| Dallas Drake | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Drake with theDetroit Red Wings in 2008 | |||
| Born | (1969-02-04)February 4, 1969 (age 57) Trail,British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Center/Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Detroit Red Wings St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes | ||
| NHL draft | 116th overall,1989 Detroit Red Wings | ||
| Playing career | 1992–2008 | ||
Dallas James Drake (born February 4, 1969) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeywinger in theNational Hockey League (NHL) who began and ended his career playing for theDetroit Red Wings, the team that drafted him. In hislast season, the Red Wings made it to and beat thePittsburgh Penguins in six games in the2008 Stanley Cup Finals, enabling him to end his career with his first and only Stanley Cup championship. Team captainNicklas Lidström handed the Cup to Drake first to skate with above his head as recognition of how long he waited to win the Cup.
Previously, Drake played for theWinnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, andSt. Louis Blues. Drake played his college hockey atNorthern Michigan University.
Dallas Drake was drafted by theDetroit Red Wings in the1989 NHL Entry Draft in the 6th round, 116th overall.[1] During his junior year atNorthern Michigan, he was a key factor in the team winning the 1991NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship.[1] In the final game, NMU captain Darryl Plandowski scored the winning goal as the Wildcats defeated Boston University 8–7 in triple overtime.[1]
Following a stellar four-year college career, Drake made the Red Wings roster out of training camp without playing in the minor leagues. He enjoyed a fine rookie season in 1992–93, posting 44 points on 18 goals and 26 assists. The following , was part of a trade that saw him shipped to theWinnipeg Jets along with goaltenderTim Cheveldae. The Red Wings received goaltenderBob Essensa and defencemanSergei Bautin in return.[2] The trade was regrettable for the Wings, as Essensa appeared in only 13 games and was not a factor in the playoffs. Bautin would only appear in one game for the Red Wings. Drake went on to have a successful role on the checking lines andpenalty kill units of the Winnipeg/Phoenix Coyotes organization.
During Drake's time with theCoyotes, Phoenix-area band, Stone Bogart, wrote and recorded the song "Dallas Drake," depicting many great moments by the player and clipping various radio broadcasts.[3] The song was used on ESPN and ABC broadcasts of NHL games for the few years following the song's release.
Drake was known as a tenacious skater and a tough customer in the corners throughout his 16-year career. Although he wasn't a prolific goal scorer as a pro like he was in college, his knowledge of the game, leadership and fierce competitiveness allowed him to skate in 1009NHL games. Since 1992, he was sent to the minor leagues only once. In the 1993–1994 season, Drake skated one game inAdirondack on a rehab assignment, scoring two goals before returning toDetroit the following day and finishing with 10 goals and 22 assists.
Drake signed with theSt. Louis Blues for the 2000–01 season, and remained with the organization for six seasons. He achieved his career high in goals with 20 during the 2002–03 season, and was namedcaptain for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons.
Drake was placed on waivers by the Blues on June 26, 2007 with the purpose of buying out his contract.[4]
On July 9, 2007, he was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Red Wings to a one-year, $550,000 contract. He had considered ending his professional career with other NHL teams, but chose to return to Detroit in hopes of winning theStanley Cup with the club that had drafted him over 16 years prior.[5] On June 4, 2008 those dreams were realized when Detroit defeated thePittsburgh Penguins to win their 11th franchiseStanley Cup championship. During the on ice post-game celebrations Detroit captainNicklas Lidström passed the Stanley Cup to Drake first.[1]
On July 15, 2008, Drake announced his retirement from the NHL.[6]
Drake was born inTrail, British Columbia, but grew up inRossland.
Drake and his wife Amy reside inTraverse City, Michigan with their four children.[1]
His daughter Delaney previously played for theWisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey team from 2014 to 2018.[7] She was a member of the US squad that captured the gold medal at the2017 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship.[8] In addition, she scored a goal for the US in the gold medal game.[9] His other daughter Darby is on theUniversity of Nebraska Omaha swimming & diving team.[10]
Drake was inducted into the Northern Michigan University Hall of Fame in 2002.[1]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1987–88 | Vernon Lakers | BCHL | 47 | 39 | 85 | 124 | 50 | 11 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 30 | ||
| 1988–89 | Northern Michigan University | WCHA | 45 | 18 | 24 | 42 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Northern Michigan University | WCHA | 36 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Northern Michigan University | WCHA | 44 | 22 | 36 | 58 | 89 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Northern Michigan University | WCHA | 40 | 39 | 44 | 83 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 72 | 18 | 26 | 44 | 93 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1993–94 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 47 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Adirondack Red Wings | AHL | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 15 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 43 | 8 | 18 | 26 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 69 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 63 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 52 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1997–98 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 60 | 11 | 29 | 40 | 71 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 53 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 65 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 79 | 15 | 30 | 45 | 62 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 82 | 12 | 29 | 41 | 71 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 16 | ||
| 2001–02 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 80 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 87 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2002–03 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 80 | 20 | 10 | 30 | 66 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 23 | ||
| 2003–04 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 79 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 65 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 62 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 60 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 65 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 41 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,009 | 177 | 300 | 477 | 885 | 90 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 79 | ||||
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Award Created | WCHA Defensive Player of the Year 1991–92 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | St. Louis Blues captain 2005–07 | Succeeded by |