Dustin Byfuglien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dustin Byfuglien |
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Byfuglien with the Winnipeg Jets in April 2016
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| Born | March 27, 1985 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) | ||
| Weight | 260 lb (118 kg; 18 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense / Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Chicago Blackhawks Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets |
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| NHL Draft | 245th overall, 2003 Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Playing career | 2005–2019 | ||
Dustin Byfuglien (pronounced BUFF-lin; born March 27, 1985), also known as "Big Buff", is an American who used to play professional ice hockey. He played for three teams: the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers, and Winnipeg Jets.
Dustin was first drafted as a defenseman, a player who helps protect the team's goal. But he also played as a forward, who tries to score goals. Later in his career, he mostly played defense. Byfuglien helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 2010. He was the first Black American-born player to win this important championship. After his hockey career, Dustin Byfuglien became a professional fisherman.
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Dustin Byfuglien's Early Life
Dustin Byfuglien was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His mother, Cheryl, has Norwegian and Swedish family roots. His father, Rick, is African-American. When Dustin was young, his mother moved with him to Roseau, Minnesota, to be closer to her family.
In Roseau, Dustin discovered hockey and quickly fell in love with the sport. His stepfather, Dale Smedsmo, also played a few games in the NHL, which is the top hockey league. Dustin's father played college football.
Dustin could not play hockey at Roseau High School because of his grades. So, his family moved to Warrenville, Illinois, near Chicago. There, he played high-level youth hockey. He later moved to Canada to play in the Western Hockey League.
Playing Hockey: Dustin's Career
Chicago Blackhawks (2005–2010)
Dustin Byfuglien played junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings and Prince George Cougars. The Chicago Blackhawks chose him in the 2003 NHL Draft. When he started playing professionally, he was a defenseman. But during the 2007–08 season, he moved to play as a right wing. This helped the team have a bigger player near the opponent's net.
He spent some time playing for the Blackhawks' minor league team, the Norfolk Admirals. He also played for the Rockford IceHogs. In 2007, he played very well for the IceHogs, scoring many points. He was then called up to play for the Chicago Blackhawks and stayed with them.
In the 2009–10 season, he scored 19 goals and had 36 points. He was a big part of the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup in 2010. In the playoffs that year, he scored 11 goals and helped with 5 others. He even scored three goals in the Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets (2010–2020)
On June 24, 2010, Byfuglien was traded from Chicago to the Atlanta Thrashers. The Thrashers moved him back to his usual position as a defenseman. He became an alternate captain for the Thrashers.
Dustin was chosen for his first NHL All-Star Game in 2011. In the All-Star Skills Competition, his slap shot was very fast, reaching 102.5 miles per hour! In February 2011, the Thrashers signed him to a new five-year contract.
In the 2011–12 season, he scored 12 goals and had 41 assists. This was the season the Thrashers team moved and became the Winnipeg Jets. Byfuglien played 66 games for the Jets and was again invited to the NHL All-Star Game.
Before the 2013–14 season, Byfuglien worked on his stickhandling and puck movement. That season, he scored 20 goals and had 36 assists, reaching a career-high 56 points.
He continued to play well and was invited to the 2015 NHL All-Star Game. In April 2015, he was suspended for four games for a cross-check during a game.
His All-Star streak continued into the next season, as he was invited to his fourth All-Star game. In February 2016, Byfuglien signed another five-year contract with the Jets.
On October 27, 2018, Byfuglien reached 500 points in his NHL career. This is a big achievement for a player. He had some injuries in late 2018 and early 2019, which caused him to miss games. Despite this, he returned and helped the Jets make it to the 2019 playoffs. He played a lot of minutes and scored 8 points in 6 games.
On September 13, 2019, Byfuglien took a break from the Jets for personal reasons. He later had surgery for an ankle injury. On February 24, 2020, the Jets announced he would not return for the rest of that season. In April 2020, the Jets and Byfuglien agreed to end his contract.
Dustin Byfuglien's Life Outside Hockey
Dustin Byfuglien is married to Emily, and they have three children. All their children were born in Winnipeg.
Dustin loves fishing and has even competed in fishing tournaments. After he stopped playing in the NHL, he became a professional fisherman, following his passion.
In August 2011, Byfuglien had a boating incident on Lake Minnetonka. He later completed community service related to the incident.
Awards and Honors
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| AHL | |
| All-Star Game | 2007 |
| Second All-Star Team | 2007 |
| NHL | |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2010 |
| NHL All-Star Game | 2011, 2012*, 2015, 2016 |
* injury prevented attendance
See Also
- List of family relations in the NHL
