BIOGRAPHY

Shawn Horcoff (born 17 September, 1978 in Trail, British Columbia) is a professional ice hockey center and alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, 99th overall, by the Oilers, the team with which he has spent his entire career.
Horcoff played his first college season with Michigan State University, in the CCHA, in 1996. After his sophomore year in 1997–98, he was drafted by the Oilers in the 1998 Draft. The following season, 1998–99, Horcoff was named to the CCHA All-Academic Team.

The 1999–00 season was to be Horcoff’s final year with Michigan State, and he posted career high totals in goals, assists and points. Along with a second CCHA All-Academic Team spot, Horcoff received a number of major awards, including CCHA Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player in college hockey.

After leaving university, Horcoff failed to make the 2000–01 Edmonton Oilers out of training camp, and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Horcoff excelled in Hamilton, leading the team in scoring as well as sitting sixth overall in AHL scoring. On December 4, 2000, the Oilers recalled Horcoff, and on December 13, Horcoff scored his first NHL goal against the Dallas Stars.
Horcoff played his 100th NHL game in 2001–02, and spent the majority of the season with the Oilers. The next season Horcoff appeared in the 2003 NHL YoungStars Game. In the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs, Horcoff led the Oilers in goals. In 2003–04, Horcoff set career highs in goals, assists and points, and was named the Oilers Outstanding Defensive Forward.

During the NHL lockout, Horcoff represented Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championships. After the lockout Horcoff returned to the NHL in 2005–06 and experienced an offensive breakthrough, posting career highs in goals, assists, and points, and for the first time in his career took on the role of number one center. He also tied Wayne Gretzky’s team record for most points in a period when he assisted on four third period goals against the Detroit Red Wings on November 18, 2005.

In July 2006, Horcoff re-signed with the Oilers on a three-year contract. In addition to a demanding conditioning regimen, Horcoff went to the Easton factory in Tijuana, Mexico and had a stick custom designed for him.

Horcoff has represented Canada three times internationally, winning gold in 2003 and 2004 and silver in 2005 at the World Championships. In 2008 Horcoff was elected to the All-Star game in Atlanta where he won the fastest skater in the skills competition. On July 16, 2008, the Oilers announced that Horcoff had been signed to a six-year contract