Cornwall Royal Grad end season 18 in professional hockey

John began his career in the Ontario Hockey League in 1988-89 with the Cornwall Royals. He played four seasons with the Royals and in his second season with the club he won the Max Kaminsky Trophy for the OHL’s top defenseman. That season he scored 38 goals and 97 points in 64 games.

Slaney was selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 1990 NHL draft, ninth overall. Fresh off his 18th season in professional hockey, John played a total of 268 NHL games with the Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers.

However, a good part of John Slaney’s North American career was spent in the AHL. He played for five different teams in the league: Baltimore Skipjacks, Portland Pirates, Cornwall Aces, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Philadelphia Phantoms. From 2000-01 to 2006-07, he spent most of his time with the Phantoms. In his first two seasons with the Phantoms, he received the Eddie Shore Award for Best Defender in the AHL.

John currently has his name in the American Hockey League record book in three different places. He holds the record for most goals by a defenseman in a single season with 30. He also holds the record for most goals by a defenseman in a career with 166. Naturally, Slaney also holds the record for most points by a defenseman in a career. with 519.

John has spent the last three seasons in Germany in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). His first season was spent with the Colonia Sharks and the last two were spent in Frankfurt with the Lions. Last season, the Lions finished second in the 15-team league on the 56-game schedule. John contributed 24 points in 44 games.

John is teammates with another Max Kaminsky Trophy winner, Sean Blanchard. We featured Sean in a recent post.