Dan Frawley (ice hockey) facts for kids

William Daniel Frawley (born June 2, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a right wing. During his early years in junior hockey, Frawley played for the Sudbury Wolves and the Cornwall Royals. He was chosen by the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Frawley spent most of his first two professional years playing in the AHL. While playing with the Cornwall Royals, his team won the 1981 Memorial Cup, a major championship for junior hockey teams.

Playing in the NHL

Dan Frawley played with the Blackhawks during the 1984–85 season, which was his first year in the NHL. On October 7, 1985, the Pittsburgh Penguins picked Frawley in a special draft. Frawley then spent the next four years, which was the rest of his NHL career, playing for the Penguins.

Captain of the Penguins

He was even the team's captain from October to December 1987. However, he had to step down when he got injured. After his injury, the famous player Mario Lemieux took over as captain. Frawley returned to play in early 1988 after having surgery.

Back to Minor League Hockey

In 1989, Frawley returned to the AHL, which is a minor hockey league. He retired from playing hockey in 1993. However, he decided to come back to the game in 1995. He played two more years with the Rochester Americans in the AHL. During this time, his team won the 1996 Calder Cup, another important championship. He retired from professional hockey for the second time in 1998.

Rochester Americans Hall Of Fame

In 2003, Dan Frawley was honored by being chosen for the Rochester Americans Hall Of Fame. This award recognized his many years as a player for the team and his strong work ethic on the ice.

Life After Hockey

Dan Frawley is an Ojibwe person from the Nipissing First Nation. He now lives in Brinston, Ontario, with his wife, Wanda, and their four sons.

Community Involvement

Frawley is very active in the First Nations community. He and other Indigenous former NHL players, like Ted Nolan and John Chabot, often take part in charity events. For example, on January 28, 2017, they played in a charity hockey game in Wiikwemkoong First Nation against the local police.

Dan Frawley and many other former Indigenous NHL players work hard in their home communities. They often speak to young people to inspire them. They talk about how important education is, how to set goals, and how to develop life skills. They also host hockey clinics to help young male and female athletes improve their hockey skills. These clinics also teach kids about teamwork and cooperating with others.

Since 2007, Frawley has been coaching minor hockey in the small Indigenous community of Chisasibi. He uses hockey to teach young athletes about the importance of education and staying active. He started as a hockey instructor and is now a youth hockey coordinator in Chisasibi.

Dan Frawley currently works for the Canadian Wildlife Federation.