Raymond D. Whitney(born May 8, 1972) is aCanadianformer professionalice hockeyplayer in theNational Hockey League(NHL).[1]He was given the nickname "The Wizard"for his passing and playmaking skills.
| Ray Whitney | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Whitney with theCarolina Hurricanesin 2006 | |||
| Born |
May 8, 1972 Fort Saskatchewan,Alberta, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for |
San Jose Sharks Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings Carolina Hurricanes Phoenix Coyotes Dallas Stars | ||
| National team |
 Canada | ||
| NHL draft |
23rd overall,1991 San Jose Sharks | ||
| Playing career | 1991–2014 | ||
Whitney is considered to have been one of the most underrated players in the NHL, as his name has rarely been mentioned amongst hockey fans and writers despite his consistently high point-production throughout his entire 22-year career,[2]making him one of thetop 65 point producersin the history of the NHL. On January 29, 2016, Whitney became the firstSpokane Chiefsplayer to have their number retired (#14).[3]He won theStanley Cupwith theCarolina Hurricanesin2006.
Playing career
editLong before Whitney played in the NHL, he and his brother Dean were stick boys for the NHL'sWayne GretzkyeraEdmonton Oilers.The third stick boy with the Whitney brothers was another future NHL player,Ryan Smyth.[4]
During his junior career, Whitney spent three years with theSpokane Chiefsof theWestern Hockey League(WHL), leading the entire league with 185 points during the 1990-91 season. Whitney and the Chiefs won the1991 Memorial Cupas champions of theCanadian Hockey League.[5]
Whitney was the second player ever drafted by theSan Jose Sharks,picked in the second round (23rd overall) in the1991 NHL Entry Draft.Pat Falloon,his teammate with the WHL's Spokane Chiefs, was the Sharks' first pick.[6]The Sharks had thought the pair would be a natural scoring combination, but that didn't pan out. Whitney started his professional career in the 1991-92 season, playing with teams in the GermanDeutsche Eishockey Ligaand theInternational Hockey League,as well as two games with the San Jose Sharks. He developed into a regular with San Jose over the next two seasons.
Whitney has played for several different NHL teams during his 24-year career, including the San Jose Sharks (1991–92to1996–97),Edmonton Oilers(1997–98),Florida Panthers(1997–98 to2000–01),Columbus Blue Jackets(2000–01 to2002–03),Detroit Red Wings(2003–04),Carolina Hurricanes,Phoenix Coyotes,andDallas Stars(details below).
On August 6, 2005, Whitney signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes paying him $1.5 million per year. In his first season with the Hurricanes in2005–06,Whitney helped Carolina win their firstStanley Cupwith fellow Fort Saskatchewan nativeMike Commodore.[7]
On February 8, 2007, Whitney scored anatural hat trickin just 1 minute and 40 seconds.[8]
On April 13, 2007, Whitney re-signed with the Hurricanes, agreeing to a three-year contract that pays him $3.5 million per year.[9]
On July 1, 2010, Whitney signed a 2-year deal with thePhoenix Coyotesfor $3 million per year.[10]
Whitney is known for his comedic tendencies for doing such things as making sure he's visible in pre-game on-screen interviews behind the interviewee, leading to the Hurricanes fans' favorite game of "Where's Whitney"? His commonly used nickname is "Wizard," which was originally given to him by former Florida Panthersplay-by-playcommentatorJeff Rimer.
Whitney was the last remaining member of the San Jose Sharks inaugural team (1991–92) active in the NHL until his retirement on January 21, 2015.[11]He was also the last remaining active player to get his start in the NHL as a member of the expansion San Jose Sharks.
On March 31, 2012, Whitney became only the79th playerin the history of the NHL to score 1,000 regular-season points, when he registered an assist in a game against theAnaheim Ducks.As of the end of the 2013-14 season, he is number 62 all time for regular-season points in the NHL.
On July 1, 2012, Whitney signed a 2-year, $9 million contract with the Dallas Stars.
On January 21, 2015, he announced his retirement as an NHL player, ending a career after producing 1,064 points (385-679) in 1,330 regular-season games.[12]At the time of his retirement, he was the leader in points, assists and games played for the entire 1991 NHL draft class.
Personal life
editRay and wife Brijet married in 2000 and have three children; two daughters and a son.[13][14]He is known by his nickname "The Wizard".[citation needed]
International play
editWhitney has been a member ofTeam Canadaat four differentIce Hockey World Championships.He made his debut at the1998 World Championship,recording six points in seven games while Canada finished out of the medals. Whitney notched seven points in 10 games at the1999 World Championship,again missing a medal when Canada lost in the semifinals to theCzech Republic.He joined Team Canada at the2002 World Championshipwith Canada again failing to medal. At the2010 World Championship,Whitney replacedRyan Smythas Canada's captain, when Smyth broke his foot early in the tournament.[15]Canada did not win a medal in that year's world championship.
