Sean Avery

Early Life and Junior Hockey

Sean Christopher Avery was born on April 10, 1980, in North York, Ontario, to parents Al and Marlene Avery, both of whom were teachers. He was raised in Pickering, Ontario, where he attended Dunbarton High School and has a younger brother named Scott. His path to professional hockey began in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he played for the Owen Sound Platers and later the Kingston Frontenacs from 1996 to 2000. His aggressive and physical style of play became evident during his junior career, setting the stage for his professional approach and eventual reputation as an agitator.

NHL Career: Detroit and Los Angeles

Sean Avery signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings in 1999, turning professional in 2000 with the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. He played 36 games for the Red Wings during their 2001-02 Stanley Cup championship season, though he did not play in the playoffs nor meet the 41-game threshold to have his name engraved on the Cup. Midway through the 2002-03 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings along with Maxim Kuznetsov and draft picks for Mathieu Schneider. It was with the Kings that Avery fully embraced his role as an agitator, leading the NHL in penalty minutes in both the 2003-04 (261) and 2005-06 (257) seasons.

During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Sean Avery briefly played in the Finnish Elite League with the Lahti Pelicans and in the United Hockey League for the Motor City Mechanics. He tallied 26 points for the Mechanics, including two hat tricks, making him the first player in Mechanics history to record two hat tricks in one season. Along with those points, he accumulated 149 penalty minutes in just 16 games. Several players spoke publicly of their dissatisfaction with the NHL Players' Association's leadership during the lockout, including Avery, who publicly blamed NHLPA president Bob Goodenow for wasting an entire season with a battle that alienated fans and yielded few results. Back with the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005-06 season, with three games remaining, the Kings unofficially suspended Avery for the remainder of the season after he refused to do a drill in practice. Nevertheless, the team re-signed him to a one-year deal.

New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Retirement

Traded to the New York Rangers in February 2007, Avery scored 20 points in 29 games to help the team complete a 17-4-6 run to qualify for the playoffs. He recorded his first playoff points that year with a goal and an assist against the Atlanta Thrashers and, in the 2007-08 season, scored a goal 10 seconds into a game against Buffalo, setting a Rangers record for fastest home-ice goal. As a restricted free agent that summer, he earned a $1.9 million arbitration award which the Rangers accepted. In July 2008, Avery signed a four-year, $15.5 million contract with the Dallas Stars, but his time there was short-lived and ended in controversy following his suspension for inappropriate comments.

After clearing waivers in February 2009, he was assigned to the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack while remaining a Stars property, as Dallas had no AHL affiliate that season. The Rangers claimed him off re-entry waivers in March 2009, beginning his second stint with the team, which included a four-point game against his former Dallas team in January 2010. His later years with the Rangers were unstable, as he was waived and recalled multiple times, spending significant time with the AHL's Connecticut Whale after clearing waivers in December 2011. After being left off the Whale's Clear Day roster in March 2012 and told not to report, he announced his retirement on the television show Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. A brief 2022 contract with the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears placed him on the reserve list but did not result in any game action before his release two days later.

Major Controversies and 'The Avery Rule'

Sean Avery's career was punctuated by numerous incidents that drew league discipline and public condemnation. In November 2007, he was fined $2,500 by the NHL following allegations from an unnamed Rangers player that he made inappropriate comments about Toronto Maple Leafs player Jason Blake's leukemia diagnosis during a pre-game altercation with Darcy Tucker. Avery denied these allegations, citing two family losses to cancer and his involvement with charities like Hockey Fights Cancer. The NHL also fined Tucker $1,000, the Rangers $25,000, and the Maple Leafs $10,000 in relation to the incident.

His most infamous on-ice innovation occurred during game three of the 2008 Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the New Jersey Devils. While on a two-man power play, Avery turned his back to the play and faced goaltender Martin Brodeur, waving his hands and stick to block Brodeur's view, and the puck was later cleared before Avery scored on the second offensive attack. The following day, the NHL issued a new interpretation of its unsportsmanlike conduct rule to penalize such actions, a regulation quickly dubbed 'The Avery Rule'. His tactics in that series earned multiple power plays, and he recorded three goals and two assists as the Rangers won in five games, though they were ineffective in the next round against Pittsburgh where he was dropped from the lineup.

The 'Sloppy Seconds' Incident and Fallout

The incident that effectively ended his tenure with the Dallas Stars occurred on December 2, 2008. Prior to a morning skate in Calgary, Avery told assembled reporters, 'I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight.' He was referencing ex-girlfriends Elisha Cuthbert dating Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf and Rachel Hunter dating Kings centre Jarret Stoll. Within hours, the NHL suspended Avery indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the league, with Stars owner Tom Hicks stating the team would have suspended him had the league not acted first.

