Karl Dykhuis is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on August 8, 1972, in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Canada. Dykhuis began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Hull Olympiques in 1988. He played for the Olympiques for three seasons, during which he was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team in 1989 and the QMJHL Second All-Star Team in 1990.
In 1990, Dykhuis was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, 16th overall, in the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks in the 1992-93 season and played for the team for four seasons. During his time with the Blackhawks, Dykhuis was known for his physical play and his ability to play both defense and forward positions.
In 1996, Dykhuis was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Philadelphia Flyers for two seasons before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2000. Dykhuis played for the Canadiens for three seasons, during which he was named an alternate captain.
Dykhuis retired from professional hockey in 2004 after playing for the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. Over the course of his NHL career, Dykhuis played in 488 games, scoring 23 goals and 72 assists for a total of 95 points. He also played in 45 playoff games, scoring two goals and six assists for a total of eight points.
After retiring from hockey, Dykhuis became involved in coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques from 2005 to 2007 and then became the head coach of the team in 2007. He coached the Olympiques for two seasons before stepping down in 2009.
Overall, Karl Dykhuis had a successful career in professional hockey, playing for several NHL teams and earning a reputation as a physical and versatile player. He also made a successful transition to coaching after retiring from playing.
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