Serge Payer (born May 7, 1979) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Payer retired at the end of the 2011 season where he played with Vålerenga Ishockey of the GET-ligaen. Payer played 119 career NHL games with the Florida Panthers and Ottawa Senators, scoring 7 goals and 6 assists for 13 points.

Serge Payer
Payer with the Houston Aeros in 2007
Born (1979-05-07) May 7, 1979 (age 45)
Rockland, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Florida Panthers
Ottawa Senators
Krefeld Pinguine
Vålerenga
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2000–2011

Playing career

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Payer was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Florida Panthers on 30 September 1997.

In 1999, Payer's career nearly came to an end when he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome while playing junior hockey for the Kitchener Rangers. After a 10-month battle with the disease and subsequent bout with mononucleosis, he returned to the Rangers before eventually making his NHL debut on November 13, 2000, against the Atlanta Thrashers. He scored his first NHL goal in a game against the Ottawa Senators at the Corel Centre (now: Canadian Tire Centre) in front of family and friends. He has started a foundation to raise money for Guillain–Barré syndrome research and to promote public awareness of the disease. He holds a boat cruise once a year in Ottawa, in his name, with close friends, family and the public.

Payer signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild on August 20, 2007, but was not able to crack their NHL roster.

After playing two seasons for German team Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, he signed a contract with Norwegian team Vålerenga of the GET-ligaen on 5 January 2011.[1]

Serge has now retired from pro hockey, and works as an agent and advisor for elite hockey talent through his company, Unlimited Sports Management.

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1995–96 Kitchener Rangers OHL 66 8 16 24 18 12 0 2 2 2
1996–97 Kitchener Rangers OHL 63 7 16 23 27 13 1 3 4 2
1997–98 Kitchener Rangers OHL 44 20 21 41 51 6 3 0 3 7
1998–99 Kitchener Rangers OHL 40 18 19 37 22
1999–00 Kitchener Rangers OHL 44 10 26 36 53 5 0 3 3 6
2000–01 Louisville Panthers AHL 32 6 6 12 15
2000–01 Florida Panthers NHL 43 5 1 6 21
2001–02 Utah Grizzlies AHL 20 6 2 8 9
2002–03 San Antonio Rampage AHL 78 10 31 41 30 1 0 0 0 2
2003–04 Binghamton Senators AHL 67 14 20 34 91 2 0 0 0 0
2003–04 Ottawa Senators NHL 5 0 1 1 2
2004–05 San Antonio Rampage AHL 3 1 1 2 4
2005–06 Florida Panthers NHL 71 2 4 6 26
2006–07 Binghamton Senators AHL 43 6 12 18 31
2006–07 Ottawa Senators NHL 5 0 0 0 0
2007–08 Houston Aeros AHL 66 11 20 31 57 5 0 1 1 4
2008–09 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 44 8 18 26 40 7 1 6 7 2
2009–10 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 34 0 8 8 20
2010–11 Vålerenga GET 14 2 6 8 10 5 1 1 2 18
NHL totals 124 7 6 13 49

References

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  1. ^ "Vålerenga Ishockey forsterker troppen med NHL-rutine" (in Norwegian). Vålerenga Ishockey. 2011-01-05. Archived from the original on 2011-01-09. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
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