David Latta (ice hockey) facts for kids

David Latta was born on January 3, 1967, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. He is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a left winger. David was chosen very early in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, being the 15th player picked overall. This was a big moment for him, as he was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques. He played 36 games in the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the top hockey league in North America. All of his NHL games were with the Nordiques.

David Latta's Hockey Journey

David Latta had an exciting hockey career that took him to many different leagues and even different countries. He started his journey in junior hockey before moving on to play professionally.

Starting Out in Junior Hockey

Before playing in the NHL, David Latta played in junior hockey leagues. He spent a lot of time with the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). This is a major junior league where young players develop their skills. During his time with the Rangers, he showed he could score goals and help his team. For example, in the 1984-85 season, he scored 38 goals and had 27 assists, showing he was a strong offensive player.

Playing in the NHL

David's dream of playing in the National Hockey League came true when he joined the Quebec Nordiques. He played his first NHL game in the 1985-86 season. Over a few seasons, he played a total of 36 games for the Nordiques. In these games, he scored 4 goals and made 8 assists, totaling 12 points. Playing in the NHL is a huge achievement for any hockey player.

Time in the Minor Leagues

Like many professional hockey players, David also spent time in minor leagues. These leagues help players develop and get ready for the NHL. He played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for teams like the Fredericton Express and the Halifax Citadels. In the AHL, he played many games and scored a good number of points. For instance, with the Halifax Citadels in 1988-89, he scored 20 goals and had 26 assists. He also played for the New Haven Nighthawks in the AHL.

Playing for Team Canada

One of the highlights of David's career was representing his country. He played for Team Canada in the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. This is a big tournament for young hockey stars from around the world. In this tournament, David played 6 games, scoring 4 goals and adding 6 assists. This shows he was a key player for his country on the international stage.

Hockey Adventures in Europe

Later in his career, David Latta moved to Europe to continue playing hockey. He played in Germany for teams like EC Bad Nauheim, EC Bad Tölz, and Adler Mannheim. He also played for EC Peiting. Playing in Europe gave him a chance to experience different styles of hockey and new cultures. He also played in the Ice Hockey Superleague in Great Britain for the Manchester Storm.

Wrapping Up His Career

David finished his professional hockey career back in North America. He played for the Anchorage Aces in the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) during the 1997-98 season. After many years of playing hockey across different leagues and countries, David Latta retired from professional play.