Tim Gleason
A hard-nosed defenseman who carved out a 13-year NHL career with his physical, no-frills style and later transitioned into coaching.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: January 29·Millennials
Biography
Tim Gleason's path to the NHL began when the Ottawa Senators selected him in the first round of the 2001 draft, but his identity was forged elsewhere. Traded to the Los Angeles Kings, he developed into a reliable, stay-at-home defenseman known more for punishing hits than point totals. His true homecoming came with a trade to the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, where he became a fan favorite for his willingness to block shots and defend teammates. For over a decade, Gleason's game was defined by grit, amassing over 1,000 penalty minutes and playing through injuries that would sideline others. After retiring in 2016, he returned to the Hurricanes organization, moving from player development to an assistant coaching role, where he now imparts his brand of disciplined, tough defense to a new generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tim was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Tim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 727 regular-season games in the NHL, recording 117 points and 1,049 penalty minutes.
- Represented the United States at the 2007 IIHF World Championship.
- Served as an alternate captain for the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2013-14 season.
- Transitioned to a professional coaching role as an assistant for the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Ottawa Senators but never played a game for them, being traded to Los Angeles.
Gleason and his wife are founders of the Gleason Family Foundation, which supports children's health and wellness.
He played junior hockey for the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League.
“I'm not here to score goals; I'm here to make sure the other guy doesn't.”
