Tobias Stephan

Tobias Stephan (born 21 January 1984) is a Swiss former professional ice hockey goaltender who predominately played in the Swiss National League (NL). He also played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Dallas Stars.

Tobias Stephan
Born (1984-01-21) 21 January 1984
Zürich, Switzerland
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Kloten Flyers
Dallas Stars
Genève-Servette HC
EV Zug
Lausanne HC
National team  Switzerland
NHL Draft 34th Overall, 2002
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2001–2023

Playing career

Stephan was born in Zürich, Switzerland. As a youth, he played in the 1997 and 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a team from Zürich.[1]

In 2001, he was named the best goaltender at U18 World Junior Championships. Stephan first played for EHC Chur and then for the Kloten Flyers in Switzerland. In 2002, he was named the best rookie in the Swiss Hockey League.

Stephan was drafted 34th overall in the second round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, and is the third highest Swiss drafted in history. He is the fourth Swiss goalie who has been drafted by an NHL team after Pauli Jaks, David Aebischer and Martin Gerber.

Stephan made his first career NHL start on 13 October 2007 against the Chicago Blackhawks, since both of the Stars' goaltenders — Marty Turco and Mike Smith — were injured. Until the Blackhawks tied the game with two seconds remaining in regulation, Stephan had saved all 39 shots and was looking forward to a shutout in his first game. However, the Blackhawks scored again on their first shot in overtime and won the game 2–1. He would go back to the AHL after the game . Before the 08/09 season started, he would learn that he will be backing up Marty Turco. His first win was on 29 October against the Minnesota Wild — the Stars won 4–2. Stephan left the Stars on 31 July 2009 to sign for Genève-Servette in Switzerland.

At the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, Stephan joined Lausanne HC on a three-year deal worth CHF 3 million.

On 6 February 2023, during his fourth year with Lausanne HC, Stephan announced he would retire from professional hockey at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, following 22 professional seasons.[2]

References
  1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-02-11.
  2. "Tobias Stephan will hang up his skates at the end of the season" (in German). Lausanne HC. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
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