Eric Staal

Biography

Eric Staal became the 23^rd member of the Triple Gold Club when he helped Canada win Olympic gold on home ice at Vancouver 2010, contributing one goal and five assists. He had previously won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes and gold at the IIHF World Championship in 2007.

Staal is no stranger to the Team Canada jersey, wearing it for the first time as a 17-year-old during the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Staal was also a member of Canada’s under-18 team in 2002 and notched seven points in eight games at the Under-18 World Junior Championship.

Staal went on to appear in three IIHF World Championships, taking home gold in 2007 and silver in 2008. He served as Team Canada’s captain at the worlds in 2013. Nine years after his last appearance, he was called back to service with the national team for Beijing 2022 and again given the captaincy. During his second Olympic Games, Staal recorded one goal and three assists and led the team’s forwards in ice time.

Staal played junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes and was a CHL First Team All-Star in 2003. He was selected second overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes and played for 12 seasons with the franchise, serving as their captain for seven of them. He went on to play with the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild, with stops in Montreal and Buffalo in 2021. In 2022, he played in the AHL for the first time in 17 years, competing in four games with Minnesota’s affiliate, the Iowa Wild, while preparing for the Olympics. In his 17-year NHL career, Staal played 1293 games, scoring 441 goals and 1034 points. He also has 59 points in 83 playoff games.

Staal was inducted to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2012 with his teammates from the 2010 Olympic hockey team.

A Little More About Eric

Outside Interests: Enjoys fishing… Odds and Ends: Brother Jordan is captain of the Carolina Hurricanes; brother Marc plays for the Detroit Red Wings; brother Jared previously played professionally…