Seen as a role model to Native Canadians, Chris Simon from the Ojibway tribe has preached to children that anything is possible no matter who you are. After leaving home when he was 14 looking for a hockey career, Simon landed with the Ottawa 67's of the OHL. In his second season, he scored 74 points in 57 games and was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers 25th overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. He was one of the players, including Peter Forsberg, involved in the trade of Eric Lindros to the Flyers from the Quebec Nordiques in 1992. With two more seasons in the OHL under his belt, he made the move to the NHL. Simon split the 1992-93 season between the Nordiques and their AHL affiliate Halifax Citadels, but was called up to stay in the NHL the next season. The Nordiques relocated to Colorado, becoming the Avalanche in 1995-96, and won the Stanley Cup in their new home.



The Avs traded Simon to the Washington Capitals in 1996 where he became less of an "enforcer" and more of a scorer after training in the off-season on his shooting and skating. He finished the 1999-2000 season with NHL career highs in games played and every point category while leading the Caps in goals scored. Simon went on to play parts of three more seasons in Washington before he was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks ten games into the 2002-03 season. A hard nosed competitor, Simon surpassed the 500-games played during the 2002-03 season and during the off-season was acquired by the New York Rangers. The Wawa, Ontario native went on to play 65 games with the Rangers before being acquired prior to the NHL deadline by the Calgary Flames. Upon his arrival with the Flames, Simon was a key contributor in the club's run to the Stanley Cup final. However, Simon's dream for a second Cup ring ended in a hard-fought seven game series loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.