David Booth
Encyclopedia
David Booth is an American
professional ice hockey
player currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). Following his sophomore year with the Michigan State Spartans
, he was selected 53rd overall by the Florida Panthers
in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
. He spent four years playing college hockey
before turning professional with the Panthers organization in 2006–07. During his sixth season with the team, Booth was traded to the Canucks in October 2011. Known as an offensive forward and a fast skater, he has reached the 30-goal plateau once in his NHL career. Representing the United States
in international competition, he has won gold medals at the 2002 IIHF World U18 and 2004 IIHF World U20 Championships
. He has also competed in the 2008 IIHF World Championship
.
with the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
of the North American Hockey League
(NAHL). He recorded 30 points (17 goals and 13 assists) over 42 games in 2000–01, earning him NAHL All-Rookie Team and Rookie of the Year honours. The following season, he joined the United States National Team Development Program
and competed for their junior and under-18 teams in the United States Hockey League
(USHL) and NAHL, respectively.
During his time with the Development Program, he committed to an athletic scholarship
with the Michigan State Spartans
of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
(CCHA). Joining the Spartans in 2002–03, he recorded 36 points (17 goals and 19 assists) over 39 games, ranking 4th in team scoring and 13th in the CCHA overall. His freshman year included two CCHA Rookie of the Week distinctions and a hat trick
, recorded on January 10, 2003, in a 5–2 win against the Alaska Nanooks
. His efforts as a freshman
earned him Spartans Rookie of the Year and CCHA All-Rookie Team honours. Although Booth was eligible for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
, National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) rules stipulated that players under the age of 19 could not opt into the draft without foregoing their college eligibility.
Early the following season, Booth sustained a knee injury that forced him out of the lineup for several games. He finished his sophomore year with 18 points (8 goals and 10 assists) over 30 contests. Despite decreased production in his draft year for the National Hockey League
(NHL), he remained highly-ranked by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
(CSB) at the end of the season. He was listed at 27th among skaters playing in North America by the CSB, while The Hockey News
ranked him 33rd overall. During the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
, Booth was selected in the second round, 53rd overall, by the Florida Panthers
. He was scouted as a player with size and toughness, while a USA Today
article declared that he "would have gone much higher if he opted into the draft [the previous] season."
Following his draft, Booth returned to Michigan State to complete his four-year tenure with the school. During his junior
year, he and teammate Bryan Lerg
set a Spartans record for the fastest two goals scored in a game (five seconds apart). Their goals came in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Alaska Nanooks in February 2005 and surpassed the previous record by one second. Later that month, Booth sustained a cracked rib and was sidelined for several games. He finished the 2004–05 season with 16 points (7 goals and 9 assists) over 29 contests.
In the first month of his senior year
, Booth played in his 100th career college game against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux on October 16, 2005, a contest in which he recorded a short handed goal in a 3–0 win. Booth later missed some playing time due to injury before returning to the lineup in late-November 2005. After struggling to score in the first half of the 2005–06 season (he recorded nine points in the first three months), Booth finished with 35 points (13 goals and 22 assists) over 37 games. His strong offensive production in the second half included an 11-game point-scoring streak that was broken on the last regular season game against the Miami RedHawks
. In the 2006 CCHA playoffs
, Booth helped the Spartans to a Mason Cup
as league champions. Facing the Miami RedHawks in the final, Booth scored the game-winning goal six minutes in the second period, securing a 2–1 win for Michigan State. Moving on to the 2006 NCAA Tournament, they were eliminated in the regional final by the Maine Black Bears 5–4. Booth scored a goal and an assist in the losing effort. Over four years with the Spartans, Booth finished his college career with 105 points in 134 games.
(AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans
, to start 2006–07. Within two months, he was called up to the Panthers on November 20. Making his NHL debut that night against the Boston Bruins
, he registered 11-and-a-half minutes of ice time in a 3–2 win. After being returned to the AHL six days later, he received another call-up the following month.. During his second stint with the team, he recorded his first NHL point on December 12 against the Anaheim Ducks
. Booth drew the first assist on the game's first goal by Drew Larman
; the Panthers went on to lose 5–4. Sent back down to Rochester and recalled one more time in December, he remained with the team for the remainder of the campaign. Booth later scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2007, against Jamie McLennan
in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames
. In the final month of the campaign, he registered his first game-winning goal in the NHL on April 6 in a 7–2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning
. Booth completed his rookie NHL season with 10 points (3 goals and 7 assists) over 48 games, while also recording 14 points (7 goals and 7 assists) over 25 AHL games.
Early in the 2007–08 season, Booth was injured after receiving a check from behind during a game against the Ottawa Senators
on October 20, 2007. While playing the puck, he collided with Senators defenceman Anton Volchenkov
, causing his head to hit the boards. Volchenkov received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct on the play, while Booth was taken off the ice in a stretcher. He was brought to an Ottawa
hospital for precautionary measurses and returned home the same night with a sore neck. While a suspension for Volchenkov was suggested in the media following the game, the league chose not to hold a hearing regarding the incident. Senators head coach John Paddock
was quick to dismiss the notion of a suspension, asserting that Booth turned into Volchenkov, as opposed to the Senators defenceman forcefully initiating contact. Booth missed one game due to the injury. Later in the campaign, he missed eight games with a knee injury. Missing nine games total, he recorded 40 points (22 goals and 18 assists) over 73 contests, ranking fourth in team scoring. Becoming an integral part of the Panthers' lineup, he also led the team with six game-winning goals.
