Scott Parker (ice hockey)

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Scott Parker (born January 29, 1978 in Hanford, California) is an American professional ice hockey right winger in the National Hockey League who has played for the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.

[edit] Playing Career

Parker earned his nickname, "The Sheriff", from his reputation as a feared fighter and enforcer. After playing several seasons in the WHL, Parker started his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 and was a member of their 2001 Stanley Cup Championship team.

The engraved names of the 2000-01 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche

As a rookie Parker sported a massive beard, comparable to those of members of ZZ Top. He played in the 1999 Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Red Wings at the height of the great Colorado-Detroit rivalry. However, he was used sparsely.

Parker was acquired by San Jose for a fifth round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft on June 21, 2003. Parker is currently on the last year of a two-year contract worth US$1.17 million. Parker has been praised by his teammates in San Jose for bringing moral character into the locker room, as well as for providing inspirational speeches. In 2005, Parker was struck in the head by the puck, and spent a long time off the ice recovering from the resultive concussion.

In a game against the Nashville Predators on March 11, 2006, Parker jumped over the glass between the two teams' benches to fight Nashville defenseman Brendan Witt. As a result, he was suspended for two games. [1]

On February 27, 2007, Parker was re-acquired by the Colorado Avalanche from the Sharks for a 6th round draft pick in the 2008 draft.