Dan Woodley Explained

Position:Center
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:200
Birth Date:December 29, 1967
Birth Place:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Draft:7th overall
Draft Year:1986
Draft Team:Vancouver Canucks
Career Start:1987
Career End:1995

Dan Woodley (born December 29, 1967) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Vancouver Canucks during the 1987–88 NHL season. Selected 7th overall by the Canucks in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, Woodley turned professional in 1987. After his time in the NHL, he played in various minor leagues before retiring in 1995.

Playing career

Woodley was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was selected 7th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Canucks. He helped the Portland Winter Hawks to the 1986 Memorial Cup Finals. He turned pro in 1987–88 and had a solid season, recording 66 points in 69 IHL games and scoring 2 goals in 5 games with the Canucks.

However, after Pat Quinn replaced general manager Jack Gordon, Woodley was sent to Milwaukee to start the 1988–89 season in the IHL. He was traded in a swap of first-round picks, to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jose Charbonneau. He finished the year in Sherbrooke, Quebec on the first-place Canadiens farm team with 18 goals. Following two more mediocre seasons for Montreal, he requested to be bought out in 1991. He then moved to the ECHL and played four more seasons before retiring in 1995.

Woodley's lack of success (5 games played 2 goals) was surprising, given his high place in the 1986 draft. No player who was drafted higher than Woodley in the 1980s played fewer than his 5 NHL games, and he was one of only three top-10 picks (Jason Herter and Dan Gratton being the others) to play fewer than 10 NHL games. In contrast, future Hockey Hall of Fame defender Brian Leetch, was selected 2 picks later than Woodley by the New York Rangers.

Post-playing career

In 2007 Woodley became the Regis Jesuit High School, in Aurora, Colorado, varsity team. In his third year with the team, the 2007–2008 Regis Jesuit HS team posted an overall record of 20-1-1 and captured the state high school championship with a double-overtime 3–2 victory. The Regis team went undefeated in 2008–2009 to win their second consecutive state championship. In 2012 Woodley's team captured their third state title under his guidance going 22–1. Woodley coached Regis Jesuit hockey to the state final four for five consecutive years and built Regis Jesuit into a hockey powerhouse in the state. Woodley also coached a youth hockey team in Colorado.

Personal life

Woodley is the son of Dave Woodley, who was playing for the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League when Dan was born. Dan Woodley has the distinction of being the only Oklahoma native ever selected in the first round of the NHL draft. He spent his early childhood in places such as Oklahoma, Arizona, and Oregon (while his father was playing minor league pro hockey) as well as in Victoria, British Columbia, where he learned to play junior hockey.[1] Woodley lives in Denver, Colorado with his family.

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1983–84Summerland BuckaroosBCHL54 17 34 51 111
1983–84Portland WinterhawksWHL6 1 2 3 28 1 3 4 4
1984–85Portland WinterhawksWHL63 21 36 57 1081 0 0 0 0
1985–86Portland WinterhawksWHL62 45 47 92 10012 0 8 8 31
1986–87Portland WinterhawksWHL47 30 50 80 8119 19 17 36 52
1987–88Vancouver CanucksNHL5 2 0 2 17
1987–88Flint SpiritsIHL69 29 37 66 1049 1 3 4 26
1988–89Milwaukee AdmiralsIHL30 9 12 21 48
1988–89Sherbrooke CanadiensAHL30 9 16 25 694 1 6 7 5
1989–90Sherbrooke CanadiensAHL65 18 40 58 14410 1 6 7 58
1990–91Fredericton CanadiensAHL4 0 0 0 4
1990–91Kansas City BladesIHL20 6 4 10 30
1990–91Albany ChoppersIHL31 8 17 25 36
1991–92Winston-Salem ThunderbirdsECHL57 24 42 66 1025 3 3 6 2
1992–93Flint BulldogsCoHL39 20 36 56 1126 4 7 11 21
1993–94Muskegon FuryCoHL58 43 58 101 2171 0 0 0 0
1994–95Muskegon FuryCoHL43 25 26 51 87
1994–95Saginaw WheelsCoHL11 11 4 15 182 1 1 2 24
NHL totals5 2 0 2 17
IHL totals150 52 70 122 2189 1 3 4 26
CoHL totals151 99 124 223 4349 5 8 13 45

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dec 2009 Review.