David McIntyre. He finished the season with one goal and three assists.

The 2009–10 season saw Sheldon play 66 NHL games which included the Ducks' final 56 consecutive games. At the end of the season, he led all Ducks defensemen in plus/minus (+10) to place 2nd overall on the team.

On June 2, 2010, he re-signed to a two-year contract to remain with the Ducks. He played a career-high 80 games during the 2011–12 season, and scored a career-best 3 goals and 11 assists.

On July 1, 2012, he signed a two-year, $2.5 million free agent deal with the Chicago Blackhawks and went on to win the Stanley Cup with the team during the 2012–13 NHL season.

Sheldon was not re-signed by the Blackhawks at the end of his contract and became a free agent. Without a contract offer, he agreed to a training camp try-out with the Calgary Flames, but was released by the team on October 1, 2014.

Sheldon turned to Russia and signed a one-year contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League on October 31, 2014. The following season, he remained abroad, moving to the Finnish Liiga, in belatedly signing for Lukko Rauma on November 6, 2015. In 38 games with Lukko, he added 4 points.

As a free agent the following summer, Sheldon returned to North America, signing a professional try-out with defending Calder Cup champions, the Cleveland Monsters on October 13, 2016

In the 2016–17 season (in adding depth cover to the Monsters' blueline), he registered one assist in six games before he was released at the conclusion of his trial period on December 12, 2016.

## Coaching Career

On June 14, 2017, it was announced that Sheldon had been hired as the assistant coach of the Rockford Ice Hogs, the minor league affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks.

On January 4, 2019, he was added as an assistant coach to the Blackhawks' coaching staff.

## Personal Life

Sheldon is the younger brother of Wade Brookbank, who played in the NHL for the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes; he is currently a pro scout for the Chicago Blackhawks.

His father, Murray was an assistant coach with the Humboldt Broncos (in 2004-05 and 2011-12).

His cousin, Geoff Sanderson played in the NHL for the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and the Edmonton Oilers.

Sheldon and his wife, Lene have two children.