Shayne Corson

Shayne Paul Corson (born August 13, 1966) is a retired Canadian professional hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars. During his NHL career, Corson battled both ulcerative colitis and, as detailed in the October 21, 2001, issue of Sports Illustrated, panic attacks. Corson last played in the 2003–04 NHL season. Despite some speculation to the contrary, Corson did not return to the NHL after the 2004–05 lockout and is now retired.

Background and early career

Corson was born in Midland, Ontario, but grew up in Barrie, Ontario. He played in the OHL for the Brantford Alexanders (1983–84) and Hamilton Steelhawks (1984–86). The Montreal Canadiens drafted him in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He played briefly with the Canadiens in the 1985–86 season, and joined the team full-time the following year.

NHL playing career

Corson was a regular contributor for the Canadiens from 1986 until 1992, when he was traded to the Oilers in exchange for Vincent Damphousse. He played with Edmonton for three full seasons, before leaving the team for the Blues. His time in Edmonton was marred by some controversy, as head coach George Burnett chose him as the team's captain during the 1994–95 season (Jan.-Mar.1995). Burnett would later strip Corson of the captaincy. He was signed by the Blues as a free agent in 1995, and the Oilers received the rights to Curtis Joseph as compensation. During the 1996–97 season, the Blues traded him back to Montreal, where he played until 2000. The Leafs then signed him as a free agent, and he spent three full seasons in Toronto before "resigning" in the middle of the post-season partly because of his ulcerative colitis.