Born in Windsor, Ontario on August 20th 1965, Bruce Shoebottom was the first selection of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1983 draft but was traded just six games into his first professional season. Shoebottom, who played his Junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes, was dealt to the Washington Capitals, but never cracked their NHL roster. In 1987 the rugged defenseman signed a free agent contract with the Boston Bruins.
Shoebottom finally got an NHL opportunity from the Bruins making his debut during the 1987-88 playing three games and registering one assist. That spring the Bruins advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals and Shoebottom contributed one goal and 42 penalty minutes in the four games he played. In all, Shoebottom spent four years in the Bruins organization, primarily spending his time in the American Hockey League with the Maine Mariners. He did, however, play in the NHL in each of his seasons with his only lengthy stay coming in 1988-89 when he played 29 games for the Bruins.
Shoebottom moved on the International Hockey League in 1991 and played three more seasons of minor-pro before retiring from the game in 1994.
After a year away Shoebottom returned to hockey to go behind the bench of the San Diego Gulls of the West Coast Hockey League. After a year of coaching, Shoebottom returned to the ice in 1996. He played parts of two seasons in the WCHL before retiring for good in 1998.