He apologized the next day, calling his actions inappropriate and a bad attempt to build excitement for the game. On December 5, the league fixed his suspension at six games, retroactive to the December 2 game, and mandated anger management counselling, citing unacceptable and antisocial behaviour. Commissioner Gary Bettman noted he and league disciplinarian Colin Campbell had warned Avery several times before about his behaviour. After the suspension, the Stars announced Avery would not return, a decision influenced by coach Dave Tippett's outrage as he had warned Avery not to talk to the media and the unwillingness of players like Mike Modano and Marty Turco to take him back, with the incident being the last straw for teammates who had soured on him.

Post-Hockey Career in Fashion and Advertising

After retiring from the NHL in 2012, Sean Avery began working at Lipman, a New York City-based advertising and creative agency. He helped develop strategies for the company and worked as a model for Lipman's parent company, Revolate Holdings. His interest in fashion was evident earlier when he completed a summer internship at Vogue magazine in 2008. In June 2008, he guest-edited Mensvogue.com, the website for Men's Vogue magazine. Avery stated his interest mainly resides with women's fashion, saying women's clothes tell a story. Of men's fashion, he said, "You do suits and pants and that's about that." In 2009, he worked with men's fashion label Commonwealth Utilities to present a clothing line for New York Fashion Week. Also in 2008, New Line Cinema put into development a film based on Avery's life, focusing on his status as a professional athlete with an active interest in fashion, and Stan Chervin was hired to write the script.

Sean Avery was hired to be the face of Hickey Freeman's Spring/Summer 2012 ad campaign, which was shot by Francesco Carrozzini. The print ads from this campaign appeared in Vanity Fair, DC Modern Luxury, and other magazines. As of 2021, he is no longer working with Hickey Freeman. Avery also appeared in the 2013 campaign for 7 For All Mankind called A Beautiful Odyssey, which included print ads. After retiring from hockey, he focused full-time on working in the creative industry, including work in fashion as a model.

Acting, Media, and Publications

Sean Avery has built a secondary career as an actor and media personality. His first film role was as former Rangers defenceman Bob Dill in the 2005 Maurice Richard biopic The Rocket. He expanded his profile with television appearances on shows like a 2007 episode of MADtv with Kings teammates Tom Kostopoulos and Scott Thornton, and he was on People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive list that same year. Further appearances included being a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in 2009, a Top Ten List presenter on Late Show with David Letterman, a guest judge on Project Runway: All Stars in 2012, and an appearance on Fashion Police in 2013.

In 2014, he was a contestant on the 18th season of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with Karina Smirnoff, and was the second couple eliminated on week two after a double elimination. His most significant acting work has come in films directed by Christopher Nolan, with roles in Tenet (2020), Oppenheimer (2023), and the upcoming The Odyssey (2026). Other credits include roles in Patriots Day (2016) and Mile 22 (2018), a 2021 appearance as himself on the AMC series Kevin Can F**k Himself, and a 2025 cameo on the Crave original comedy series Shoresy. From December 2019 to 2022, he hosted the weekly podcast No Gruffs Given with Sean Avery. He authored a memoir, Ice Capades: A Memoir of Fast Living and Tough Hockey, published by Blue Rider Press in October 2017, and released an adult romance novel, Summer Skate, co-written with Leslie Cohen, in September 2025.

Activism, Personal Life, and Legal Issues

In May 2011, Avery recorded a video for the New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign, publicly advocating for the legalization of same-sex marriage. In an interview with The New York Times, he stated, 'I certainly have been surrounded by the gay community. And living in New York and when you live in L.A., you certainly have a lot of gay friends.' He also travelled to Albany, New York, to lobby politicians prior to the law's passage in July 2011. In 2012, he served on the board of directors for Athlete Ally, an organization focused on ending homophobia and transphobia in sports. Sean Avery married model Hilary Rhoda at the Parrish Art Museum in New York in October 2015 after a two-year engagement, having first met her in the summer of 2009, though the couple had been publicly estranged from Rhoda's mother for several years.

Charged with criminal mischief, he was offered a plea deal but chose to represent himself after dismissing his lawyer in an April 2022 hearing, demanding a jury trial. He was convicted of attempted criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, in June 2022 after a two-day trial where he tried to use his podcast to rally supporters, though only two attended. He was ordered to pay a $205 surcharge and barred from contact with the victims for three years. His insistence on a jury trial had angered him initially as he lived in California and had demanded a trial on the same day as his hearing, leading to further court dates.

