Ben Simon

Benjamin Clarke Simon (born June 14, 1978) is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets between 2001 and 2006. He was the head coach of the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones for the 2013–14 season, guiding the club to a conference championship. Simon served as an assistant coach for the American Hockey League's Toronto Marlies in 2014–15^[1] and the Grand Rapids Griffins from 2015 to 2018. He was then promoted to head coach of the Griffins for the 2018–19 season.^[2]

Ben Simon
Simon during the 2005 Calder Cup Finals
Born	(1978-06-14) June 14, 1978 (age 47) Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Left
Played for	Atlanta Thrashers Columbus Blue Jackets
NHL draft	110th overall, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career	2000–2011

Playing career

Simon grew up playing hockey for Shaker Heights High School as well as Team Ohio Midget AAA and the Cleveland Junior Barons.^[3] He was drafted 110th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and has played 81 games in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets, scoring three goals and one assist. In the 2007–08 AHL season, he played for the Springfield Falcons. For the 2008–09 season, Simon played with the Iserlohn Roosters in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga. In July 2010, he signed up for his first coaching role, as Player/Coach for the Sheffield Steelers in the British Elite Ice Hockey League for the 2010–11 season. After winning the regular season championship with the Steelers, Simon decided not to return to the Steelers for another season.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993–93	Shaker Heights High School	HS-OH		25	15	21	36	—		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Shaker Heights High School	HS-OH		24	45	41	86	—		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Shaker Heights High School	HS-OH		25	61	68	129	—		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Cleveland Jr. Barons	NAHL		50	45	46	91	—		5	7	13	20	—
1996–97	University of Notre Dame	CCHA		30	4	15	19	79		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	University of Notre Dame	CCHA		37	9	28	37	89		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	University of Notre Dame	CCHA		37	18	24	42	65		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	University of Notre Dame	CCHA		40	13	19	32	53		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Orlando Solar Bears	IHL		77	8	12	20	47		16	6	5	11	20
2001–02	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		6	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Chicago Wolves	AHL		74	11	23	34	56		25	2	3	5	24
2002–03	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		10	0	1	1	9		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Chicago Wolves	AHL		69	15	17	32	78		9	0	0	0	6
2003–04	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL		52	3	0	3	28		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		18	1	3	4	6		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Chicago Wolves	AHL		53	11	10	21	58		18	1	5	6	44
2005–06	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		13	0	0	0	4		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		66	13	24	37	93		3	0	1	1	2
2006–07	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		56	9	12	21	77		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		21	4	5	9	28		7	0	0	0	9
2007–08	Springfield Falcons	AHL		80	12	10	22	88		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Iserlohn Roosters	DEL		51	5	10	15	64		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Kalamazoo Wings	ECHL		18	4	9	13	16		3	3	0	3	14
2009–10	Toronto Marlies	AHL		44	2	6	8	51		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Sheffield Steelers	EIHL		54	21	36	57	62		3	2	0	2	12
AHL totals				481	78	110	188	535		62	3	9	12	85
NHL totals				81	3	1	4	47		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997	United States	WJC		6	0	0	0	4
1998	United States	WJC		7	1	3	4	8
Junior totals				13	1	3	4	12

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-CCHA Second Team	1998–99	[4]