Blair Betts

Last updated
Blair Betts
Blair Betts.jpg
Betts with the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2004
Born (1980-02-16) February 16, 1980 (age 45)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Calgary Flames
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
NHL draft 33rd overall, 1998
Calgary Flames
Playing career 20002011

Blair Betts (born February 16, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers. Betts was born in Edmonton, Alberta, but grew up in Sherwood Park, Alberta.

Contents

Playing career

Betts was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft in the second round, 33rd overall.

During the 2006–07 season, Betts found success on the Rangers checking fourth line. He was mostly paired with Colton Orr and Ryan Hollweg. Betts was also a key factor on the penalty kill. He was one of the Rangers most consistent faceoff men with 52.3 percent of faceoffs won. He was first on the team with 1,186 faceoffs taken. He was also sixth on the team, first among forwards, with 98 blocked shots and led the team with 276 minutes and 42 seconds of short-handed time on the ice. In the 2008–09 season, Betts served as one of the Rangers' alternate captains while Scott Gomez was injured.

TSN hockey analyst Pierre McGuire declared Betts "the most underrated player in the league".[ citation needed ]

After becoming a free agent, Betts was invited to the 2009 Philadelphia Flyers training camp. The Flyers signed him to a one-year contract on October 1, 2009. [1] The Flyers later signed Betts to a two-year contract extension on February 12, 2010. On October 5, 2011, The Montreal Canadiens picked Betts up off waivers from the Flyers. [2] However, on October 9, 2011, the Montreal Canadiens cancelled the waiver claim on Betts and returned him to the Philadelphia Flyers, as he had failed his physical. [3] Betts missed the entire 2011–12 season and subsequently retired after the season.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1996–97 Prince George Cougars WHL 5812183019152246
1997–98 Prince George CougarsWHL71354176381146108
1998–99 Prince George CougarsWHL422022423973258
1999–2000 Prince George CougarsWHL4424355938131111226
2000–01 Saint John Flames AHL 7513152828192354
2001–02 Saint John FlamesAHL6720294910
2001–02 Calgary Flames NHL 61012
2002–03 Saint John FlamesAHL1967132
2002–03 Calgary FlamesNHL91340
2003–04 Calgary FlamesNHL2012310
2004–05 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL165494
2005–06 New York Rangers NHL6682102441122
2006–07 New York RangersNHL82941324100004
2007–08 New York RangersNHL752572080002
2008–09 New York RangersNHL8164101660000
2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers NHL638101814231124
2010–11 Philadelphia FlyersNHL7557128110000
AHL totals17744559948192354
NHL totals4774137781186222412

International

Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1999 Canada
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
1999 Canada WJC Silver medal icon.svg50002
Junior totals50002

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
CHL Top Prospects Game 1998
AHL
Calder Cup (Saint John Flames) 2001

References

  1. Panaccio, Tim (2009-10-01). "Flyers Sign Betts to One-Year Deal". csnphilly.com. Archived from the original on 2009-10-03. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
  2. "Flyers Sign Betts to Two-Year Contract Extension". philadelphiaflyers.com. 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  3. Staff, Tsn.ca (2011-10-09). "CANADIENS' WAIVER CLAIM OF BETTS REVERSED DUE TO INJURY". tsn.ca. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-10-09.