Ongoing Feuds and Public Conflicts

Avery's relationships with coaches and former teammates were often strained. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland stated he traded Avery in 2003 because he did not live up to the standards of an NHL professional. Former Kings teammate Ian Laperrière characterized Avery's reported mocking of Dustin Brown's lisp as 'bullying, like you might see in high school,' though other accounts suggested the taunts were directed at Brown's then-girlfriend, Nicole, because Avery did not think she was glamorous enough for Hollywood. His relationship with New York Rangers coach John Tortorella was uneasy, though Avery's book noted moments of mutual admiration, and Tortorella had called him out numerous times while a TSN commentator before becoming Rangers coach.

Nearly a year after Sean Avery retired, on March 30, 2013, following the New York Rangers' second consecutive shutout loss, Avery posted on his Twitter account about his former coach John Tortorella, stating, "Fire this CLOWN, his players hate him and wont play for his BS." On May 29, 2013, after the Rangers lost to the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Tortorella was fired. In November 2014, Avery was set to appear in Negative Is Positive, an off-Broadway play by Christy Smith-Sloman, but quit two days before opening night. According to reports, Avery had a meltdown after a stage manager offered him pizza, which he misinterpreted as an insult. An understudy filled in for Avery when the play premiered.

Questions about Sean Avery

What is 'The Avery Rule' in the NHL?

The Avery Rule is the colloquial name for an NHL rule interpretation enacted in 2008 after Sean Avery's actions during a playoff game. While on a two-man power play against the New Jersey Devils, Avery turned his back to the play and faced goaltender Martin Brodeur, waving his hands and stick to screen and distract him. The next day, the league clarified that such unsportsmanlike conduct would result in a minor penalty. This specific action is now permanently associated with Avery's name in hockey lore, though his tactics in that series were effective, helping the Rangers win in five games.

Why was Sean Avery suspended by the Dallas Stars in 2008?

In December 2008, prior to a game against the Calgary Flames, Sean Avery approached reporters in the dressing room and made comments about his ex-girlfriends dating other NHL players, referring to them as "sloppy seconds. Within hours, the NHL suspended him indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the league or the game of hockey. His comments were met with near-unanimous condemnation by the Stars organization, fellow players, and fans. On December 5, the NHL fixed his suspension at six games, retroactive to the December 2 game, and he agreed to undergo anger management counselling. The Stars organization, including coach Dave Tippett and players like Mike Modano and Marty Turco, were unwilling to take him back, and owner Tom Hicks had been actively looking to cut ties. After serving his suspension, the Stars announced Avery would not return to the team, and they placed him on waivers on February 7, 2009.

What movies has Sean Avery been in?

Sean Avery has appeared in several films, most notably in director Christopher Nolan's recent projects. He had roles in Tenet (2020), Oppenheimer (2023), and The Odyssey (2026). His first film role was in the 2005 Maurice Richard biopic The Rocket. He also appeared in the Mark Wahlberg films Patriots Day (2016) and Mile 22 (2018), both directed by Peter Berg. Beyond film, he has made numerous television appearances, including on Dancing with the Stars, as a guest judge on Project Runway: All Stars, and as a guest commentator on Fox News's Gutfeld! in 2021 and 2022.

What did Sean Avery do after retiring from hockey?

After retiring in 2012, Sean Avery worked in advertising at the New York agency Lipman, continued modeling for brands like Hickey Freeman and 7 For All Mankind, and had earlier interned at Vogue magazine. He built an acting career, landing roles in major films by Christopher Nolan. Avery also authored a memoir in 2017 and a romance novel in 2025, and hosted a podcast called No Gruffs Given with Sean Avery from 2019 to 2022. He has also been involved in activism, notably supporting same-sex marriage legislation in New York and serving on the board of Athlete Ally, an organization combating homophobia in sports.

What is Sean Avery's connection to Canada?

Sean Avery is a Canadian-born athlete, born in North York, Ontario, and raised in Pickering, Ontario, where he attended Dunbarton High School. He played his junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League for the Owen Sound Platers and Kingston Frontenacs. Although he gained dual Canadian-American citizenship later in life, his early development and the start of his professional career are rooted in Canadian hockey. His memoir was published under a different title, Offside: My Life Crossing the Line, for the Canadian market, reflecting his origins and the significant portion of his story that took place in Canada.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.