Greg Koehler

Last updated
Greg Koehler
Born (1975-02-27) February 27, 1975 (age 50)
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Carolina Hurricanes
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1998–2007

Greg Koehler (born February 27, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He holds the record for shortest career in the National Hockey League (NHL), a 4-second shift on December 29, 2000, and is the only other skater, besides the New York Islanders' Jeff Libby in 1998, whose NHL career spans just a single shift. [1] The rest of his career, which lasted until 2007, was spent in various minor leagues.

Contents

Biography

As a youth, Koehler played in the 1989 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Toronto Marlboros minor ice hockey team. [2] Ken Dryden devoted the second chapter of his 1989 book Home Game to Greg Koehler and his parents when he was the 13-year-old captain of the Marlboros. The chapter, entitled, Playing fields of Scarborough, focuses on the dreams and stresses of players and family in youth hockey. [3]

Koehler played collegiate hockey for the UMass Lowell River Hawks, winning the Hockey East Rookie of the Year award for the 1996-97 season. [4] Going undrafted, Koehler would become a journeyman player in various minor leagues before retiring in 2007. He did, however, get a brief taste of the NHL on December 29, 2000, playing a 4-second shift for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Columbus Blue Jackets that was ended by a penalty as teammate Ron Francis was hooked by Steve Heinze. [1]

As of 2025, Koehler resides in Toronto working as an HVAC technician and playing men’s league hockey. He has a son, Jaxon, and daughter, Lilly. [1] [5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1992–93 Niagara Falls Canucks GHL 40241943125—————
1993–94 North York Rangers MetJAHL 49274774179—————
1994–95North York RangersMetJAHL48284371126—————
1995–96 Brampton Capitals OPJHL 4933649787—————
1996–97 U Mass-Lowell HE 3716203649—————
1997–98 U Mass-LowellHE3320173762—————
1997–98 Beast of New Haven AHL 30002—————
1998–99 Beast of New HavenAHL2640429—————
1998–99 Florida Everblades ECHL 2913142762623512
1999–00 Cincinnati Cyclones IHL 74121325157803314
2000–01 Carolina Hurricanes NHL10000—————
2000–01 Cincinnati CyclonesIHL8035367112252246
2001–02 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL5618183658—————
2001–02 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL2284123451236
2002–03 Milwaukee Admirals AHL4316102651—————
2002–03 Manchester Monarchs AHL131131426—————
2003–04 Elmira Jackals UHL 3720264635—————
2003–04 Syracuse Crunch AHL20002—————
2003–04 San Antonio Rampage AHL121234—————
2003–04Manchester MonarchsAHL10022640002
2004–05 Elmira JackalsUHL4426325896—————
2004–05 Adirondack Frostbite UHL3116244068613410
2005–06 Milano Vipers ITA 82242—————
2005–06 Adirondack FrostbiteUHL3820234384672921
2006–07 Chicago Hounds UHL3811162739—————
2006–07 Bloomington Prairie Thunder UHL344131742—————
AHL totals18748499721291238
UHL totals2229713423136412851331
NHL totals10000—————

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Baugh, Peter. "The shortest career in NHL history? 1 shift. 4 seconds. 0 regrets". The Athletic . Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  3. ↑ Dryden, Ken; MacGregor, Roy (1989). Home Game. McClelland & Stewart Inc. p.  53. ISBN   0-7710-2871-7.
  4. ↑ hockeyeastonline (December 5, 2025). "Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Year Award Winners". hockeyeastonline.com. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  5. ↑ Lillhannus, Andreas (April 3, 2025). "Greg Koehler's NHL career lasted for only four seconds". The Hockey Beast. Retrieved December 5, 2025.