| Craig Ludwig | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Ludwig in 2011 | |||
| Born | (1961-03-15)March 15, 1961 (age 64) Rhinelander,Wisconsin, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens New York Islanders Minnesota North Stars Dallas Stars | ||
| National team |  United States | ||
| NHL draft | 61st overall,1980 Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 1982–1999 | ||
Craig Lee Ludwig (born March 15, 1961) is anAmerican former professional hockey player. He played as adefenceman in theNational Hockey League from1982 to1999 and was renowned for his shot-blocking ability. Ludwig was the color analyst for theDallas Stars television and radio broadcasts for two seasons from 2016 to 2018.
Ludwig played high school hockey at Northland Pines High School inEagle River, Wisconsin from 1975–1979. He helped the Eagles to the semi-finals in 1978–1979. He played on theUSA Hockey National Junior Team that touredGermany in 1979–80. Ludwig went on to attend theUniversity of North Dakota from 1979–1982 as awalk on. He won twoNational Championships while playing for theFighting Sioux, alongside other future NHL playersJames Patrick,Mark Taylor,Doug Smail,Dave Tippett,Rick Zombo,Phil Sykes,Troy Murray, andJon Casey.
Ludwig was drafted by theMontreal Canadiens in the 3rd round of the1980 NHL Entry Draft, 61st overall. He won aStanley Cup with the team in1986. In1990 he was traded to theNew York Islanders forGerald Diduck. After one season with the Isles, Ludwig signed as a free agent with theMinnesota North Stars.
After joining the North Stars in 1991, he moved with the team toDallas in1993 and finished his career in1999 after helping the Dallas Stars win their firstStanley Cup.[1] Ludwig was analternate captain for the Stars during his time with the team.
Ludwig was inducted into theWisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. After his retirement, he worked as an assistant coach for theUtah Grizzlies, Dallas Stars, andTexas Tornado. All three of his sons played hockey in college with his younger son, CJ, having played for Northern Michigan and older son Trevor for Providence College and Tyler for the University of Western Michigan. All three also went on to play professionally.
Ludwig assistant coaches in the Dallas Stars Elite hockey club and resides with wife, Kim, in Dallas and Eagle River, WI.
Ludwig currently hosts a podcast called Suds With Luds.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1975–76 | Northland Pines High School | HS-WI | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976–77 | Northland Pines High School | HS-WI | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Northland Pines High School | HS-WI | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Northland Pines High School | HS-WI | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 33 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 34 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 37 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1983–84 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 52 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 23 | ||
| 1984–85 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 72 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 90 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 1985–86 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 63 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 48 | ||
| 1986–87 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 75 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 105 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 30 | ||
| 1987–88 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 74 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 69 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 1988–89 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 74 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 73 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 24 | ||
| 1989–90 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 73 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 108 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | ||
| 1990–91 | New York Islanders | NHL | 75 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 73 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 54 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | ||
| 1992–93 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 78 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 153 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 84 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 123 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1994–95 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 47 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 61 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1995–96 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 65 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 70 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 77 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 62 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | ||
| 1997–98 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 80 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 131 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 | ||
| 1998–99 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 80 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 87 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 20 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,256 | 38 | 184 | 222 | 1,437 | 177 | 4 | 24 | 28 | 244 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | United States | WJC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| All-WCHASecond Team | 1981–82 | [2] |
| Stanley Cup | 1986,1999 |