David Hale | |||
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Hale with Binghamton Senators in 2011
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Born |
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. |
June 18, 1981 ||
Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
Position | Defense | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
New Jersey Devils Calgary Flames Phoenix Coyotes Tampa Bay Lightning Ottawa Senators |
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National team | United States | ||
NHL Draft | 22nd overall, 2000 New Jersey Devils |
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Playing career | 2003–2011 |
David M. Hale (born June 18, 1981) is a former American professional ice hockey player. He played for the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators over an eight-year National Hockey League (NHL) career. Hale is noteworthy for holding the record for most games needed to score his first NHL goal, with it taking him 231 games, scoring it in his 6th professional season.
Hale, a Colorado Springs native, played high school hockey with Coronado High School before joining Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. He was drafted from the Musketeers in the first round, 22nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft before joining the University of North Dakota to play collegiate hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
On February 27, 2007, Hale was traded by the Devils, along with a 2007 fifth-round draft pick, to the Calgary Flames for a 2007 third-round draft pick.
On July 3, 2008, Hale a free agent, signed with the Phoenix Coyotes on a two-year deal. During the 2008–09 season on November 26, 2008, Hale scored his first NHL goal in a 3-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hale scored in his 231st game, setting a record for the longest start to a NHL career without a goal.
On July 21, 2009, Hale was traded by the Coyotes, along with Todd Fedoruk, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Radim Vrbata. Used as a depth defenseman Hale played sparingly in 35 games, before he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, on a conditioning assignment. In his last game with the Admirals, Hale broke his foot and returned to Tampa to play a part in just 4 further games to end the 2009–10 season.