Aaron Ward | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born | Windsor, Ontario, Canada | January 17, 1973||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
Weight | 208.2 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb) | ||
Position | Defence | ||
Shot | Right | ||
Played for | Detroit Red Wings Carolina Hurricanes ERC Ingolstadt New York Rangers Boston Bruins Anaheim Ducks | ||
NHL Draft | 5th overall, 1991 Winnipeg Jets | ||
Playing career | 1993–2010 |
Aaron Christian Ward (born January 17, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played more than 800 games over a span of 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, having won twice with Detroit in 1997 and 1998 and once with Carolina in 2006.
Born in Windsor, Ontario, Ward moved with his family to Blackburn Hamlet, Ontario, a suburb of Ottawa, as a youth where he attended Emily Carr Middle School. He played in the 1987 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Gloucester, Ontario. [1]
Ward played junior hockey for the Nepean Raiders of the Central Junior A Hockey League before accepting a scholarship to attend the University of Michigan.[ citation needed ] After one season playing for the Wolverines ice hockey team, he was drafted fifth overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft.[ citation needed ]
Before his playing days at Michigan were over, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, signing with the club in 1993. He was then assigned to the Red Wings' affiliate Adirondack Red Wings for the 1993–94 season, where he spent the bulk of the next three seasons. He later made his NHL debut in 1993–94 and scored his first career NHL goal at the Arrowhead Pond on October 8, 1993. Ward became a regular NHLer during the 1996–97 season.[ citation needed ]
Ward has played over 600 career NHL games and been a member of three Stanley Cup championship teams, two while playing for the Red Wings in 1997 1998 and one with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. In 2006, Ward scored the first goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to help his team win the Cup.[ citation needed ] After the 2006 season, Ward became an unrestricted free agent, whereupon he signed with the New York Rangers, joining fellow free agent and 2006 Cup-winning teammate Matt Cullen in New York. Ward's tenure as a Ranger, however, was short-lived, as during the 2006–07 season, among rumours of tension between him and then-Rangers captain Jaromír Jágr, Ward found himself traded to the Boston Bruins in exchange for defenceman Paul Mara. With Boston, Ward added solid defence and much-needed veteran leadership to the team, and was often paired with Zdeno Chára on Boston's top defensive line.[ citation needed ]
Prior to the 2009–10 season, on July 24, 2009, Ward was re-acquired by Carolina in exchange for forward Patrick Eaves and a fourth-round draft pick in 2010. [2] Ward struggled in his return with the Hurricanes, however, and on March 3, 2010, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goaltender Justin Pogge and a fourth-round draft pick. [3] During the subsequent off-season, on August 24, Ward announced his retirement from professional hockey after 13 NHL seasons. [4]
In the spring of 2007 and 2010, Ward was the NHL on Versus analyst for the Stanley Cup playoffs and since then joined the Big Ten Network as the hockey analyst. Ward previously worked as a hockey analyst on TSN Hockey until 2015. In April 2019, he was hired by a local ABC affiliate station as an analyst to cover the Hurricanes' playoff run. [5]
In March 2008, Ward, in conjunction with the Toucher and Rich radio program (WBCN 104.1) created a head-shaving charity event called 'Cuts for a Cause'. Seven players from the Boston Bruins shaved their heads to raise money to benefit the MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Patrice Bergeron, Phil Kessel, Andrew Alberts, Milan Lucic, Mark Stuart and Dennis Wideman joined Ward in helping raise $25,000. A second 'Cuts for a Cause' event took place in April 2009 with the group raising $32,000 for the Boston Bruins Foundation and MassGeneral Hospital for Children's Pediatric Oncology Unit.
On October 9, 2015, Ward was arrested at his home in Cary, North Carolina and charged with assault on a female and interfering with emergency communication. [6] According to the warrant, he and his wife had an argument during which he took away his wife's phone. This incident led to his indefinite suspension from his job as an analyst on TSN Hockey. [7] The charges were dismissed and the record expunged by the Wake County District Attorney's Office in February 2016, stating that “After review of this case and discussions with the victim, it appears that further prosecution is not warranted.” [8]
The couple divorced following the 2015 incident, in 2019. [9]
Ward is now remarried to Lori Slaker, mother to Jake Slaker, former University of Michigan Hockey Player.
