David Littman (ice hockey)

Last updated
David Littman
Born (1967-06-13) June 13, 1967 (age 57)
Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Right
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Tampa Bay Lightning
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 211th overall, 1987
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 1989–2000

David K. Littman (born June 13, 1967) is an American former ice hockey goaltender. He played three games in the National Hockey League: two with the Buffalo Sabres and one with the Tampa Bay Lightning between 1991 and 1993. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1989 to 2000, was mainly spent in the minor International Hockey League. He was drafted in the eleventh round, 211th overall, of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Sabres. Internationally Littman played for the American national team at the 1994 World Championships.

Contents

Playing career

Collegiate

Littman spent four years at Boston College studying communications. In his senior year, Littman served as one of three captains on the team as the Eagles qualified for the NCAA final eight. He ended his season with .912 saves and a .895 percentage. [1] In 2000, his BC record of 2,548 career saves was broken by Scott Clemmensen. [2] As a result, he was selected for the AHCA East Second-Team All-American. [3] He was drafted in the eleventh round, 211th overall, of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. [4]

Professional

Littman attended the Sabres training camp but was reassigned to their International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans, to begin the 1989–90 season. [5] However, the 1990–91 would prove to be a breakout season for him. On January 29, 1991, Littman made his NHL debut by replacing Darcy Wakaluk in the second period. Littman saved 15 of 18 shots in an 8–3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. [6] Upon their return to the IHL, both Littman and Wakaluk also set a new Rochester record for most points and assists by a goaltender with seven each. [7] He was also selected for the 1991 All-Star Game. Littman shared the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding goaltender, with teammate Darcy Wakaluk. [8]

The following year, he was again the recipient of the Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award. [9]

On August 28, 1992, Littman signed with the new NHL expansion team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. [10] Although he began the season in the minor leagues with the Atlanta Knights, Littman was recalled to the NHL in November 1992. [11] His stay in the National Hockey League was short-lived and he was reassigned to the IHL. He became a free agent at the end of the season. [12]

As a result of his successful stints with the Atlanta Knights, Littman was selected to compete with Team USA at the 1994 IIHF World Championship, where they finished fourth in the tournament. Before his retirement, Littman played with the IHL's Orlando Solar Bears, recording 53 wins over two years before a career-ending knee injury. [13]

Later life

After working for the Solar Bears as a color commentator, Littman joined EA Sports. He began as a quality assurance associate but later was promoted to producer on the NHL series of games. [14]

Personal life

Littman was born in Queens, New York, but grew up on Long Island. His family moved to Rhode Island prior to his acceptance to Boston College. [13] Littman was raised Jewish. [15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1984–85 New Hampton School HS-NH—————————————————
1984–85Oyster Bay GullsNYJHL—————————————————
1985–86 Boston College HE 74013121803.46—————————
1986–87 Boston CollegeHE21155011826803.45—————————
1987–88 Boston CollegeHE3011162172611604.03—————————
1988–89 Boston CollegeHE321994194510703.30—————————
1989–90 Rochester Americans AHL 145616813703.26.8791———————
1989–90 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 1887210476403.67—————————
1990–91 Buffalo Sabres NHL 100036305.04.833————————
1990–91 Rochester AmericansAHL5633135315516033.04.8828423781602.54—
1991–92 Buffalo SabresNHL101060404.00.862————————
1991–92 Rochester AmericansAHL6028209349817232.95.90115878794312.94.901
1992–93 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL101046709.24.667————————
1992–93 Atlanta Knights IHL4423124239013403.36.879312178802.70.879
1993–94 Providence Bruins AHL251011313858303.60.889————————
1993–94 Fredericton Canadiens AHL168708726304.33.870————————
1994–95 Richmond Renegades ECHL 84203461312.25.910171249533732.33—
1995–96 Los Angeles Ice Dogs IHL4317165224514513.88.871————————
1996–97 San Antonio Dragons IHL4520165243713823.40.9014132301102.87.924
1997–98 Orlando Solar Bears IHL4421136230310202.66.91416889664812.98.892
1998–99 Orlando Solar BearsIHL5532171298114422.90.90020046405.22.810
1999–00 Orlando Solar BearsIHL2110119703.52.879————————
NHL totals30201421405.95.794————————

International

YearTeamEventGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
1994 United States WC 101045608.00.818
Senior totals101045608.00.818

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-Hockey East Second Team 1987–88 [16]
All-Hockey East First Team 1988–89 [16]
AHCA East Second-Team All-American 1988–89 [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artūrs Irbe</span> Latvian ice hockey player and coach

Artūrs Irbe is a Latvian professional ice hockey coach and former goaltender. Born during the Soviet era, Irbe played for various Soviet league teams and the Soviet Union national team before moving to North America in 1991. Irbe played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, and Carolina Hurricanes. In 2004 Irbe returned to Europe to play until he retired in 2007. He has served as a goaltending coach with Dinamo Riga, the Washington Capitals, and the Buffalo Sabres, as well as internationally with the Latvia men's national ice hockey team. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2010. Irbe was rated number 93 on The Hockey News list of the Top 100 Goalies of All-Time in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rochester Americans</span> American Hockey League team in Rochester, New York

The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League; the team is an owned and operated affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. The Americans are the fourth oldest franchise in the AHL, and have the second longest continuous tenure among AHL teams in their current locations after the Hershey Bears.

