Dirk Graham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dirk Graham |
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| Born | July 29, 1959 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Minnesota North Stars Chicago Blackhawks |
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| National team | .svg){kind=small} Canada |
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| NHL Draft | 89th overall, 1979 Vancouver Canucks |
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| Playing career | 1979–1995 | ||
Dirk Milton Graham, born on July 29, 1959, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was a forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota North Stars. In 1991, he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for being the best defensive forward in the league. After his playing career, Graham also became a head coach for the Blackhawks. He made history as the first NHL captain and head coach of African descent.
Contents
Dirk Graham's Playing Career
Starting in Junior Hockey
Dirk Graham started his hockey journey with the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He played there for four years. In 1979, the Vancouver Canucks picked him 89th overall in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.
Time in the Minor Leagues
Even after being drafted, Graham spent four years playing in minor leagues. These included the International Hockey League (IHL) and the Central Hockey League (CHL). He was a great scorer in these leagues. In the 1980–81 season, he scored 40 goals for the Toledo Goaldiggers in the IHL. He was even named to the second all-star team. Later, in 1982–83, he scored an amazing 70 goals for the Goaldiggers and made the first all-star team.
Joining the NHL: Minnesota North Stars
Graham's strong play caught the eye of the Minnesota North Stars. They signed him as a free agent, even though he never played a game for the Canucks. He spent two more years developing his skills in the American Hockey League and CHL. In the 1983–84 season, he was chosen for the CHL First All-Star Team. By the 1985–86 season, Graham was playing full-time with the North Stars. He scored 20 goals or more in two seasons with Minnesota. He also represented Team Canada in the 1987 World Ice Hockey Championships.
Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks
On January 2, 1988, Graham was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. This is where he played some of his best hockey. In his first full season with the Blackhawks (1988–89), Graham scored over 30 goals. He also had a career-high 78 points. A remarkable 10 of his 33 goals that season were scored while his team was short a player (short-handed goals). This is a very rare achievement in hockey. He scored 20 goals or more four times while playing for the Blackhawks.
Winning Awards and Becoming Captain
In the 1990–91 season, Graham won the Frank J. Selke Trophy. This award goes to the best defensive forward in the NHL. That same year, he played for Team Canada in the Canada Cup tournament, where Canada won first place.
In 1989, Graham became the team captain for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the first player of African descent to be named a team captain in the NHL. He led the team all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1992. The Blackhawks lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in that series. Graham retired from playing hockey in 1995.
Dirk Graham's Post-Playing Career
Coaching and Scouting Roles
After retiring as a player, Dirk Graham stayed involved in hockey. He worked as an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. After taking a year off, he returned to the Blackhawks as a scout, looking for new talent.
In the 1998–99 season, Graham briefly served as the head coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the first person of African descent to be named a head coach in the NHL. He is currently a scout for the San Jose Sharks.
Dirk Graham's Awards and Achievements
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Canada |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Canada Cup | ||
| Gold | 1991 Canada | Ice Hockey |
- WHL Second All-Star Team – 1979
- Selected to the IHL Second All-Star Team in 1981.
- Selected to the IHL First All-Star Team in 1983.
- Selected to the CHL First All-Star Team in 1984.
- Frank J. Selke Trophy winner in 1991.
- First player of African descent to be named team captain in the NHL.
- First person of African descent to be named head coach in the NHL.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1975–76 | Regina Blues | SJHL | 54 | 36 | 32 | 68 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Regina Pats | WCHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 1976–77 | Regina Pats | WCHL | 65 | 37 | 28 | 65 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Regina Pats | WCHL | 72 | 49 | 61 | 110 | 87 | 13 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 37 | ||
| 1978–79 | Regina Pats | WHL | 71 | 48 | 60 | 108 | 252 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Dallas Black Hawks | CHL | 62 | 17 | 15 | 32 | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Fort Wayne Komets | IHL | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1980–81 | Toledo Goaldiggers | IHL | 61 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1981–82 | Toledo Goaldiggers | IHL | 72 | 49 | 65 | 105 | 68 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 8 | ||
| 1982–83 | Toledo Goaldiggers | IHL | 78 | 70 | 55 | 125 | 88 | 11 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 30 | ||
| 1983–84 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1983–84 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | CHL | 57 | 37 | 57 | 94 | 72 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 1984–85 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 36 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 23 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 1984–85 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 37 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 80 | 22 | 33 | 55 | 87 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1987–88 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 28 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 42 | 17 | 19 | 36 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1988–89 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 33 | 45 | 78 | 91 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 38 | ||
| 1989–90 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 73 | 22 | 32 | 54 | 102 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 1990–91 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 24 | 21 | 45 | 88 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 19 | ||
| 1991–92 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 80 | 17 | 30 | 47 | 89 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 8 | ||
| 1992–93 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 84 | 20 | 17 | 37 | 139 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1993–94 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 67 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 45 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 1994–95 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 40 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 42 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | ||
| NHL totals | 772 | 219 | 270 | 489 | 919 | 90 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 94 | ||||
International Play
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Canada | WC | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | |
| 1991 | Canada | CC | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 17 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | |||
Coaching Record
| Team | Year | Regular season | Post season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | Pts | Division rank | Result | ||
| Chicago Blackhawks | 1998–99 | 59 | 16 | 35 | 8 | 40 | 3rd in Central | Fired |
| NHL totals | 59 | 16 | 35 | 8 | 40 | |||
