Steve Shields played his collegiate hockey at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. A standout goaltender, he became the first NCAA goalie to ever reach 100 career wins, finishing his career with 111 victories. He was a two-time All-American, earning Second Team honors in both his junior and senior years. In his final season, 1993-94, his excellent performance made him a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Shields helped lead the Wolverines to two Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) regular-season titles and back-to-back Frozen Four appearances.

After college, Shields was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and went on to have a professional career that spanned over a decade, including ten seasons in the NHL with six different teams: Buffalo, San Jose, Anaheim, Boston, Florida, and Atlanta. The majority of his career was spent as a backup goalie, but he did have a notable season as a starter with the San Jose Sharks in 1999-2000, playing in 67 games. He retired from professional hockey in 2006.