Brent Sopel

Brent Sopel

Brent Sopel

Brent Sopel was part of the 1995 NHL entry draft and was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 144th overall. Sopel spent his first 2 years of Junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League playing a limited number of games during both seasons. The last three years of Brent Sopel's hockey career was spent with the Swift Current Broncos also in the WHL.

To start the 1997-1998 season, 2 years after being drafted, Sopel graduated from junior hockey and began his professional hockey career in the American Hockey League playing with the Canucks affiliate team, the Syracuse Crunch.

For the 2000-2001 season Brent Sopel was called up to the Canucks and managed to play in 52 games for the team. It was his rookie season in the National Hockey League. The next three seasons Brent Sopel spent playing with the Canucks until being traded to the New York Islanders. During the 2004-2005 NHL lockout Brent Sopel decided to take the year off from professional hockey.

After the lockout Brent Sopel bounced around the league playing for the Islanders, Kings and Canucks until finally he was offered a 3-year contract by the Chicago Blackhawks. Brent was actually invited to Detroit Red Wings training camp with no contract for the 2007-2008 season when he was offered a 1-year $1.5 million dollar contract by Chicago. Sopel chose the Chicago contract over Detroit's 1-year $500,000 base salary contract.

In early 2008 Sopel signed a 3-year $7 million dollar contract extension with the Blackhawks which is good through the 2010-2011 season. After winning his first Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, Brent Sopel was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers along with along with Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, and Akim Aliu, for the 24th (Kevin Hayes) and 54th overall picks (Justin Holl) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb and Jeremy Morin.

Later on in the 2010-2011 season Brent Sopel was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with Nigel Dawes for Ben Maxwell and a 4th round draft pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Sopel is a wise player and knows what to do in order to succeed professionally as a hockey player. Brent Sopel's strengths include shot blocking. You will usually see Sopel down on one knee deflecting a shot harmlessly to a corner. Because of Sopels shot blocking abilities he is a great asset when killing penalties.

Brent Sopel is a solid defnder who can clear the front of the net and make quick plays to teammates. Although not the fastest skater Sopel is best when he plays well positionally and uses his stick to poke pucks away.

With a Stanley Cup under his belt Brent is a gem to have in any locker room. His leadership and calm under pressure qualities are beyond valuable.

In June 2010, Brent Sopel brought the Stanley Cup to the Gay Pride Parade in honor of General Manager Brian Burke's son, Brendan Burke. Sopel marched in the parade in honor of Brendan Burke and Brian Burke's show of tolerance and familial support. Brent Sopel was their as a team representative and his own day with the cup came later.

Brent Sopel's wife and Brent himself have their own twitter accounts where they both give updates to the public about their life and life projects.

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