Drew Stafford
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Right Wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 202 lb (92 kg) |
| NHL Team | Buffalo Sabres |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | October 30, 1985, Milwaukee, WI, US |
| NHL Draft | 13th overall, 2004 Buffalo Sabres |
| Pro Career | 2006 – present |
Drew Stafford (born October 30, 1985 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American ice hockey forward. He played for the AHL's Rochester Americans before being called up to the National Hockey League to play for the Buffalo Sabres on November 5, 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Playing career
Stafford spent one year in St. Albert, Alberta, playing for the St. Albert Bantam AA Flyers. During this season(1999-2000) he finished 3rd in league scoring with 26 goals and 47 points in 30 league games, and led his team to a provincial berth. At the conclusion of the season Stafford was selected to participate in Hockey Alberta's elite development program as a member of the Northwest Sharks in the 2000 Pioneer Chrysler Alberta Cup.
Prior to playing at North Dakota, Stafford played minor hockey at Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault Minesota. Following his stint at St. Mary's he took another step forward in hockey career, playing three seasons with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Following his freshman season, Stafford was drafted in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres. After two more seasons, he signed a contract with the Sabres in 2006 for his impressive play at both the WCHA and international level, foregoing his senior season at the University of North Dakota.
He started his professional career with Buffalo's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. With nine points in the first eleven games of the season, he caught the attention of the Sabres' management, and was called up to Buffalo in early November to replace injured winger Maxim Afinogenov. In his NHL debut on November 5 against the New York Rangers, Stafford assisted on a game-winning overtime goal by Daniel Briere. On November 11, he scored his first goal in the NHL on the Philadelphia Flyers' Antero Niittymäki.
[edit] Awards
- 2004: Gold Medal (2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships)
[edit] Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2003-04 | North Dakota Fighting Sioux | WCHA | 36 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2004-05 | North Dakota Fighting Sioux | WCHA | 40 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 34 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2005-06 | North Dakota Fighting Sioux | WCHA | 41 | 24 | 23 | 47 | 63 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006-07 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 11 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006-07 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| WCHA Totals | 177 | 48 | 66 | 114 | 127 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||
| NHL Totals | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||||
as of November 20, 2006
[edit] International play
Played for the United States in:
- 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
[edit] International Statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | United States | WJC | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2005 | United States | WJC | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 12 |
| 2006 | United States | WC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
[edit] References
- Buffalo Sabres.
- (3 May 2006). Sabres Sign Drew Stafford. Press release.
- (5 Nov 2006). Sabres Rebound In Big Apple. Press release.
- Drew Stafford. Retrieved 6 Nov 2006.
- Internet Hockey Database. Drew Stafford. Retrieved 7 May 2006.
- USA Hockey. Drew Stafford. Retrieved 8 May 2006.
- Edmonton Minor Hockey Association Banatam AA League
