5'6" Late-Rounder Becomes an NHL Legend

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Today’s edition includes the story of a 5’6” late-round pick who became one of the best players of his era.

Here's what else is coming:

• How a ball boy became an NFL head coach

• Dance lessons from a billionaire with a bowl-cut

• The high school dropout who became a baseball legend

Let’s dive in.

Before becoming an official NHL franchise, the Nashville Predators held a “name the team” contest. Which of these team names was NOT a finalist in the contest?

• A) Fury

• B) Attack

• C) Snow Leopards

• D) Ice Tigers

The answer is at the end of this email! Look for the ⭐ emoji.

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How a 5’6” Late-Round Pick Became a Pro Hockey Legend

There aren’t too many pro sports where the little guy succeeds.

But apparently, someone forgot to tell 5’6” Theroen Fleury.

Born in June of 1968 in the small town of Oxbow, Saskatchewan (population 1,300), Fleury grew up as one of three boys to parents who battled addiction (alcohol and drugs).

At five years old, Fleury turned to hockey to try and curtail his bullying behavior and anger.

Despite having less than optimal equipment to use, he got pretty good pretty fast.

After the family relocated to Manitoba, Theo met WHL scout and future Canadian Junior Hockey coach Graham James while attending the Andy Murray Hockey School.

Fleury and James reconnected a few years later when the diminutive right-winger started his WHL career with the Moose Jaw Warriors (soon to be the Winnipeg Warriors).

It was here that Fleury figured something out.

Due to his size, he had to blend a more physical and unpredictable style of play with his speed and finesse to succeed.

He notched back-to-back 100+ point seasons for the Warriors in his second and third years, but it still wasn’t enough to attract interest from any NHL teams.

In fact, nobody wanted Fleury when he was first eligible for the NHL Draft.

It wasn’t his lack of talent that scared teams off, but rather his lack of size.

No one thought he'd ever even sniff the NHL.

But ultimately, the 5'6" winger was chosen 166th overall in 1987 by the Calgary Flames.

Although there were still concerns about his diminutive stature, the Flames noticed the impact Fleury was having on their IHL affiliate, the Salt Lake Golden Eagles.

He notched 74 points (37 points, 37 assists) in just 40 games.

Upon being called up to the main roster, Fleury made his presence felt in a big way.

During his shortened rookie season, Fleury came up just short of recording a point per game, finishing with 34 in 36 games.

His impact on the team not only helped to propel the Flames to secure the Presidents' Trophy (best record in the league) but more importantly their first Stanley Cup title.

Throughout the Flames' 22-game run, Fleury tallied 5 goals and 6 assists, including the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the Finals.

During his eleven seasons in Calgary, Fleury played 791 games and recorded 830 points.

But it wasn’t just his ability to score that led the fans to appreciate his play.

It was how he played the game.

With a chip on his shoulder, Fleury played like he had to prove naysayers wrong every night, despite having helped the team to a championship banner.

Even during the 1995-96 season when he finished with a team-high 96 points (29 more than his next closest teammate), Fleury did it despite being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease during the preseason.

One season, the Flames used a billboard picture of Fleury flashing a toothless smile (he was missing his front two teeth) to help sell tickets, with the slogan, “We’ve got room for two more”.

As of 2023, it remains a mystery as to why Theo Fleury is not in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Of the four players from the 1987 draft class who recorded more than 1,000 points, only Theo Fleury – a Stanley Cup champion and seven-time All-Star – has not been inducted.

"It is important for me to share my experiences in order to create strength and hope for others," Fleury said.

"No matter how far down you go, it is never too late to come back."

⭐ Trivia Answer:

C) Snow Leopards – this particular “name the team” contest wasn’t exactly fair.

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Til next time,
Tyler

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Extra Innings…

• Tyson Bagent isn’t supposed to be here. The undrafted rookie from D2 Shepherd University shared some inspiring words after his first career NFL victory.

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• Fun find: I put together a list of my favorite sports books. Check them out and let me know if you have anything to add to my reading list.*

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