Daren James Puppa is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender in the NHL. During his career, he played for the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the 1985 NCAA Championship with the RPI Engineers. He is the cousin of NHL hockey player Ralph Backstrom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Biron</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1977)

Martin Gaston Biron is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.

Michel Raymond "Bunny" Larocque was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League. He was a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Montreal Canadiens.

Andrew Peters is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Peters played in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, and the New Jersey Devils. Throughout his playing career, Peters was best known for his role as an enforcer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Taylor (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Chris Taylor is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who is currently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played in 149 NHL games with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, and Buffalo Sabres. In 2017, Taylor was named the head coach of the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League, the affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. In 2019, he was recalled by the Sabres as an assistant coach on an interim basis and returned to the Americans in late November, staying until June 2020.

Robert Thomas Stauber is an American ice hockey coach and former professional goaltender. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1986 NHL entry draft by the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Buffalo Sabres.

Thomas Edward Draper is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was chosen in the eighth round, 165th overall, the 8th pick of the Winnipeg Jets in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Hirsch</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Corey Hirsch is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He spent the majority of his National Hockey League career with the Vancouver Canucks. He is also the former goaltending coach for the St. Louis Blues, having previously served the Toronto Maple Leafs along with François Allaire.

Darcy Wakaluk is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League from 1988 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick St. Croix</span> Canadian ice hockey player and coach

Richard St. Croix is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played 131 games in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1978 and 1985. After his playing career he worked as an assistant coach for the Maple Leafs. He also served as a goaltending coach for the Dallas Stars, and an assistant coach and goaltending coach for the Manitoba Moose and St. John's IceCaps of the American Hockey League. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft by the Flyers, and his two sons would also be drafted, though neither played in the NHL.

Gordon M. Dineen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach who most recently served as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. He is a former head coach for the AHL's Toronto Marlies and a longtime assistant with several other teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrei Trefilov</span> Russian ice hockey player

Andrei Viktorovich Trefilov ; born 31 August 1969) is a Russian retired ice hockey goaltender and a sports agent. He played in the National Hockey League between 1992 and 1999 with the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and Chicago Blackhawks. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1986 to 2006, was spent in the North American minor leagues and in Europe.

Daniel Lambert is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 29 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Quebec Nordiques during the 1990–91 and 1991–92 seasons. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1990 to 2009, was mainly spent in the minor leagues and then the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. He has been an assistant coach of the Nashville Predators of the NHL since 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Hackett</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1990)

Matthew Hackett is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender. He played 26 games in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota Wild and Buffalo Sabres between 2011 and 2015. The rest of his career, which lasted from 2010 to 2020, was mainly spent in the minor American Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Houser (ice hockey)</span> American ice hockey goaltender (born 1992)

Michael Houser is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Adam Wilcox is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 6th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Wilcox is cousins with former Minnesota Wild goaltender, Alex Stalock. Both Wilcox and Stalock played goaltender for the same high school, South St. Paul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen</span> Finnish ice hockey player (born 1999)

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 54th overall, by the Sabres in the 2017 NHL entry draft.

Devon Levi is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).

References

  1. ↑ "Stars who will be missed after careers at BC". The Heights. May 1, 1989. Lock-green.svg
  2. ↑ "Hockey Prepares To Take On Harvard Saturday Night". bceagles.com. November 22, 2000. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "1988-1989 All-Americans". ahcahockey.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  4. ↑ "THERE'S NO BLUE-RIBBON TALENT DEVELOPING DOWN ON SABRES' FARM". The Buffalo News. February 25, 1992. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  5. ↑ DiCesare, Bob (September 22, 1989). "WAKALUK, LOEWEN, AUDETTE SENT TO AMERKS AS 27 ARE CUT". The Buffalo News. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  6. ↑ Wechsler, Bob (2008). Day by Day in Jewish Sports History. KTAV Publishing House, Inc. p. 29. ISBN   9780881259698.
  7. ↑ "2018 AHL Affiliate Media Guide" (PDF). sabresmedia. p. 350. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  8. ↑ "A HALL OF FAME NIGHT TO REMEMEBR". amerks.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ "HARRY "HAP" HOLMES MEMORIAL AWARD". ahlhalloffame.com. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Transactions". Joplin Globe. August 28, 1992. p. 15. Lock-green.svg
  11. ↑ "Transactions". Frederick News Post. November 3, 1992. p. 14. Lock-green.svg
  12. ↑ "Hockey:Free Agents List". Gettysburg Times. Pennsylvania. June 16, 1992. p. 10. Lock-green.svg
  13. 1 2 Roman J. Uschak (December 2013). "From Crease To Console: From NHL'er to Video Gamer". USA Hockey Magazine. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  14. ↑ Littman, David (November 12, 2008). "GOING FROM HOCKEY PLAYER TO VIDEO GAME PRODUCER". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  15. ↑ Rosen, Harvey (October 21, 2009). "HANDFUL OF JEWISH SKATERS START NHL SEASON". Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  16. 1 2 "Hockey East All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Hap Holmes Memorial Award
1990–91 (with Darcy Wakaluk)
1991–92		Succeeded by
Preceded by Hockey East Goaltending Champion
1988–89 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.