Tobias Stephan (born 21 January 1984) is a Swiss former professional ice hockey goaltender who predominately played in the Swiss National League (NL) from 2001 to 2023. He also played 11 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Dallas Stars during the 2007–08 and 2008–9 seasons. Internationally he played for the Swiss national team at three World Championships.
Stephan was born in Zürich, Switzerland. As a youth, he played in the 1997 and 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a team from Zürich.[1]
In 2001, he was named the best goaltender at U18 World Junior Championships.[citation needed] Stephan first played for EHC Chur and then for the Kloten Flyers in Switzerland.[citation needed] In 2002, he was named the best rookie in the Swiss Hockey League.[citation needed]
Stephan was drafted 34th overall in the second round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, and is the third highest Swiss drafted in history.[citation needed] He is the fourth Swiss goalie who has been drafted by an NHL team after Pauli Jaks, David Aebischer and Martin Gerber.[citation needed]
Stephan made his first career NHL start on 13 October 2007 against the Chicago Blackhawks, since both of the Stars' goaltenders — Marty Turco and Mike Smith — were injured. Until the Blackhawks tied the game with two seconds remaining in regulation, Stephan had saved all 39 shots and was looking forward to a shutout in his first game. However, the Blackhawks scored again on their first shot in overtime and won the game 2–1.[citation needed] He would go back to the AHL after the game . Before the 08/09 season started, he would learn that he will be backing up Marty Turco. His first win was on 29 October against the Minnesota Wild — the Stars won 4–2. Stephan left the Stars on 31 July 2009 to sign for Genève-Servette in Switzerland.[citation needed]
At the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, Stephan joined Lausanne HC on a three-year deal worth CHF 3 million.
On 6 February 2023, during his fourth year with Lausanne HC, Stephan announced he would retire from professional hockey at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, following 22 professional seasons.[2]