The following season
, Booth recorded his first career NHL natural hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks on November 9, 2008. He scored all the Panthers goals against Jean-Sebastien Giguere
in a 3–1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The following month, he sustained a left shoulder injury that sidelined him for eight games. After returning, he began a eight-game point-scoring streak that lasted from December 27, 2008 to January 10, 2009. Later in the season, he recorded another hat trick against the St. Louis Blues
on March 7, 2009. Scoring all three goals against Chris Mason, Booth helped the Panthers to a 5–3 win. His efforts made him the second player in team history to register two hat tricks in one season, after Pavel Bure
, Ray Sheppard
and Olli Jokinen
. He also added an assist for a four-point game. Booth bettered that total on the last game of the regular season, scoring two goals and three assists for a personal best five-point effort in a 7–4 win against the Washington Capitals
on April 11, 2009. Booth finished the season with career-highs of 31 goals, 29 assists and 60 points over 72 games. While leading the Panthers in goals, powerplay goals (11), game-winning goals (5; tied with Nathan Horton
, and shots (246), he finished one point behind team-leader Stephen Weiss
(who played six more games than Booth). During his breakout season, Booth became a favorite among team followers; home fans at BankAtlantic Center
were known to cheer "Booooth" when he touched the puck during games. At the end of the campaign, he was named the team's most valuable player
after the annual fan vote online. Set to become a restricted free agent
in the off-season, Booth was tendered a qualifying offer by the Panthers on June 29, 2009. Two days later, he signed a six-year, $25.5 million contract. Upon announcing the contract, Panthers general manager Randy Sexton
heralded Booth as "undoubtedly an important part of [the] club's future...[and] a role model for other players," while embodying "every attribute of what a true Panthers player stands for".
During the first month of the 2009–10 season
, Booth sustained a concussion after being hit by Philadelphia Flyers
forward Mike Richards
during a game on October 24, 2009. Skating up to the Flyers' blueline, Booth had shot the puck into the offensive zone when Richards hit him with his shoulder in the head. Rendered unconscious, Booth was taken off the ice on a stretcher and brought to a Philadelphia hospital. In addition to his concussion, he sustained a cut above one eye that required stitches; he was released the next day. While Richards received a five-minute major penalty for interference and a game misconduct for intent to injure, he was not suspended for the play. The decision not to further penalize Richards proved to be a highly contentious issue. Panthers general manager Randy Sexton and defenceman Keith Ballard
voiced their opinion that Richards' hit was directed at the head while knowing Booth was in a vulnerable position. The Flyers captain expressed concern for Booth's health both in the media and to Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer
personally, but asserted that he was not intending to hurt him. Another concern was the timing of Richards' hit, as Booth had already release the puck. In response, NHL vice president Bill Daly
explained that the hit was not late enough to warrant suspension.
Booth returned to the lineup in January 2010 after missing 45 games with the head injury. During his absence, the Panthers and Flyers played each other on December 21, 2009, for the first time since Richards' hit. The game included four fights
, including one between Panthers defenceman and captain Bryan McCabe
and Richards. The teams met again with Booth in the lineup on March 3, 2010. After fighting Richards in the first period (one of four fights in the game and Booth's first in the NHL), Booth scored a goal and three assists (completing a Gordie Howe hat trick
) to help the Panthers to a 7–4 win.
Although the league had not suspended Richards for his actions against Booth, the incident was instrumental in the league's newfound efforts to eliminate hits to the head, particularly against players who cannot see the oncoming checker approaching (as was the case with Booth). Several months after Booth's October 2009 concussion, Boston Bruins
forward Marc Savard
was hit by Matt Cooke
in a similar fashion on March 7. Later that month, on March 25, the NHL Board of Governors and NHL Players Association
's executive board voted in favour of a rule penalizing "blindside hits" (bodychecking a player after having skated laterally towards him in his "blind spot
". That same night, Booth suffered his second concussion in five months during a game against the Montreal Canadiens
. While reaching back to retrieve a loose puck, Booth was hit in the head by opposing defenceman Jaroslav Spacek
's shoulder. No penalty was called on the play, while Booth was helped off the ice and taken to hospital. The hit did not receive suspension and did not spark controversy as Booth's previous concussion had. Following the game, Panthers forward Nathan Horton
asserted that "It wasn't a dirty hit"; Spacek expressed concern for Booth, but explained that "when he turned I was standing right there and basically he just ran at me." Sidelined for the remaining nine games of the season, he finished the campaign with 16 points (8 goals and 8 assists) over 28 games.
While Booth's hockey-playing future was initially in doubt following his second concussion, he returned for the 2010–11 season
and played all 82 games. Averaging 19 minutes of ice time per game (second among forward behind Weiss), he led the Panthers with 23 goals while ranking third with 40 points (behind Weiss and Mike Santorelli
). With 280 shots, including a 14-shot effort against the Bruins on November 18, 2010, he led all Panthers' players and ranked 12th in the NHL overall. As a team, the Panthers continued to struggle and general manager Dale Tallon
began trading away many of their veteran players towards the end of the season; they finished with the worst record in the East.
, Booth was traded to the Vancouver Canucks
on October 22, 2011. The Panthers sent him, along with forward Steven Reinprecht
and a third round pick in the 2013 draft
, to Vancouver in exchange for forwards Mikael Samuelsson
and Marco Sturm
. Tallon described the deal as a performance-based trade; Booth had registered one assist over the first six games of the season and had a team-worst –6 plus-minus rating while being demoted to the third line. Booth was saddened and admittedly surprised at the trade. Booth had also been reportedly sought after by Vancouver for six months prior; the team conferred with alternate captain Ryan Kesler
regarding Booth's character on and off the ice (the two grew up playing minor and junior hockey together). Joining Vancouver, he switched his jersey number from 10 to 7, in honour of his younger sister, Rachael, who also wears the number as a hockey player.
Playing on the second line with countrymen Ryan Kesler
and Chris Higgins
, the scoring unit was immediately nicknamed the "American Express" line. Within several games, however, Higgins was replaced by Canadian Cody Hodgson
. He scored his first goal as a Canuck 15 days after the trade, opening the scoring in a 6–2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks
.
, Booth competed at the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championship, held in Trnava
and Piestany
, Slovakia
. Playing Russia in the last game of the final round, Booth scored the United States' first two goals of the game. A win against Russia placed the United States in a tie for the gold medal with four wins and one tie each. In order to beat Russia on the goal-differential
tiebreaker, they needed two win the contest by two goals. Leading 2–1 with a minute remaining, the United States pulled their goalie and Zach Parise
scored with thirty seconds left to capture the gold medal. Booth was named MVP of the gold medal game. Booth finished the tournament with two goals and two assists over eight games.
Two years later (now a member of the Michigan State Spartans), he moved on to the under-20 level, competing at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championships
, held in Helsinki
and Hameenlinna
, Finland
. He recorded his lone assist of the tournament on Dan Fritsche
's game-winning goal in the semifinal against Finland
. Booth and the United States went on to win the gold medal with a 4–3 win over Canada in the final. With a goal and an assist over six games, Booth tied for 12th in team point-scoring. In a 2011 interview for Canucks.com, Booth recalled his IIHF U18 and U20 gold medals as his first- and second-best hockey memories, respectively.
Following Booth's second season in the NHL with the Panthers, he was named to his first United States men's team for the 2008 IIHF World Championships, held in Halifax
and Quebec City
, Canada
. He scored his lone goal of the tournament (also his first international goal and point at the men's level) in a 5–1 preliminary round win against Slovakia. In the quarterfinals, the United States lost 3–2 to Finland and finished the tournament in sixth place. The following year, he was invited to the national team's summer orientation camp in anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympics
. After being sidelined long-term with post-concussion syndrome
the following season, however, he was taken out of consideration for the final roster.
. Along with his physical stature, he is a fast skater, both of which allow him to retain the puck and contribute to his offensive skills.
, and grew up in the nearby Washington Township
of Macomb County. His father's name is Mike. Booth has two brothers and one sister, Rachael. Raised in a Christian
household, Booth has continued to publicly profess his faith. Growing up, he was a fan of the Detroit Red Wings
and attended home games as his family owned season tickets. He has listed favorite players as a child as Red Wings forward Steve Yzerman
and Brendan Shanahan
, as well as Keith Tkachuk
, who played for the Phoenix Coyotes
franchise, St. Louis Blues
and Atlanta Thrashers
.
During Booth's minor hockey career, he was linemates
with fellow Michigan-native Ryan Kesler
for two years, beginning at age 12. The two went on to become teammates with the U.S. National Development Team Program
, the U.S. national junior team
and the Vancouver Canucks
. In addition to hockey, he also played baseball and golf growing up.
Booth earned his secondary education
at Lutheran High School North in Macomb and Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan
. He moved to and graduated from the latter to facilitate his participation with the United States National Development Program
, which was based out of Ann Arbor. During his tenure with the Development Program, he made the choice to play NCAA hockey, opting against the major junior Ontario Hockey League
in order to attend college. The decision was encouraged by his father who valued Booth's education. Enroled at Michigan State University
while playing for the school's hockey team, he studied dentistry
before switching to general management.
During Booth's career with the Panthers, he lived with his younger brother in Florida
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player currently playing 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,...
of the National Hockey League
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...
(NHL). Following his sophomore year with the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey
The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,...
, he was selected 53rd overall by the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
2004 NHL Entry Draft
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which canceled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.- Selections by round :Listed...
. He spent four years playing college hockey
College hockey
College hockey refers to ice hockey played between colleges with their teams composed of enrolled students. College hockey is played in Canada and the United States, though leagues outside of North America exist....
before turning professional with the Panthers organization in 2006–07. During his sixth season with the team, Booth was traded to the Canucks in October 2011. Known as an offensive forward and a fast skater, he has reached the 30-goal plateau once in his NHL career. Representing the United States
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
in international competition, he has won gold medals at the 2002 IIHF World U18 and 2004 IIHF World U20 Championships
2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 26, 2003 and January 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland...
