Shot Left Role Ice hockey player Education Belmont Hill School Name Paul Mara Career start 1999 | Playing career Weight 96 kg National team United States Height 1.93 m Position Defenseman | |
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Born September 7, 1979 (age 44)
Ridgewood, NJ, USA ( 1979-09-07 ) NHL Draft 7th overall, 1997
Tampa Bay Lightning Played for Tampa Bay Lightning, Arizona Coyotes, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks | ||
Paul mara compilation welcome to montreal again
Paul Richard Mara (born September 7, 1979 born in Ridgewood, New Jersey and raised in Belmont, Massachusetts) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 7th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Despite his surname and birthplace being associated with Wellington Mara, he is of no relation to the family.
Contents
- Paul mara compilation welcome to montreal again
- Paul mara 12 23 08
- Junior
- Professional
- International play
- References
His older brother, Rob Mara, was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in eleventh round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.
Paul mara 12 23 08
Junior
After playing two seasons of high school level hockey in Massachusetts for Belmont Hill School Paul Mara joined the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League for the 1996–97 season. As part of a three team trade with the Windsor Spitfires Mara was traded to the Plymouth Whalers on December 16, 1997. In reflecting on his move from high school to Junior hockey Mara said, "It was the best decision of my life, to go up to Sudbury."
Professional
Mara was drafted in the first round, 7th overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. He spent two seasons between the Lightning and their IHL affiliate team the Detroit Vipers before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2001. He played 81 games with the Coyotes in 2003-04. During the 2004 NHL lockout, Mara joined the Hannover Scorpions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
After the lockout, Paul Mara scored a career high 47 points that year. On June 26, 2006, he was traded by the Coyotes to the Boston Bruins for fellow defenseman Nick Boynton.
On February 27, 2007, Mara was traded to the New York Rangers for Aaron Ward. On July 4, 2008, Mara re-signed with the Rangers for one year at $1.95 million.
On July 10, 2009, Mara signed with the Montreal Canadiens.
On September 16, 2010, Mara signed with the Anaheim Ducks for one year at $750,000. After appearing in 33 games with the Ducks to start the 2010–11 season, on February 16, 2011, Mara was traded by the Ducks to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2012 5th round draft pick.
He took a brief break from hockey during the 2011-12 season.
On September 26, 2012, Mara signed a one-year contract with the Ontario Reign of the ECHL.
On January 9, 2013, Mara signed with the Houston Aeros after the team became short on defensemen, with a combination of injuries and the end of the NHL lockout.
International play
Mara was a member of the 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 United States World Junior Championship teams. He also played for the United States at the 2004 World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic.