Dan Woodley
Encyclopedia
Dan Woodley is a retired professional ice hockey player who played briefly in the National Hockey League
for the Vancouver Canucks
during the 1987–88 NHL season.
by the Canucks. He helped the Portland Winter Hawks
to the 1986 Memorial Cup
Finals and was considered a sure-fire NHL winger. He turned pro in 1987–88 and had a solid season, recording 66 points in 69 IHL games and scoring 2 goals in 5 games with the Canucks.
However, after a poor start to the 1988–89 season in the IHL, he was transferred to the Montreal Canadiens
in exchange for Jose Charbonneau
. He did not fare any better in Montreal's system, and finished the year with just 18 goals. Following two more mediocre seasons for Montreal, he was released in 1991. He then moved to the ECHL
and played four more seasons before retiring in 1995.
Woodley's lack of success was surprising, given his high place in the 1986 draft. No player who drafted higher than Woodley in the 1980s played fewer than his 5 NHL games, and he was one of only three top-10 picks (Jason Herter
and Dan Gratton
being the others) to play fewer than 10 NHL games. In contrast, future Hockey Hall of Fame
defender Brian Leetch
, who would star against Vancouver in the 1994 Stanley Cup
Finals, was selected just 2 picks later than Woodley by the New York Rangers
.
Woodley currently lives in Denver, Colorado
with his family. He coaches the Regis Jesuit High School
varsity team. In his third year with the team, the 2007–2008 Regis Jesuit HS team posted an overall record of 20-1-1 and captured the state High School championship with a dramatic double-overtime 3–2 victory. The Regis team went undefeated in 2008-2009 to win their second consecutive State Championship. This fall he will be in his fifth year with the team. Woodley also coaches a youth hockey team in Colorado.
Woodley is the son of Dave Woodley, who was playing for the Oklahoma City Blazers
of the Central Hockey League
when Dan was born. Dan Woodley has the distinction of being the only Oklahoma native ever selected in the first round of the NHL draft.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
for the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
during the 1987–88 NHL season.
Playing career
Woodley was selected 7th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft1986 NHL Entry Draft
The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 21, 1986 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1985–86 NHL season and playoff standings...
by the Canucks. He helped the Portland Winter Hawks
Portland Winter Hawks
The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the...
to the 1986 Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
Finals and was considered a sure-fire NHL winger. He turned pro in 1987–88 and had a solid season, recording 66 points in 69 IHL games and scoring 2 goals in 5 games with the Canucks.
However, after a poor start to the 1988–89 season in the IHL, he was transferred to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in exchange for Jose Charbonneau
José Charbonneau
Jose Charbonneau is a retired professional ice hockey player who spent parts of 4 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1987 and 1995.-Playing career:...
. He did not fare any better in Montreal's system, and finished the year with just 18 goals. Following two more mediocre seasons for Montreal, he was released in 1991. He then moved to the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
and played four more seasons before retiring in 1995.
Woodley's lack of success was surprising, given his high place in the 1986 draft. No player who drafted higher than Woodley in the 1980s played fewer than his 5 NHL games, and he was one of only three top-10 picks (Jason Herter
Jason Herter
Jason Herter is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently a head coach with the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League ....
and Dan Gratton
Dan Gratton
Daniel Gratton is a former NHL player.He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings with the 10th overall pick in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft...
being the others) to play fewer than 10 NHL games. In contrast, future Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
defender Brian Leetch
Brian Leetch
Brian Joseph Leetch is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 18 National Hockey League seasons with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He is generally considered one of the top defensemen in NHL history, being particularly noted for his...
, who would star against Vancouver in the 1994 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Finals, was selected just 2 picks later than Woodley by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
Woodley currently lives in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
with his family. He coaches the Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School
Regis Jesuit High School is a Jesuit Catholic college preparatory high school located in Aurora, Colorado. Founded in 1877, the high school shares much of its history with its counterpart Regis University in neighboring Denver, Colorado....
varsity team. In his third year with the team, the 2007–2008 Regis Jesuit HS team posted an overall record of 20-1-1 and captured the state High School championship with a dramatic double-overtime 3–2 victory. The Regis team went undefeated in 2008-2009 to win their second consecutive State Championship. This fall he will be in his fifth year with the team. Woodley also coaches a youth hockey team in Colorado.
Woodley is the son of Dave Woodley, who was playing for the Oklahoma City Blazers
Oklahoma City Blazers
The Oklahoma City Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the Northwest Division of the Central Hockey League. The Blazers played at the Ford Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Their colors were burgundy, gold and white...
of the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
when Dan was born. Dan Woodley has the distinction of being the only Oklahoma native ever selected in the first round of the NHL draft.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1983-84 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 6 1 2 3 2 8 1 3 4 4
1983-84 Summerland Buckaroos BCJHL 54 17 34 51 31 -- -- -- -- --
1984-85 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 63 21 36 57 108 1 0 0 0 0
1985-86 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 62 45 47 92 100 12 0 8 8 31
1986-87 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 47 30 50 80 81 19 19 17 36 52
1987-88 Vancouver Canucks NHL 5 2 0 2 17 -- -- -- -- --
1987-88 Flint Spirits IHL 69 29 37 66 104 9 1 3 4 26
1988-89 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 30 9 16 25 69 4 1 6 7 5
1988-89 Milwaukee Admirals IHL 30 9 12 21 48 -- -- -- -- --
1989-90 Sherbrooke Canadiens AHL 65 18 40 58 144 10 1 6 7 58
1990-91 Fredericton Canadiens AHL 4 0 0 0 4 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Kansas City Blades IHL 20 6 4 10 30 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Albany Choppers IHL 31 8 17 25 36 -- -- -- -- --
1991-92 Winston-Salem Thunderbird ECHL 57 24 42 66 102 5 3 3 6 2
1992-93 Flint Bulldogs CoHL 39 20 36 56 112 6 4 7 11 21
1993-94 Muskegon Fury CoHL 58 43 58 101 217 1 0 0 0 0
1994-95 Muskegon Fury CoHL 43 25 26 51 87 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Saginaw Wheels CoHL 11 11 4 15 18 2 1 1 2 24
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NHL Totals 5 2 0 2 17 -- -- -- -- --