Ray Whitney is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over two decades. He was born on May 8, 1972, in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. Whitney started his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Spokane Chiefs in 1988. He played for the Chiefs for four seasons, scoring 269 points in 223 games.
Whitney was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Sharks in the 1991-92 season, playing in 12 games and scoring two goals. Whitney played for the Sharks for three seasons before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 1993. He played for the Oilers for two seasons before being traded to the Florida Panthers in 1997.
Whitney played for the Panthers for three seasons, scoring a career-high 29 goals and 67 points in the 1998-99 season. He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2001 and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Detroit Red Wings in 2003. Whitney won his first Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in the 2003-04 season.
Whitney signed with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005 and played for them for five seasons. He won his second Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in the 2005-06 season. Whitney was named an NHL All-Star for the first time in his career in the 2011-12 season. He signed with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2012 and played for them for two seasons before signing with the Dallas Stars in 2013. Whitney retired from professional hockey in 2014.
Whitney played in 1,330 NHL games, scoring 385 goals and 679 assists for 1,064 points. He ranks 93rd on the NHL's all-time points list. Whitney was known for his playmaking ability and his ability to score clutch goals. He was also known for his leadership and was a respected veteran in the locker room.
Whitney was a member of the Canadian national team and won a gold medal at the 2007 IIHF World Championships. He was also a member of the Canadian team at the 1992 World Junior Championships, where he won a silver medal.
Whitney was inducted into the Spokane Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2015. He currently works as a television analyst for the NHL Network.
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