Sam Girard

Samuel Girard (born May 12, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Girard was born on May 12, 1998, to family day care educator Guylaine and forklift driver Tony Girard.

He was raised in Roberval, Quebec, Canada alongside siblings Jérémy, Christopher, and Jessica.

Girard is also the nephew of Roberval mayor Guy Larouche and his grandfather Gaston Girard is a hockey trainer.

Both Sam and his Brother Jérémy played midget hockey growing up; however, the family could not afford for both boys to play AAA and Jérémy gave it up.

Girard began playing ice hockey when he was four years old.

While attending Wilbrod-Dufour Pavilion, he began training with Mathieu Gravel in order to increase his muscular mass and stamina.

Girard played in the 2011 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Lac-Saint-Jean.

While playing AA Bantam hockey for the Lac-St-Jean Espoirs, Girard was chosen to participate at the AllState Canadian All-Star Hockey Camp.

After graduating to the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), Girard drew interest while playing with the Jonquière Élites.

After the 2013–14 season, he earned QMAAA First All-Star Team and Top Defenceman honours.

Leading up to the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, he was considered a top draft prospect for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).

Girard was drafted third overall by the Shawinigan Cataractes in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft, making him the first player from Jonquière Elites to be drafted that high since Jean Imbeau in 1989.

Girard moved in with power skating coach Julie Robitaille during his rookie season and trained with Mathieu Bellemare, and Bruno-Carl Denis to gain physical strength.

In his first season with the Cataractes, Girard recorded his first career QMJHL goal on November 15, 2014, in overtime to beat the Rouyn-Noranda 5–4.

By the conclusion of his rookie season with the Cataractes, Girard recorded 43 points in 64 games which earned him the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He was also nominated for the Rookie of the Year Award alongside Dmytro Timashov and selected for the All-Rookie Team.

In the following season, Girard continued his scoring success and recorded a career high 74 points in 64 games.

He started his sophomore season by recording seven points in two games.

Later in October, Girard was selected to compete in the CHL Canada/Russia Series for Team QMJHL.

He has also competed with Canada men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2015 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he won a gold medal.

Although he was drafted at 155lb, he bulked up to 164lbs by 2015.

Robitaille also trained Girard at her power skating school, where he would later coach younger players as well.

On November 2, 2015, Girard was named the Third Star of the Week after recording a goal and five assists in three games.

He was eventually awarded the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the QMJHL Defenseman of the Year, the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player, and CHL Sportsman of the Year.

After playing major junior hockey with the Shawinigan Cataractes, Girard was drafted 47th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Leading up to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Girard was ranked 38th overall for North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.

Girard was selected by the Nashville Predators in the second round, 47th overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

He was invited to the Predators 2016 training camp and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on September 29, 2016.

However, he was returned to the QMJHL to complete his final season of junior hockey.

In his final season, Girard led the Shawinigan Cataractes in assists and tied for points over 59 regular season games.

He was again selected to compete with Team QMJHL at the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series and named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team.

After his season ended, Girard was reassigned to the Predators American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, for the conclusion of the 2016–17 season.

He briefly played for the Predators until he was traded to the Avalanche in 2017.

Girard won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.

As a member of the Colorado Avalanche, Girard improved his on-ice success recording career-high numbers in his first three seasons.

He recorded his first career AHL goal on April 14, 2017, in a 6–2 win over the Rockford IceHogs.

Girard made his NHL debut during the Predators 2017–18 season home opener on October 10, 2017 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

He registered a –1 rating and recorded his first point with an assist on a goal by Filip Forsberg.

During the 2019–20 season, Girard joined fellow defensemen Cale Makar in the 30 points club, making the Avalanche the first team with multiple defensemen under the age of 22 who have at least 30 points since 1993–94.