Sean Patrick Collins (born October 30, 1983) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals.
Playing career
As a youth, Collins played in the 1997 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Little Caesars minor ice hockey team.
College
Prior to going to Ohio State, he spent the 2002–03 season with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League, posted six goals, 22 assists and 89 PIM. He became a member of the Cleveland Barons in 2001-02, where he contributed six goals and 22 assists. Barons' assistant captain named him the Sarnia Rookie of the Year in his first year of juniors. He also played baseball and made numerous sports all-star appearances, and attended Bishop Foley Catholic High School in Madison Heights, Mich., before graduating from Rocky River High School in Rocky River, Ohio, in 2002.
2003–04: (Freshman season) Collins saw action in 41-of-42 Buckeye games on the blueline, and finished second in season among other OSU rookies, and third among Buckeye defensemen with 16 points, including 13 assists. This gained him his team's season-high, tying three assists in win over Northern Michigan November 8, 2003, which helped mark his first career points. He was named CCHA Defensive Player of the Week on March 7, 2004, after the second Miami series; had 1-2-3 vs. the Red Hawks and was not on the ice for a goal against his second career two-assist night came vs. Miami March 6, 2004. He scored the career-best four-game scoring streak, with 2-4-6 totals, from March 5–13, 2004, and scored his first career goal at Western Michigan on February 20, 2004. He had the team-best (+4) in series vs. Lake Superior State, including career-high +3 on January 16, 2004, as well as two assists in win over Bowling Green on November 29, 2003. In the 1-1-2 game vs. Bowling Green on March 13, he scored a +1 rating in 13 games, as well as +2 in five games and +3 vs. LSSU on January 16, 2004, and scored even or better in all but 10 games. He, as well, scored +1 or better in 15 of last 29 games, with just five minus ratings in the stretch, but missed the first career game on March 18, 2004 vs. Notre Dame after receiving a game disqualification against Bowling Green on March 13, 2004.
2004–05: (Sophomore season) Collins had nine goals and 17 assists for career-best, as well as 26 points in 40 games leading the Buckeye defensemen, and was ranked at sixth overall on the team. He scored nine goals tied for fifth in the nation among defensemen and led the CCHA, being known as an honorable mention All-CCHA choice and a two-time CCHA Defenseman of the Week. Collins scored gamewinner against Michigan State in CCHA Super Six semifinals on March 18, and fifth in the CCHA in overall points and ranked 22nd in the nation in scoring among defensemen overall (.65 points a game). Collins ended '04 fifth in CCHA as defenseman in points (18). He had two helpers vs. Ferris State March 11 in game one of the playoff series, and scored empty netter at Miami March 4 to gain a 3-1 win, as well as scoring two assists in the January 21, 2005 game vs. Michigan, 1-1-2, January 15 at Notre Dame, and January 29 vs. Western Michigan. Collins had the third-period game-tying goal in two of Ohio State's four ties, tied career high with three assists, and had individual-best four points in win over Alaska on December 4, 2004. He scored game-tying goal in the third period vs. No. 2 Colorado College on December 30, and scored the game-tying goal on the power play in the third period at Clarkson on December 10. Collins had two helpers and was +3 in an overtime win over Ferris State on October 16. He earned the title of CCHA Defenseman of the Week on October 18 after the series at Ferris State, as well as earning multiple league honors after helping OSU to a home sweep of Northern Michigan with two points (1-1) in the series on November 13-14. He had an assist and was +2 in the November 5 win over Sacred Heart. He scored back-to-back +2 ratings at Miami on March 4 and vs. Ferris State on March 11, as well as +3 on January 29 vs. Western Michigan and at Lake State on February 5, but missed the second UNO contest (November 20) and the March 5th Miami home game with injuries. Overall, Collins scored +6 over the '05 year.