Montreal Canadien's Alex Tanguay and His Hockey Career

Alex Tanguay has been a big name in NHL hockey for over ten seasons. Alex Tanguay was born in Sainte-Justine, Quebec in Canada on November 21, 1979, making him twenty-nine years old. He is 6 feet and 1 inch tall and weighs 191 pounds and plays left wing. Alex Tanguay's road to a spot on an NHL team began in 1996 in the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League). The QMJHL is one of three leagues that makes up the CHL (Canadian Hockey League), which is the most competitive junior hockey league in the country. The QMJHL has produced many pro hockey players such as, Eric Belanger, Steve Begin, Patrice Bergeron, and more.

During the 1996-1997 season, Alex Tanguay played with the Halifax Mooseheads. In 1997, Tanguay was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie team. Alex Tanguay played the following, 1997-1998, season with the Halifax Mooseheads and the majority of the 1998-1999 season with them as well. Alex Tanguay was drafted in 1998 by the Colorado Avalanche, 12th overall, but first-round pick for the Avalanche. Alex Tanguay finished out the rest of the 1998-1999 season with the Hershey Bears in the AHL (American Hockey League).

Alex Tanguay didn't even spend an entire season in the AHL before being called up to the NHL. In the 1999-2000 season, Alex Tanguay played with the Colorado Avalanche and played almost every game in the regular season. The Colorado Avalanche was Alex Tanguay's team for many seasons. Tanguay remained with the Colorado Avalanche for the 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2002-2003, 2003-2004 seasons. In Tanguay's second season with the Avalanche (2000-2001), Colorado won the Stanley Cup. During the NHL Lockout in 2004-2005, Alex Tanguay headed to Switzerland to play with the HC Lugano in the NLA. The NLA (National League A) is the professional hockey league of Switzerland. When the lockout was over, Alex Tanguay returned to the Colorado Avalanche for one more season (2005-2006).

For the 2006-2007 season, Alex Tanguay was traded by the Avalanche to the Calgary Flames. The Flames seemed to be a good team for him, as he scored 81 points in his first season with them, his career high. Tanguay remained with the Calgary Flames for the 2007-2008 season, although he did not do as well when it came to points. Although Alex Tanguay had a no-trade clause in his contract with the Calgary Flames, he waived it for the 2008-2009 season and was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Alex Tanguay was injured to his shoulder in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2008, but remains with the Montreal Canadiens.

ref-www.nhl.com