The National Hockey League (NHL) is home to some of the best ice hockey players in the world, who compete for the prestigious Stanley Cup every season. Among the many talented players in the league, two of them share a common surname: Fleury. Haydn Fleury and Marc-Andre Fleury are both Canadian professional ice hockey players who play in different positions and teams. But are they related to each other? Here is a look at the NHL players’ family ties and backgrounds.
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Who is Haydn Fleury?
Haydn Fleury is a 27-year-old defenseman who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was born on July 8, 1996, in Carlyle, Saskatchewan, Canada. He started his junior hockey career with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2011. He was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Hurricanes in 2017 and played for them until 2021, when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. He was then selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, but was traded again to the Tampa Bay Lightning before playing a game for them.
Haydn Fleury has represented Canada internationally at the junior level, winning two silver medals at the World Junior Championships in 2014 and 2015. He has also played for Team WHL at the CHL Canada/Russia Series and was named to the 2016 Memorial Cup All-Star Team. He has not yet won any major trophies or awards in his NHL career, but he is considered a solid and reliable defenseman who can contribute offensively and defensively.
Who is Marc-Andre Fleury?
Marc-Andre Fleury is a 38-year-old goaltender who currently plays for the Minnesota Wild. He was born on November 28, 1984, in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada. He started his junior hockey career with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2000. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (first overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, becoming only the third goalie to be chosen first overall in NHL history. He made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2003 and played for them until 2017, winning three Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017. He was then selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft and became their franchise player and fan favorite. He led them to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season and won his first Vezina Trophy as the best goaltender in the league in 2021. He was then traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021, but only played one season for them before being traded again to the Minnesota Wild in 2022.
Marc-Andre Fleury has represented Canada internationally at various levels, winning two gold medals at the World Junior Championships in 2003 and 2004, and one gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 2010. He has also played for Team Canada at the World Championships and the World Cup of Hockey. He is one of the most decorated and respected goaltenders in NHL history, holding several records and accolades. He is third on the all-time list of wins by a goalie with 544, behind only Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy. He is also fourth on the all-time list of shutouts by a goalie with 73, behind only Brodeur, Roy, and Terry Sawchuk. He has been named to five NHL All-Star Games and has won one William M. Jennings Trophy as part of the team that allowed the fewest goals against in a season.
Despite sharing a common surname and nationality, Haydn Fleury and Marc-Andre Fleury are not related to each other by blood or marriage. They have different parents and siblings and grew up in different provinces of Canada. They have never played on the same team or against each other in their NHL careers. They have met each other a few times at various events and occasions, but they are not close friends or relatives.
According to Sportsnet, Haydn Fleury said that he gets asked a lot if he is related to Marc-Andre Fleury, especially by fans and media members who are not familiar with him or his background. He said that he usually jokes that Marc-Andre is his uncle or cousin, but he clarifies that they are not actually related. He also said that he admires Marc-Andre as a player and a person, and that he looks up to him as a role model.
According to The Athletic, Marc-Andre Fleury said that he knows Haydn Fleury a little bit, but not very well. He said that he has seen him play a few times and that he thinks he is a good player. He also said that he does not mind being asked if he is related to Haydn Fleury, and that he finds it amusing and flattering.
Conclusion
Haydn Fleury and Marc-Andre Fleury are both Canadian professional ice hockey players who play in the NHL, but they are not related to each other by blood or marriage. They have different family backgrounds and hockey careers, and they have never played on the same team or against each other. They have met each other a few times and have mutual respect and admiration for each other, but they are not close friends or relatives. They share a common surname and nationality, but they are not part of the same Fleury family.
