Kevin Hatcher is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 17 seasons. He was born on September 9, 1966, in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Hatcher began his hockey career playing for the Michigan State Spartans in the NCAA before being drafted by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
Hatcher played for the Capitals for over a decade, from 1984 to 1995, and was known for his physical play and offensive skills. He was a four-time NHL All-Star and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1990. Hatcher was also a member of the United States national team that won the silver medal at the 1991 Canada Cup.
In 1995, Hatcher was traded to the Dallas Stars, where he played for four seasons. He helped lead the Stars to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999, where they lost to the New Jersey Devils. Hatcher was then traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1999, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2001.
Hatcher retired from the NHL in 2001 after playing in 1,045 career games and scoring 227 goals and 450 assists for a total of 677 points. He was one of the most prolific American-born defensemen in NHL history and was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010.
After retiring from hockey, Hatcher became involved in coaching and player development. He served as an assistant coach for the United States national team at the 2006 Winter Olympics and was the head coach of the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League from 2010 to 2014.
Overall, Kevin Hatcher had a successful career in the NHL, earning numerous accolades and helping lead his teams to the playoffs multiple times. He was a dominant force on the ice and a respected leader in the locker room, and his contributions to the sport of hockey have been recognized with his induction into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
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