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1988–89 | Nepean Raiders | CJHL | 54 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1989–90 | Nepean Raiders | CJHL | 52 | 6 | 33 | 39 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1990–91 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 46 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 126 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1991–92 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 42 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1992–93 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 30 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1992–93 | Canada | Intl | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1993–94 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 58 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 87 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | ||
1993–94 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1994–95 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 76 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 87 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
1994–95 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1995–96 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 74 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 133 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
1996–97 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 49 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 52 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | ||
1997–98 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 52 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1998–99 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 60 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 52 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||
1999–2000 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 36 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2000–01 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 73 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2001–02 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 79 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 74 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | ||
2002–03 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 77 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2003–04 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 49 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2004–05 | ERC Ingolstadt | DEL | 8 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | ||
2005–06 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 71 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 62 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 | ||
2006–07 | New York Rangers | NHL | 60 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2006–07 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2007–08 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 65 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 54 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
2008–09 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 65 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
2009–10 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 60 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2009–10 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
NHL totals | 839 | 44 | 107 | 151 | 736 | 95 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 73 |
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
College | ||
All-CCHA Rookie Team | 1990–91 | |
CCHA All-Tournament Team | 1991 | [10] |
NHL | ||
Stanley Cup (Detroit Red Wings) | 1997, 1998 | |
Stanley Cup (Carolina Hurricanes) | 2006 |
Raymond Jean Bourque is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He holds records for most career goals, assists, and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman five times, while finishing second for that trophy a further six times. He also twice finished second in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, a rarity for a defenceman. He was named to the end-of-season All-Star teams 19 times, 13 on the first-team and six on the second-team.
Paul Douglas Coffey is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for nine teams over 21 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known for his speed and scoring prowess, Coffey ranks second all-time among NHL defencemen in goals, assists, and points, behind only Ray Bourque. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman three times and was voted to eight end-of-season All-Star teams. He holds the record for the most goals by a defenceman in one season, 48 in 1985–86, and is the only defenceman to have scored 40 goals more than once, also doing it in 1983–84. He is also one of only two defencemen to score 100 points in a season more than one time, as he did it five times; Bobby Orr did it six times. Coffey holds or shares 33 NHL records in the regular season and playoffs.
Jason Andrew York is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) and current broadcaster. A defenceman, he played for the Detroit Red Wings, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, and last playing for the Boston Bruins during the 2006–07 season. He was previously a hockey analyst on Montreal Canadiens' broadcasts on Sportsnet.
Sergei Viktorovich Samsonov is a Russian former professional ice hockey forward who is now a scout for the Carolina Hurricanes. He played in the NHL with six teams from 1997 to 2011. Internationally Samsonov played for the Russian national team in several tournaments, including the 2002 Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze medal.
Douglas Bradford "Brad" Park is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A defenceman, Park played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. Considered to be one of the best defencemen of his era, he was named to an All-Star team seven times. The most productive years of his career were overshadowed by superstar Bobby Orr, with whom he played with for a brief time. Unlike Orr's, however, his teams never hoisted the Stanley Cup. Park was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.
Steven Joseph Chiasson was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman with the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings, Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes.
Dwight Alexander Foster is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL) in the first round, 16th overall in 1977 by the Boston Bruins. Besides Boston, he played for the Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings, before retiring in 1987 because of knee injuries.
John Garnet Exelby is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was particularly known for his aggressive style of play and his checking abilities.
Patrick Campbell Eaves is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Ottawa Senators, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks.
Dennis Marvin Seidenberg is a German former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, and Boston Bruins, with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2011. His younger brother Yannic played for EHC Red Bull München in the DEL.
David Rodney Lewis is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) defenceman and coach. He was most recently an assistant coach of the Carolina Hurricanes of the NHL. He has both Canadian and U.S. citizenship.
James Edward Nill is a Canadian former ice hockey player and the current general manager of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nill played in the NHL throughout the 1980s with the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets, and Detroit Red Wings, retiring in 1990. Prior to making his NHL debut Nill also played for Canada at the 1980 Winter Olympics. He worked as a scout for the Ottawa Senators before joining the Red Wings in an executive role in 1994, staying with the team before moving to take up the general manager role with Dallas in 2013.
Brendan Smith is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Although he is listed as a defenceman, Smith has also played forward professionally. Smith was drafted 27th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and was previously a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.
Adam McQuaid is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets. McQuaid was known primarily as an enforcer for his physical play and capability as a fighter, often protecting younger or smaller members of the team. He won the Stanley Cup in 2011 with the Bruins.
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. The top three picks consisted of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins going to the Edmonton Oilers, Gabriel Landeskog going to the Colorado Avalanche, and Jonathan Huberdeau going to the Florida Panthers.
Steven Allan Kampfer is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Kampfer was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but grew up in Jackson, Michigan.
The 2017 NHL Entry Draft was the 55th NHL Entry Draft. The draft was held on June 23–24, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The first three selections were Nico Hischier going to the New Jersey Devils, Nolan Patrick going to the Philadelphia Flyers, and Miro Heiskanen going to the Dallas Stars.
Patrick Wellington Brown is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Daniel Renouf is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The following is a list of all team-to-team transactions that have occurred in the National Hockey League for the 2022–23 NHL season. It lists which team each player has been traded to, signed by, or claimed by, and for which player(s) or draft pick(s), if applicable. Players who have retired or that have had their contracts terminated are also listed.