. He has also competed in the 2008 IIHF World Championship
2008 IIHF World Championship
The 2008 IIHF World Championship was played between May 2 and May 18, 2008 in the Canadian cities of Halifax and Quebec City . The two venues were the Halifax Metro Centre and the Colisée Pepsi...
.
Amateur career
After playing minor hockey with the Fraser Falcons, then the Detroit Honeybaked of the Midwest Elite Hockey League, Booth moved on to the Junior A levelJunior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
with the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
Detroit Compuware Ambassadors
The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors are an elite Midget Major ice hockey team playing in the Tier I Elite Hockey League. The Ambassadors have previously had separate franchises that competed in North American Hockey League and in the Ontario Hockey League for two seasons from 1990 to 1992...
of the North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
(NAHL). He recorded 30 points (17 goals and 13 assists) over 42 games in 2000–01, earning him NAHL All-Rookie Team and Rookie of the Year honours. The following season, he joined the United States National Team Development Program
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
and competed for their junior and under-18 teams in the United States Hockey League
United States Hockey League
The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger...
(USHL) and NAHL, respectively.
During his time with the Development Program, he committed to an athletic scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
with the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey
The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,...
of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
(CCHA). Joining the Spartans in 2002–03, he recorded 36 points (17 goals and 19 assists) over 39 games, ranking 4th in team scoring and 13th in the CCHA overall. His freshman year included two CCHA Rookie of the Week distinctions and a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
, recorded on January 10, 2003, in a 5–2 win against the Alaska Nanooks
Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey
The Alaska Nanooks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The Nanooks are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association . They play at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks,...
. His efforts as a freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
earned him Spartans Rookie of the Year and CCHA All-Rookie Team honours. Although Booth was eligible for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
2003 NHL Entry Draft
The 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21, 2003.Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, only the third goalie in NHL history selected as the first overall draft choice...
, National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) rules stipulated that players under the age of 19 could not opt into the draft without foregoing their college eligibility.
Early the following season, Booth sustained a knee injury that forced him out of the lineup for several games. He finished his sophomore year with 18 points (8 goals and 10 assists) over 30 contests. Despite decreased production in his draft year for the National Hockey League
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...
(NHL), he remained highly-ranked by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
(CSB) at the end of the season. He was listed at 27th among skaters playing in North America by the CSB, while The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
ranked him 33rd overall. During the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
2004 NHL Entry Draft
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which canceled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.- Selections by round :Listed...
, Booth was selected in the second round, 53rd overall, by the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
. He was scouted as a player with size and toughness, while a USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
article declared that he "would have gone much higher if he opted into the draft [the previous] season."
Following his draft, Booth returned to Michigan State to complete his four-year tenure with the school. During his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
year, he and teammate Bryan Lerg
Bryan Lerg
-International:-External links:...
set a Spartans record for the fastest two goals scored in a game (five seconds apart). Their goals came in a 6–5 overtime loss to the Alaska Nanooks in February 2005 and surpassed the previous record by one second. Later that month, Booth sustained a cracked rib and was sidelined for several games. He finished the 2004–05 season with 16 points (7 goals and 9 assists) over 29 contests.
In the first month of his senior year
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
, Booth played in his 100th career college game against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux on October 16, 2005, a contest in which he recorded a short handed goal in a 3–0 win. Booth later missed some playing time due to injury before returning to the lineup in late-November 2005. After struggling to score in the first half of the 2005–06 season (he recorded nine points in the first three months), Booth finished with 35 points (13 goals and 22 assists) over 37 games. His strong offensive production in the second half included an 11-game point-scoring streak that was broken on the last regular season game against the Miami RedHawks
Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey
The Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Miami University. The RedHawks are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
. In the 2006 CCHA playoffs
2006 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
- Nebraska-Omaha vs. Bowling Green:- Lake Superior State vs. Western Michigan:- Ferris State vs. Ohio State:- Notre Dame vs. Alaska:- Miami vs. Western Michigan:- Michigan State vs. Alaska:...
, Booth helped the Spartans to a Mason Cup
Mason Cup
The Mason Cup is awarded annually to the champion of the CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.On October 3, 2000, a unanimous vote among CCHA head coaches and athletic directors renamed the CCHA championship trophy the Mason Cup in honor of Ron Mason...
as league champions. Facing the Miami RedHawks in the final, Booth scored the game-winning goal six minutes in the second period, securing a 2–1 win for Michigan State. Moving on to the 2006 NCAA Tournament, they were eliminated in the regional final by the Maine Black Bears 5–4. Booth scored a goal and an assist in the losing effort. Over four years with the Spartans, Booth finished his college career with 105 points in 134 games.
Florida Panthers (2006–11)
On July 20, 2006, Booth signed with the Panthers. Joining the organization for the subsequent season, he was assigned to the Panthers' American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
, to start 2006–07. Within two months, he was called up to the Panthers on November 20. Making his NHL debut that night against the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, he registered 11-and-a-half minutes of ice time in a 3–2 win. After being returned to the AHL six days later, he received another call-up the following month.. During his second stint with the team, he recorded his first NHL point on December 12 against the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Booth drew the first assist on the game's first goal by Drew Larman
Drew Larman
Drew Robert Larman is an American ice hockey player for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
; the Panthers went on to lose 5–4. Sent back down to Rochester and recalled one more time in December, he remained with the team for the remainder of the campaign. Booth later scored his first NHL goal on January 4, 2007, against Jamie McLennan
Jamie McLennan
Jamie McLennan is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He retired from playing in 2008 after spending a season with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey.-Playing career:...
in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. In the final month of the campaign, he registered his first game-winning goal in the NHL on April 6 in a 7–2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. Booth completed his rookie NHL season with 10 points (3 goals and 7 assists) over 48 games, while also recording 14 points (7 goals and 7 assists) over 25 AHL games.
