Daren Puppa is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) during his career. He was born on March 23, 1965, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Puppa began his hockey career playing for the Niagara Falls Flyers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 1983-84 season. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with the team during the 1985-86 season.
Puppa played for the Sabres for six seasons, from 1985 to 1991. During his time with the team, he established himself as a reliable goaltender and helped lead the Sabres to the playoffs in four consecutive seasons from 1987 to 1991. In the 1989-90 season, Puppa set a franchise record with 31 wins and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
In 1991, Puppa was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he played for five seasons. He was the starting goaltender for the Lightning during their inaugural season in 1992-93 and helped lead the team to their first playoff appearance in 1996. Puppa was also named to the NHL All-Star Game in 1994 and 1998.
After leaving the Lightning in 1996, Puppa played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers before retiring from professional hockey in 2000. Over the course of his NHL career, Puppa played in 429 games and recorded 190 wins, 161 losses, and 47 ties. He also had a career goals against average (GAA) of 3.07 and a save percentage of .895.
Puppa was known for his calm and steady demeanor on the ice, as well as his ability to make acrobatic saves. He was also a popular player among fans and teammates for his friendly and approachable personality.
After retiring from hockey, Puppa worked as a goaltending coach for several teams, including the Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres. He also served as the head coach of the Sarnia Sting in the OHL from 2004 to 2006.
In 2015, Puppa was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the team during his career. He remains a beloved figure among Sabres fans and is remembered as one of the team's most successful goaltenders.
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