Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Kirk Daubenspeck

13 NHL Games

October 9, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Tampa Bay Lightning. 1-4 loss.
October 10, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Dallas Stars. 0-7 loss.
October 13, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Phoenix Coyotes. 1-2 loss.
October 15, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Washington Capitals. 0-2 loss.
October 17, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs St. Louis Blues. 0-2 loss.
October 19, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Buffalo Sabres. 5-2 win.
October 22, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs New York Rangers. 1-0 win.
October 24, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Dallas Stars. 0-2 loss.
October 26, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Carolina Hurricanes. 2-3 loss.
October 27, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Montreal Canadiens. 2-4 loss.
October 29, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Vancouver Canucks. 3-0 win.
October 31, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs San Jose Sharks. 5-3 win.
November 2, 1997 Chicago Blackhawks vs Pittsburgh Penguins. 3-1 win.

Getty Images

   Kirk Daubenspeck was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1992. Two years later, while playing with the University of Wisconsin, Daubenspeck was traded from the Flyers to the Ottawa Senators. He was named to the All-American Team in his last season of NCAA hockey. Late September, 1997,  Daubenspeck, after taking part in the Senators initial training camp, was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks before the season began in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.

   Early October, 1997 the Blackhawks lost Jeff Hackett to a sprained ankle. Their first option to replace him, Mark Lamothe, was injured while playing with the IHL's Indianapolis Ice. It was his backup who was Chicago's next choice. Kirk Daubenspeck, less than a month after joining the Hawks and barely into his first pro season, was recalled to take Hackett's place on Chicago's roster. "This is the ultimate goal of a hockey player, to play in the NHL," said Daubenspeck of the surprise call to the NHL. He dressed as Chris Terreri's backup for nearly a month before Hackett was healthy enough to return. (1)

   Many years after his hockey career had ended, I asked Daubenspeck about his personal highlights from his time in the NHL. "Playing up in Chicago for 33 days was something very special." says Daubenspeck. "My favourite time while being called up was being on an extended road trip that included Dallas & Phoenix road games. Really playing with two of my childhood favourite players, Gary Suter & Chris Chelios, was the highlight. They both played at the University of Wisconsin (Madison), which is where I grew up. I was backing up a game at Madison Square Garden when the glass fell on Gretzky's wife, that's kind of neat to say because many people remember that game. Not to mention I was on the ice with the Great One. On that road trip I mentioned earlier, when we were playing Dallas, I thought I was going to get in because we were down big in the 2nd and we ended up losing 7 to 0. As you know, that din't happen."

   Daubenspeck played many more years of pro hockey after his brief NHL stint. "The highlight of my career," says Daubenspeck, "was winning a league championship in South Carolina (2001)." He later won the Calder Cup in 2006 with the Hershey Bears then retired from pro hockey. 2011, Daubenspeck nearly lost his life in a car accident. He suffered a severe brain injury and was in a come for six days. He spent over a month in the hospital but miraculously recovered. He currently resides in his hometown state of Wisconsin. 


Career stats from hockeydb.com
Born  -- Madison, WI 
Height 6.00 -- Weight 190
Drafted by Philadelphia Flyers - round 7 #151 overall 1992 NHL Entry Draft
RS ScoringRS Goalie StatsPO Scoring
SeasonTeamLgeGPAPIMMinGAENSOGAAWLTSvsPctGPAPIM
1992-93Sioux City MusketeersUSHL90647049006.260712510.837
1992-93Wisconsin CapitolsUSHL283381542123004.7952019550.886
1993-94U. of WisconsinWCHA70028019004.072201390.880
1994-95U. of WisconsinWCHA41514
1995-96U. of WisconsinWCHA394102257151004.0117202
1996-97U. of WisconsinWCHA33361925124013.8613182
1997-98Indianapolis IceIHL180495358203.656904540.887---
1997-98Jacksonville Lizard KingsECHL3224186592112.9620928620.904---
1998-99Jacksonville Lizard KingsECHL81442418002.555301770.908---
1998-99Chesapeake IcebreakersECHL1302077431022.407243550.920702
1998-99Indianapolis IceIHL122465043103.972813140.879---
1999-00Rochester AmericansAHL2212123553412.5771045530.913100
1999-00South Carolina StingraysECHL61636017002.834201560.902---
2000-01Orlando Solar BearsIHL200773002.34010200.870---
2000-01Rochester AmericansAHL100606006.00010200.769---
2000-01South Carolina StingraysECHL453372624119332.722613312790.9151314
2001-02Colorado Gold KingsWCHL605543539164142.783619515820.906500
2002-03South Carolina StingraysECHL582173454167102.903616618020.915412
2003-04South Carolina StingraysECHL473502773123432.662915214060.920704
2003-04Worcester IceCatsAHL100592002.04010240.923---
2004-05South Carolina StingraysECHL2504143755522.30121037840.934100
2004-05Portland PiratesAHL28010150758042.31141217720.930---
2005-06Hershey BearsAHL2304111558023.1210624950.895---
2005-06South Carolina StingraysECHL2001202001.00200460.958---
(1) Rich Strom. "Goalie's Fast Trip: Madison to the NHL." The Chicago Tribute. Oct. 8 ,1997

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