Early in the 2007–08 season, Booth was injured after receiving a check from behind during a game against the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on October 20, 2007. While playing the puck, he collided with Senators defenceman Anton Volchenkov
Anton Volchenkov
Anton Alekseyevich Volchenkov , also known as the A-Train and the Russian Bear, is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Volchenkov grew up in Moscow and began attending the CSKA hockey school at the...
, causing his head to hit the boards. Volchenkov received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct on the play, while Booth was taken off the ice in a stretcher. He was brought to an Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
hospital for precautionary measurses and returned home the same night with a sore neck. While a suspension for Volchenkov was suggested in the media following the game, the league chose not to hold a hearing regarding the incident. Senators head coach John Paddock
John Paddock
Alvin John Paddock is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the former head coach of the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . During his long career in the American Hockey League he won five Calder Cup championships and was inducted into the AHL's Hall...
was quick to dismiss the notion of a suspension, asserting that Booth turned into Volchenkov, as opposed to the Senators defenceman forcefully initiating contact. Booth missed one game due to the injury. Later in the campaign, he missed eight games with a knee injury. Missing nine games total, he recorded 40 points (22 goals and 18 assists) over 73 contests, ranking fourth in team scoring. Becoming an integral part of the Panthers' lineup, he also led the team with six game-winning goals.
The following season
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
, Booth recorded his first career NHL natural hat trick against the Anaheim Ducks on November 9, 2008. He scored all the Panthers goals against Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Jean-Sébastien Giguère
Jean-Sébastien Giguère is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . He played major junior with the Verdun Collège Français and Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , where he was drafted 13th...
in a 3–1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The following month, he sustained a left shoulder injury that sidelined him for eight games. After returning, he began a eight-game point-scoring streak that lasted from December 27, 2008 to January 10, 2009. Later in the season, he recorded another hat trick against the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
on March 7, 2009. Scoring all three goals against Chris Mason, Booth helped the Panthers to a 5–3 win. His efforts made him the second player in team history to register two hat tricks in one season, after Pavel Bure
Pavel Bure
Pavel Vladimirovich Bure is a retired Russian professional ice hockey right winger. Nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed, Bure played for 12 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers...
, Ray Sheppard
Ray Sheppard
Raymond Sheppard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL from 1987 to 2000.Sheppard was selected 60th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He played 817 career NHL games, scoring 357 goals and 300 assists for 657 points...
and Olli Jokinen
Olli Jokinen
Olli Jokinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was initially drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1997, third overall after Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. He was the captain of the Florida Panthers from 2003...
. He also added an assist for a four-point game. Booth bettered that total on the last game of the regular season, scoring two goals and three assists for a personal best five-point effort in a 7–4 win against the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
on April 11, 2009. Booth finished the season with career-highs of 31 goals, 29 assists and 60 points over 72 games. While leading the Panthers in goals, powerplay goals (11), game-winning goals (5; tied with Nathan Horton
Nathan Horton
Nathan Horton is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League...
, and shots (246), he finished one point behind team-leader Stephen Weiss
Stephen Weiss
Stephen Weiss is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Weiss plays the centre position and is an alternate captain for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League .-Plymouth Whalers:...
(who played six more games than Booth). During his breakout season, Booth became a favorite among team followers; home fans at BankAtlantic Center
BankAtlantic Center
The BankAtlantic Center is an indoor arena located in Sunrise, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and adjacent to the popular Sawgrass Mills Mall.The arena features 70 suites & 2,623 club seats.The arena is directly accessible from the Sawgrass Expressway...
were known to cheer "Booooth" when he touched the puck during games. At the end of the campaign, he was named the team's most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
after the annual fan vote online. Set to become a restricted free agent
Restricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
in the off-season, Booth was tendered a qualifying offer by the Panthers on June 29, 2009. Two days later, he signed a six-year, $25.5 million contract. Upon announcing the contract, Panthers general manager Randy Sexton
Randy Sexton
Randy Sexton is a Canadian ice hockey executive, businessman and former athlete. He is currently assistant director of amateur scouting for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He most recently was the general manager of the Florida Panthers of the NHL. He was one of the...
heralded Booth as "undoubtedly an important part of [the] club's future...[and] a role model for other players," while embodying "every attribute of what a true Panthers player stands for".
