Oilers loan Sheldon Souray to Hershey

The Hershey Bears announced today that the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers have loaned defenseman Sheldon Souray to Hershey.

Souray, 34, scored 23 goals for Edmonton in 2008-09 before being limited to 37 games last season due to injury. A three-time NHL All-Star who won the NHL’s hardest shot contest at the 2004 All-Star Game, Souray scored 26 goals in 2006-07 while skating for the Montreal Canadiens. He broke the NHL single-season record for most power play goals scored by a defenseman, when he scored his 19th of the year on Apr. 5, 2007.

After being drafted by New Jersey in 1994, Souray played parts of four seasons with the AHL’s Albany River Rats, totaling 17 points (2-15-17) in 89 games. Souray also appeared in 20 playoff contests for Albany and contributed six points (2-4-6).

“The Bears had the opportunity to acquire an extremely talented player in Sheldon Souray” said Bears President/GM Doug Yingst. “We wanted to take advantage of that opportunity and make him a Hershey Bear.”