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1987–88 | Fort Saskatchewan Pop Shop Selects | AMBHL | 71 | 80 | 155 | 235 | 119 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 71 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 71 | 57 | 56 | 113 | 50 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 1990–91 | Spokane Chiefs | WHL | 72 | 67 | 118 | 185 | 36 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 12 | ||
| 1991–92 | Kölner Haie | 1.GBun | 10 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | San Diego Gulls | IHL | 63 | 36 | 54 | 90 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1991–92 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Kansas City Blades | IHL | 46 | 20 | 33 | 53 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 | ||
| 1992–93 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 26 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 61 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 1994–95 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 39 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 14 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | ||
| 1995–96 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 60 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Kentucky Thoroughblades | AHL | 9 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Utah Grizzlies | IHL | 43 | 13 | 35 | 48 | 34 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 1997–98 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 68 | 32 | 29 | 61 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 81 | 26 | 38 | 64 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 81 | 29 | 42 | 71 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 43 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 67 | 21 | 40 | 61 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 81 | 24 | 52 | 76 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 67 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||
| 2005–06 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 63 | 17 | 38 | 55 | 42 | 24 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 14 | ||
| 2006–07 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 81 | 32 | 51 | 83 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 66 | 25 | 36 | 61 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 82 | 24 | 53 | 77 | 32 | 18 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 80 | 21 | 37 | 58 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 75 | 17 | 40 | 57 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 82 | 24 | 53 | 77 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 2012–13 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 32 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 69 | 9 | 23 | 32 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,330 | 385 | 679 | 1,064 | 465 | 108 | 21 | 32 | 53 | 48 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Canada | WC | 6th | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |
| 1999 | Canada | WC | 4th | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 22 | |
| 2002 | Canada | WC | 6th | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2010 | Canada | WC | 7th | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 30 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 28 | ||||
Awards and honours
edit| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| WHL | |
| West first All-Star team | 1991 |
| Bob Clarke Trophy | 1991 |
| Four Broncos Memorial Trophy | 1991 |
| WHL Champion | 1991 |
| Memorial CupAll-Star team | 1991 |
| Memorial Cup Most Sportsmanlike Player | 1991 |
| Memorial Cup Champion | 1991 |
| NHL | |
| All-Star Games | 2000,2003 |
| Stanley Cupchampion | 2006 |
| Second All-Star team | 2012 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Numbers Game: Stars Sign Veteran Scorer Ray Whitney".TSN.2012-07-01.Retrieved2012-07-01.
- ^"Overlooked and Underrated: Ray Whitney".The Hockey Writers. 2009-07-27.Retrieved2010-01-26.
- ^"Spokane Chiefs Officially Retire Ray Whitney's number 14".RetrievedJanuary 30,2016.
- ^Cam Cole (2006-06-05)."Cup Dreams Collide".The Vancouver Sun.CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.Retrieved2015-11-12.
- ^"Trip down Memorial Lane: 'Scouts were high' on 1990-91 Spokane Chiefs team loaded with talent | The Spokesman-Review".www.spokesman.com.Retrieved2024-02-09.
- ^"Curious Case of Ray Whitney".gretzky.com. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-06-30.Retrieved2012-03-26.
- ^"'The Wizard' enjoying magical run with 'Canes ".Associated Press.2006-05-16. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-05-16.Retrieved2008-06-18.
- ^Morgan, Craig (23 January 2015)."Ray Whitney's legacy: leadership, humor, underappreciated skill".Retrieved2016-07-20.
- ^"Hurricanes re-sign Whitney".cbc.ca.2007-04-13.Retrieved2024-02-09.
- ^"Vet Whitney signs 2-year deal with Coyotes".www.sportsnet.ca.Retrieved2024-02-09.
- ^"San Jose Sharks 1991–92 roster".San Jose Sharks.2009-07-07.Retrieved2009-07-07.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Ray Whitney retires after 22 NHL seasons".21 January 2015.
- ^"Carolina Hurricanes 2009-10 Media Guide"(PDF).Carolina Hurricanes.January 2, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 2,2013.
- ^"Carolina Hurricanes 2008-09 Media Guide"(PDF).Carolina Hurricanes.January 2, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 2,2013.
- ^"Ray Whitney to Replace Ryan Smyth as Canada's Captain at 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany; Beauchemin, Perry and Stamkos to Continue as Alternate Captains".Hockey Canada.2010-05-12.Retrieved2010-05-12.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics fromNHL.com,orEliteprospects.com,orEurohockey.com,orHockey-Reference.com,orThe Internet Hockey Database,orTSN.ca