During the first month of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, Booth sustained a concussion after being hit by Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
forward Mike Richards
Mike Richards
Michael Richards is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . He previously played for and was captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.-Early years:...
during a game on October 24, 2009. Skating up to the Flyers' blueline, Booth had shot the puck into the offensive zone when Richards hit him with his shoulder in the head. Rendered unconscious, Booth was taken off the ice on a stretcher and brought to a Philadelphia hospital. In addition to his concussion, he sustained a cut above one eye that required stitches; he was released the next day. While Richards received a five-minute major penalty for interference and a game misconduct for intent to injure, he was not suspended for the play. The decision not to further penalize Richards proved to be a highly contentious issue. Panthers general manager Randy Sexton and defenceman Keith Ballard
Keith Ballard
Keith Ballard is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a member of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for three seasons...
voiced their opinion that Richards' hit was directed at the head while knowing Booth was in a vulnerable position. The Flyers captain expressed concern for Booth's health both in the media and to Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer
Peter DeBoer
Peter DeBoer is the head coach of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League and current part-owner of the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League...
personally, but asserted that he was not intending to hurt him. Another concern was the timing of Richards' hit, as Booth had already release the puck. In response, NHL vice president Bill Daly
Bill Daly
William L. "Bill" Daly is an attorney and the Current Deputy Commissioner and chief legal officer of the NHL under Commissioner Gary Bettman. He is also a Hockey Hall of Fame Board Member and former NHL Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. Before joining the NHL front office he worked for the...
explained that the hit was not late enough to warrant suspension.
Booth returned to the lineup in January 2010 after missing 45 games with the head injury. During his absence, the Panthers and Flyers played each other on December 21, 2009, for the first time since Richards' hit. The game included four fights
Fighting in ice hockey
Fighting in ice hockey is an established tradition of the sport in North America, with a long history involving many levels of amateur and professional play and including some notable individual fights. Although a definite source of criticism, it is a considerable draw for the sport, and some fans...
, including one between Panthers defenceman and captain Bryan McCabe
Bryan McCabe
Bryan McCabe is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is a free agent.McCabe moved to Calgary, Alberta at a young age and spent the majority of his minor hockey career playing in the Calgary area....
and Richards. The teams met again with Booth in the lineup on March 3, 2010. After fighting Richards in the first period (one of four fights in the game and Booth's first in the NHL), Booth scored a goal and three assists (completing a Gordie Howe hat trick
Gordie Howe hat trick
In ice hockey, a Gordie Howe hat trick is a variation on the hat-trick, wherein a player scores a goal, records an assist, and gets in a fight all in one game. It is named after Gordie Howe, well known for his skill at both scoring and fighting....
) to help the Panthers to a 7–4 win.
Although the league had not suspended Richards for his actions against Booth, the incident was instrumental in the league's newfound efforts to eliminate hits to the head, particularly against players who cannot see the oncoming checker approaching (as was the case with Booth). Several months after Booth's October 2009 concussion, Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
forward Marc Savard
Marc Savard
Marc Savard is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently under contract to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League , but who has not played since late in the season because of post-concussion syndrome...
was hit by Matt Cooke
Matt Cooke
Matthew David Cooke is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. His playing style has earned him a reputation of being a "pest" and he is known for his ability to aggravate opponents...
in a similar fashion on March 7. Later that month, on March 25, the NHL Board of Governors and NHL Players Association
NHL Players Association
The National Hockey League Players' Association or NHLPA is the labor union for the group of professional hockey players who are under Standard Player Contracts to the thirty member clubs in the National Hockey League located in the United States and Canada...
's executive board voted in favour of a rule penalizing "blindside hits" (bodychecking a player after having skated laterally towards him in his "blind spot
Blind spot
Blind spot may refer to:In ophthalmology:*Scotoma, an obscuration of the visual field*Optic disc, also known as the anatomical blind spot, the specific region of the retina where the optic nerve and blood vessels pass through to connect to the back of the eye*Blind spot , also known as the...
". That same night, Booth suffered his second concussion in five months during a game against 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 ...
. While reaching back to retrieve a loose puck, Booth was hit in the head by opposing defenceman Jaroslav Spacek
Jaroslav Spacek
Jaroslav Spacek is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
's shoulder. No penalty was called on the play, while Booth was helped off the ice and taken to hospital. The hit did not receive suspension and did not spark controversy as Booth's previous concussion had. Following the game, Panthers forward Nathan Horton
Nathan Horton
Nathan Horton is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently plays for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League...
asserted that "It wasn't a dirty hit"; Spacek expressed concern for Booth, but explained that "when he turned I was standing right there and basically he just ran at me." Sidelined for the remaining nine games of the season, he finished the campaign with 16 points (8 goals and 8 assists) over 28 games.
While Booth's hockey-playing future was initially in doubt following his second concussion, he returned for the 2010–11 season
2010–11 NHL season
The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
and played all 82 games. Averaging 19 minutes of ice time per game (second among forward behind Weiss), he led the Panthers with 23 goals while ranking third with 40 points (behind Weiss and Mike Santorelli
Mike Santorelli
Mike Santorelli is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
). With 280 shots, including a 14-shot effort against the Bruins on November 18, 2010, he led all Panthers' players and ranked 12th in the NHL overall. As a team, the Panthers continued to struggle and general manager Dale Tallon
Dale Tallon
Dale Tallon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and current General Manager for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League ....
began trading away many of their veteran players towards the end of the season; they finished with the worst record in the East.
Vancouver Canucks (from 2011)
Less than a month into the 2011–12 season2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...
