Joel Shanker (born August 14, 1971) is a retired American soccer forward who spent his entire professional career in the U.S. indoor leagues.
That fall, he moved to the St. Louis Ambush in the National Professional Soccer League, playing the 1995–1996 season with them.
In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids selected Shanker in the 16th round (152nd overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft.
On January 30, 2000, the KiXX sent Shanker and Genoni Martinez to the Detroit Rockers in exchange for Bojan Vuckovic.
The Rockers folded at the end of the seasons and on September 11, 2001, the KiXX selected Shanker in the MISL Dispersal Draft.