Vienna Capitals sign ex-NHL striker James Sheppard

The Vienna Capitals occupy the vacant center-1 position with a top man. James Sheppard, 33-year-old Canadian with 431 NHL games on of the business card, is now strengthening Vienna Offensive. The experienced striker last played in the German Ice Hockey League and recorded just under one point per game in the Kölner Haie jersey last season.

First round draft from Minnesota
188cm tall, 101kg heavy. With James Sheppard, the spusu Vienna Capitals are not only signing an important name, but also a powerful striker with proven scoring qualities.

Born in 1988 in Lower Sackwille, north-east Canada, Sheppard was ninth in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft in 2006 picked from Minnesota. A year later, the then 19-year-old made his debut for Wild in the National Hockey League. In addition to Minnesota, Sheppard was also on the ice for the San Jose Sharks and the New York Rangers 431 times in the world’s strongest ice hockey league, scoring 26 goals (74 assists).

Audience favorite in Berlin
In 2015 the decision was made the Canadian then moved to Europe. Sheppard played two seasons in the Swiss NLA for the Kloten Flyers / EHC Kloten. From then on, the beefy forward convinced in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL). In his three years in the service of the Eisbären Berlin, Sheppard was always one of the five best scorers within the team (122 points in 175 games) and became a crowd favorite. The 33-year-old then successfully spent the past season in Cologne, where Sheppard recorded almost one point per game (32 points in 36 games). “With James we are getting a powerful striker who can be relied on in all game situations. James is a role model on and off the ice because of his attitude and mentality. For him only two points count: The team and to leave the ice as a winner, “says Dave Barr, head coach of spusu Vienna Capitals, outlining the qualities of his newcomer.

Sheppard receives number “15”
Sheppard, who despite Several offers from the DEL decided in favor of Vienna, has two points of contact with the spusu Vienna Capitals. In the 2019/2020 season, Serge Aubin, Vienna’s master maker from 2017, was his trainer with the polar bears. That same season, Sheppard and Berlin lost a pre-season test match in Vienna against the Caps 3: 8. The newcomer, in future with the number “15” on his back, is expected at the weekend in the federal capital and should make his debut as part of the Caps home game doubles (15.10. Vs. Pustertal, 17.10. Vs. Bratislava).

Profile of James Sheppard
Position: Striker
Date of birth: 04/25/1988
Age: 33 years
Size: 188cm | Weight: 101kg
Shot hand: left
Nationality: Canada

Squad of spusu Vienna Capitals for the 2021/2022 season
Goal (2): David Kickert (27, Austria), Bernhard Starkbaum (35, Austria)
Defensive (10): Charlie Dodero (28, USA), Dominic Hackl (24, Austria), Phil Lakos (40, Austria), Mario Fischer (32, Austria), Anton Karlsson (SWE, 28), Timo Pallierer (19, Austria), Lukas Piff (20 , Austria), Bernhard Posch (20, Austria), Matt Prapavessis (30, CAN), Alex Wall (30, CAN)
Offensive (14): Patrick Antal (20, Austria), Fabio Artner (22, Austria), Sascha Bauer (26, Austria), Niki Hartl (29, Austria), Christof Kromp ( 23, Austria), Joel Lowry (29, CAN), Nicolai Meyer (29, DEN), Luke Moncada (21, CAN), Matt Neal (29, CAN), Valentin Ploner (21, Austria), Armin Preiser (20, Ö), James Sheppard (33, CAN), Brody Sutter (29, CAN), Corey Tropp (31, USA)

Media info Vienna Capitals

08.10.2021