, Booth was traded to 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,...
on October 22, 2011. The Panthers sent him, along with forward Steven Reinprecht
Steven Reinprecht
Steven Edward "Steve" Reinprecht is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing in the Vancouver Canucks organization. He most recently played on loan for Adler Mannheim of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga ....
and a third round pick in the 2013 draft
2013 NHL Entry Draft
The 2013 NHL Entry Draft will be the 51st NHL Entry Draft. Date and location are still to be determined. -Traded picks:The order of the 2013 Entry Draft will be finalized upon the conclusion of the 2012–13 NHL season. However, some teams have already exchanged picks for this draft via trade...
, to Vancouver in exchange for forwards Mikael Samuelsson
Mikael Samuelsson
Mikael Samuelsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League ....
and Marco Sturm
Marco Sturm
Marco Johann Sturm is a German professional ice hockey winger with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League . Sturm began his career with EV Landshut of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, playing with the team from 1995 to 1997. Selected 21st overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose...
. Tallon described the deal as a performance-based trade; Booth had registered one assist over the first six games of the season and had a team-worst –6 plus-minus rating while being demoted to the third line. Booth was saddened and admittedly surprised at the trade. Booth had also been reportedly sought after by Vancouver for six months prior; the team conferred with alternate captain Ryan Kesler
Ryan Kesler
Ryan James Kesler is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. Selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has...
regarding Booth's character on and off the ice (the two grew up playing minor and junior hockey together). Joining Vancouver, he switched his jersey number from 10 to 7, in honour of his younger sister, Rachael, who also wears the number as a hockey player.
Playing on the second line with countrymen Ryan Kesler
Ryan Kesler
Ryan James Kesler is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. Selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has...
and Chris Higgins
Chris Higgins
Chris Higgins may refer to:*Christopher Higgins , ice hockey player*Chris Higgins , vice-chancellor of Durham University...
, the scoring unit was immediately nicknamed the "American Express" line. Within several games, however, Higgins was replaced by Canadian Cody Hodgson
Cody Hodgson
Cody Hodgson is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League ....
. He scored his first goal as a Canuck 15 days after the trade, opening the scoring in a 6–2 win against the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
.
International play
During his tenure with the United States National Team Development ProgramUSA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
, Booth competed at the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championship, held in Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
and Piestany
Pieštany
Piešťany is a town in Slovakia. It is located in the western part of the country within the Trnava Region and is the seat of its own district. It is the biggest and best known spa town in Slovakia and has around 30,000 inhabitants.-History:...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. Playing Russia in the last game of the final round, Booth scored the United States' first two goals of the game. A win against Russia placed the United States in a tie for the gold medal with four wins and one tie each. In order to beat Russia on the goal-differential
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
tiebreaker, they needed two win the contest by two goals. Leading 2–1 with a minute remaining, the United States pulled their goalie and Zach Parise
Zach Parise
Zachary Justin Parise is an American professional ice hockey left winger of French-Canadian origin and captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . Parise's father, J. P...
scored with thirty seconds left to capture the gold medal. Booth was named MVP of the gold medal game. Booth finished the tournament with two goals and two assists over eight games.
Two years later (now a member of the Michigan State Spartans), he moved on to the under-20 level, competing at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championships
2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 26, 2003 and January 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland...
, held in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
and Hameenlinna
Hämeenlinna
Hämeenlinna is a city and municipality of about inhabitants in the heart of the historical province of Häme in the south of Finland and is the birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius. Today, it belongs to the region of Tavastia Proper, and until 2010 it was the residence city for the Governor of the...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. He recorded his lone assist of the tournament on Dan Fritsche
Dan Fritsche
Dan Fritsche is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for Genève-Servette HC of the Swiss National League A.-Playing career:...
's game-winning goal in the semifinal against Finland
Finland men's national junior ice hockey team
The Finnish men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Finland. The team represents Finland at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World U20 Championship.-2011 WJC roster:...
. Booth and the United States went on to win the gold medal with a 4–3 win over Canada in the final. With a goal and an assist over six games, Booth tied for 12th in team point-scoring. In a 2011 interview for Canucks.com, Booth recalled his IIHF U18 and U20 gold medals as his first- and second-best hockey memories, respectively.
Following Booth's second season in the NHL with the Panthers, he was named to his first United States men's team for the 2008 IIHF World Championships, held in Halifax
Halifax
-Canada:British Columbia*Halifax Range, a mountain rangeNova Scotia*Halifax, Nova Scotia*Halifax County, Nova Scotia, one of the province's 18 counties**Halifax Regional Municipality, a regional municipality in Halifax County...
and Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He scored his lone goal of the tournament (also his first international goal and point at the men's level) in a 5–1 preliminary round win against Slovakia. In the quarterfinals, the United States lost 3–2 to Finland and finished the tournament in sixth place. The following year, he was invited to the national team's summer orientation camp in anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Canada Hockey Place, home of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, and at UBC Winter Sports Centre, home of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's UBC Thunderbirds. Twelve teams competed in the men's event and eight teams competed in the...
. After being sidelined long-term with post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome, also known as postconcussive syndrome or PCS, and historically called shell shock, is a set of symptoms that a person may experience for weeks, months, or occasionally up to a year or more after a concussion – a mild form of traumatic brain injury . PCS may also...
the following season, however, he was taken out of consideration for the final roster.
