Dallas Drake
Dallas Drake ( born February 4, 1969 in Trail, British Columbia ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who was active for the Detroit Red Wings, Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes and St. Louis Blues. He celebrated his biggest success in his last season, when he won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008.
Career
Dallas Drake began his career in 1984 in the Canadian Junior Football League KIJHL at the Rossland Warriors. He played there for three years and showed his qualities to the position of winger. In 1987, he joined the Junior League BCJHL to the Vernon Lakers, where he played one year.
From the autumn of 1988 he went to Northern Michigan University and played for their hockey team. In the first two years, he showed solid performance and was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the sixth round at position 116 in the NHL Entry Draft in 1989. 1990/91, the Northern Michigan University, qualifying for the final round of the national college championship of the NCAA. Drake led his team to the finals and scored in the third extension the winning goal to win the title. The following year, his performance improved again significantly, when he scored 39 goals in 38 games and 41 assists contributed.
Finally, on the basis of success in college he managed in 1992 made it into the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings. He was one and a half years to the root cadres of the Red Wings, before he was transferred in March 1994 to the Winnipeg Jets. Drake established himself as defensively oriented forward. 1996 the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona to and he played four seasons for the follow- Team Phoenix Coyotes, but was never able to complete a full season because of injuries. His last year in Phoenix was also his best scorer with 45 points.
In the NHL Expansion Draft in 2000 was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they closed with him until the beginning of the season 2000/ 01 no contract from, so he eventually signed with the St. Louis Blues. In his first season in St. Louis, he moved with the team in the playoffs to the finals one of the Western Conference, where they, however, the Colorado Avalanche documents. The following years no longer were so successful. 2005 Drake was appointed captain of the Blues.
In the summer of 2007, Drake was set up by the Blues on the Waiverliste, but he was bound by any team. St. Louis finally paid from the current contract for another year and separated from Drake. Two weeks later took him under contract the Detroit Red Wings, where he began his career 15 years earlier.
In Detroit Drake played in the 2007/ 08 season, mainly in the defensive oriented Checking Line on the side of Kris Draper. But he played his weakest offensive season of his career with three goals and three assists. The Red Wings finished the regular season on the top position of the league and were the favorite in the playoffs. After winning against the Nashville Predators and the Colorado Avalanche met the Red Wings on the Dallas Stars, against Drake in the sixth game of the series with a decisive goal and an assist share of the entry into the Stanley Cup final had. Also after six games, they finally won the Stanley Cup against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A month after winning the title gave Dallas Drake the end of his playing career known.