Dave Scatchard is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on February 20, 1976, in Hinton, Alberta, Canada. Scatchard began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 1992. He played for the Thunderbirds for four seasons, scoring 116 goals and 129 assists in 238 games.
Scatchard was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Canucks in the 1997-98 season, playing in 12 games and scoring one goal. Scatchard spent the next two seasons with the Canucks, playing in a total of 107 games and scoring 16 goals and 21 assists.
In 2000, Scatchard was traded to the New York Islanders, where he played for four seasons. He had his best season with the Islanders in 2002-03, scoring 27 goals and 23 assists in 82 games. Scatchard was known for his physical play and his ability to score goals. He was also a strong penalty killer and was often used in defensive situations.
After his time with the Islanders, Scatchard played for several other NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues. He played his final NHL game with the Blues in 2010.
Throughout his NHL career, Scatchard played in a total of 659 games, scoring 128 goals and 141 assists. He was a hard-working player who was respected by his teammates and opponents alike. Scatchard was also known for his charitable work off the ice, including his involvement with the Dave Scatchard Hockey School, which he founded in 2001.
After retiring from the NHL, Scatchard continued to be involved in hockey as a coach and mentor. He worked as an assistant coach for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds and also coached youth hockey in his hometown of Hinton, Alberta.
In addition to his hockey career, Scatchard has been open about his struggles with mental health. He has spoken publicly about his experiences with depression and anxiety and has worked to raise awareness about mental health issues in the hockey community.
Overall, Dave Scatchard had a successful career in the NHL, playing for several teams and earning a reputation as a hard-working and physical player. He has also made a positive impact off the ice through his charitable work and advocacy for mental health awareness.
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