Playing style
At 6 feet (1.83 metres) and 212 pounds (96 kilograms), Booth's size enables him to play in the style of a power forwardPower forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, power forward is a loosely applied characterization of a forward who is big and strong, equally capable of playing physically or scoring goals and would most likely have high totals in both points and penalties...
. Along with his physical stature, he is a fast skater, both of which allow him to retain the puck and contribute to his offensive skills.
Personal life
Booth was born in Detroit, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and grew up in the nearby Washington Township
Washington Township, Macomb County, Michigan
Washington Charter Township is a charter township of Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 19,080 at the 2000 census. Washington Township is bordered by the village of Romeo, Ray Township, Shelby Township, and Oakland Township....
of Macomb County. His father's name is Mike. Booth has two brothers and one sister, Rachael. Raised in a Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
household, Booth has continued to publicly profess his faith. Growing up, he was a fan of the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and attended home games as his family owned season tickets. He has listed favorite players as a child as Red Wings forward Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman
Stephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League...
and Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry...
, as well as Keith Tkachuk
Keith Tkachuk
Keith Matthew Tkachuk is a retired American professional ice hockey player who played for four teams and three franchises in his 19-year career. He is one of only four American-born players to score 500 goals, and is the sixth American player to score 1,000 points.- Playing career :Tkachuk began...
, who played for the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
franchise, St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
and Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
.
During Booth's minor hockey career, he was linemates
Line (ice hockey)
A line in ice hockey is a term used to describe a group of forwards that play in a group, or shift, during a game.A complete forward line consists of a left wing, a center, and a right wing, while a pair of defensemen who play together are called a "defensive pairing." Typically, a team dresses...
with fellow Michigan-native Ryan Kesler
Ryan Kesler
Ryan James Kesler is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. Selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has...
for two years, beginning at age 12. The two went on to become teammates with the U.S. National Development Team Program
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
, the U.S. national junior team
United States men's national junior ice hockey team
The United States men's national junior ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in the United States. The team represents the United States at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World U20 Championship....
and 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,...
. In addition to hockey, he also played baseball and golf growing up.
Booth earned his secondary education
Secondary education
Secondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
at Lutheran High School North in Macomb and Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. He moved to and graduated from the latter to facilitate his participation with the United States National Development Program
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
, which was based out of Ann Arbor. During his tenure with the Development Program, he made the choice to play NCAA hockey, opting against the major junior Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
in order to attend college. The decision was encouraged by his father who valued Booth's education. Enroled at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
while playing for the school's hockey team, he studied dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
before switching to general management.
During Booth's career with the Panthers, he lived with his younger brother in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000–01 | Detroit Compuware | NAHL North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League... |
42 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 44 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | U.S. National Development Team USA Hockey National Team Development Program The National Team Development Program was started in 1996 by USA Hockey as a way to identify elite ice hockey players in the country under the age of 18, and centralize their training. There are two teams in the program, an Under-17 squad and an Under-18 squad. The teams are both based in Ann... |
USDP United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. The USHL has 16 member teams located in the Midwestern United States, consisting of players who are 20 years of age and younger... |
52 | 16 | 9 | 25 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Michigan State University Michigan State University Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,... |
CCHA Central Collegiate Hockey Association The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship... |
39 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 30 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 29 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Michigan State University | CCHA | 36 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 2006–07 AHL season The 2006–07 AHL season was the 71st season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs won their first Calder Cup, defeating the defending champions, the Hershey Bears in the finals.... |
Rochester Americans Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
25 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 2006–07 | Florida Panthers Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the... |
NHL 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... |
48 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 73 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Florida Panthers | NHL | 72 | 31 | 29 | 60 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Florida Panthers | NHL | 28 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Florida Panthers | NHL | 82 | 23 | 17 | 40 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 303 | 87 | 79 | 166 | 125 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships The 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships were held in Piešťany and Trnava, Slovakia. The championships began on April 11, 2002, and finished on April 21, 2002. Games were played at Zimny Stadion in Piešťany and Zimny Stadion in Trnava... |
United States | WJC18 IIHF World U18 Championships The IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World... |
8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 2004 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was held between December 26, 2003 and January 5, 2004 in Helsinki and Hämeenlinna, Finland... |
United States | WJC World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... |
6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2008 2008 IIHF World Championship The 2008 IIHF World Championship was played between May 2 and May 18, 2008 in the Canadian cities of Halifax and Quebec City . The two venues were the Halifax Metro Centre and the Colisée Pepsi... |
United States | WC | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Junior int'l totals | 14 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
Awards
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| NAHL | |
| All-Rookie Team | 2000–01 |
| Rookie of the Year | 2000–01 |
| CCHA | |
| All-Rookie Team | 2002–03 |
| Mason Cup Mason Cup The Mason Cup is awarded annually to the champion of the CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.On October 3, 2000, a unanimous vote among CCHA head coaches and athletic directors renamed the CCHA championship trophy the Mason Cup in honor of Ron Mason... (playoff championship; Michigan State Spartans Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey The Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents Michigan State University . The team plays at the Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Michigan, on the MSU campus. The current head coach is Tom Anastos, who took over coaching duties on March 23, 2011,... ) |
2006 |
| IIHF | |
| World U18 IIHF World U18 Championships The IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World... gold medal |
2002 |
| World U20 gold medal | 2004 |