Steven Jerome Seftel (born May 14, 1968) is a Canadian retired

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

forward Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward. Forward may also refer to: People * Forward (surname) Sports * Forward (association football) * Forward (basketball), including: ** Point forward ** Power forward (basketball) ** Sm ...

and author. He played four games in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

with the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL) ...

during the 1990–91 season. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1988 to 1992, was spent in the minor leagues. He was selected in the second round, 40th overall by the Capitals in the

1986 NHL Entry Draft The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was the 24th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 21, 1986, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League (NHL) teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the revers ...

. After his playing career be began writing, and his book titled "''Shattered Ice''" was published in 2019.

Early life and education

Seftel was born in

Kitchener, Ontario ) , image_flag = Flag of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , image_seal = Seal of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_shield=Coat of arms of Kitchener, Canada.svg , image_blank_emblem = Logo of Kitchener, Ontario.svg , blank_emblem_type = ...

in 1968. His parents were Robert (Bob) Seftel of Kitchener, Ontario and Joan Miller of

Waterloo, Ontario Waterloo is a city in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is one of three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (formerly Waterloo County, Ontario, Waterloo County). Waterloo is situated about west-southwest of Toronto. Due to the c ...

. He has a brother named Bradley. He played locally for the Kitchener Bauer Krauts and

Kitchener Greenshirts The Kitchener Greenshirts name has been used by five separate ice hockey teams playing in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. These include one 'Senior A' level hockey team, two 'Junior A' level teams, and two 'Junior B' level teams. The name has also b ...

of the

Ontario Minor Hockey Association The Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) is a minor ice hockey governing body in Ontario. The OMHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. History The OMHA was founded on November 30, 1940, after a merger of the Ontari ...

. Seftel was drafted 31st overall by the

Kingston Canadians The Kingston Canadians were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League from 1973 to 1988. The team played home games at the Kingston Memorial Centre in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. History The Kingston Canadians arrival in the Ontario ...

of the

Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overag ...

in the 1985 OHL Priority Selection. He attended St. Jerome's Catholic High School in Kitchener. Seftel was drafted 40th overall by the Washington Capitals in the

Playing career

Seftel starred as a Midget player for two seasons with the hometown

from 1983 to 1985, playing in 130 games, scoring 171 points (94 goals and 77 assists). He began the 1985-86 season with the

of the

. He played for the Canadians from 1985 to 1988, playing in 162 games, scoring 166 points (64 goals and 102 assists). Perhaps the best rookie at the 1985 Canadians training camp, his OHL career was delayed due to a broken ankle before the regular season started. Sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee versus the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in November 1986 and missed 12 games. Led the Canadians in scoring in his final season of junior hockey. After completing his junior hockey career in the

, he finished the 1987-88 campaign with the

Binghamton Whalers The Binghamton Whalers were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, playing in Binghamton, New York, USA, at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. History The Whalers were generally a successful team, making the playoffs seven ti ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...

(AHL) and played 3 games, scoring no points. Seftel began the 1988-89 season with the

Baltimore Skipjacks The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The Skipjacks originated in 1979, and played as the Baltimore Clippers in the Eastern Hockey League for two seasons. The team was ...

of the

, where he had 27 points (12G-15A) in 58 games. He scored his first professional goal with the

on October 15, 1988 versus the

Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a town located 14 miles east of the state capital of Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the c ...

at the

Hersheypark Arena Hersheypark Arena (originally Hershey Sports Arena) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, managed by Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company. The arena has a seating capacity, for hockey, of 7,286 people and in excess ...

, He spent the 1989-90 season with the Skipjacks, picking up 29 points (10G-19A) in 74 games played. He chipped in with 7 points (4G-3A) in 12 playoff games with Baltimore. The following year Seftel spent most of the 1990-91 season with Baltimore, picking up 44 points (22G-22A) in 66 games. He went pointless in 6 playoff games with the Skipjacks. He made his

debut on January 22, 1991 in a road game versus the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

at the

Joe Louis Arena Joe Louis Arena was an arena in Downtown Detroit. Completed in 1979 at a cost of US$57 million as a replacement for Olympia Stadium, it sat adjacent to TCF Center, Cobo Center on the bank of the Detroit River and was accessible by the Joe Lou ...

. The Capitals winning the game 2-1 in overtime. The game featured head coaches and brothers

Bryan Murray (ice hockey) Bryan Clarence Murray (December 5, 1942 – August 12, 2017) was a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and coach. He served as general manager of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2007 to 2016. He had previo ...

and

Terry Murray Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence (given name), Terence or Terrier (masculine). People Male * Terry Albrit ...

, Seftel suited up during the Super Series#Super Series 1991, for the

versus

HC Dynamo Moscow HC Dynamo Moscow () is a Russian professional ice hockey club based in Moscow. It is a member of the Tarasov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League. Dynamo has won the Gagarin Cup twice, in 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, and have won th ...

in a 3-2 Washington victory. He assisted on the game-winning goal by winger Jeff Greenlaw. Seftel started the 1991-92 season on the injured reserve list after off-season

Anterior cruciate ligament The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of a pair of cruciate ligaments (the other being the posterior cruciate ligament) in the human knee. The two ligaments are also called "cruciform" ligaments, as they are arranged in a crossed formation ...

(ACL) surgery on his left knee. After nine months of extensive rehabilitation, he returned to game play and earned 8 points (2G-6A) in 18 games played with Baltimore. March 17, 1992 in an

match versus the

Cape Breton Oilers The Cape Breton Oilers were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team was the top minor league affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Oilers' organization relocated the team from Hali ...

, Seftel sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee which ended his season. He started the 1992-93 season again with the Skipjacks and head coach

Barry Trotz Barry Trotz (born July 15, 1962) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach who most recently was head coach of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is also the former head coach of the Nashville Predators and the Washi ...

. Knee injuries limited his mobility over the next four months and he chose to retire from hockey. After retiring from hockey Seftel's right anterior cruciate ligament was surgically repaired in

Kingston, Ontario Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between Toro ...

at Hotel Dieu Hospital.

Writing

Seftel wrote his self-published memoir "''Shattered Ice"'' long after his playing career ended. ''Shattered Ice'', explores his past, weaving players, coaches, friends, places, and struggles. The book also describes his internal struggles with mental health and coming to terms with his illness. The former NHLer is now managing his health in a new way and has become an advocate for increasing awareness and reducing stigma about mental health and suicide. In 2023 Seftel wrote his second book titled Bobby Backchex and the Giant Jellyfish.

Bibliography

Non-fiction

*Seftel Steve (2023)."Bobby Backchex & the Giant Jellyfish", Art of Hockey *Seftel Steve (2019). ''Shattered Ice'', Art of Hockey

Personal life

Seftel and his wife Lisa have two children.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Seftel, Steve 1968 births Living people Baltimore Skipjacks players Binghamton Whalers players Canadian ice hockey left wingers Ice hockey people from Kitchener, Ontario Kingston Canadians players Kitchener Greenshirts players Washington Capitals draft picks Washington Capitals players