John Craighead facts for kids

John Craighead was born on November 23, 1971. He is a retired professional ice hockey player who played as a right winger. He was also known as an enforcer, a player who protects teammates and sets a physical tone.

John played for the famous Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1996–97 season. He also played for many other teams in North America and Europe from 1997 to 2005. He holds a special record in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (Germany's top league) for the most penalty minutes while playing for the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers.

John's Hockey Journey

John Craighead started his hockey career in junior leagues. He played for teams like the Ladner Penguins and Surrey Eagles in the BCJHL. These leagues help young players get ready for professional hockey.

Playing in Different Leagues

After junior hockey, John played in several different professional leagues. He played in the SuHL and the ECHL. These are often called "minor leagues" because they are a step below the very top leagues. He played for teams like the West Palm Beach Blaze and the Richmond Renegades.

Later, he moved up to the IHL. There, he played for the Detroit Vipers and the Cleveland Lumberjacks. He was known for his tough play and getting a lot of penalty minutes.

Time in the NHL

In the 1996–97 season, John Craighead got to play in the NHL. This is the highest level of professional hockey in North America. He played five games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It's a big achievement for any player to reach the NHL.

Playing in Europe

After his time in the NHL and other North American leagues, John moved to Europe. He played in the DEL in Germany. He was a key player for the Nürnberg Ice Tigers and the Revier Löwen Oberhausen. He was known for his physical style of play there too.

He also played in the EIHL in the United Kingdom. He played for the Nottingham Panthers and the Cardiff Devils. He retired from playing professional hockey in 2005.

After His Playing Career

After retiring from playing, John Craighead became a coach and team owner.

Coaching and League Challenges

In 2015, John was the head coach and part-owner of the Surrey Knights, a junior hockey team. During a game, there was a big argument between the teams. John went onto the opposing team's bench. Because of this, the hockey association suspended him for a few years.

Later, Hockey Canada reduced his suspension. This meant he could return to coaching sooner. However, his league, the PJHL, tried to remove his team from the league. John went to court to challenge this decision. The court agreed with him, and his team was allowed to stay in the league.

Recent Incidents

In 2023, John was involved in an incident during a casual "beer league" hockey game. There was a disagreement with a referee. John said that the claims made against him were not true and were unfair.

See also

• List of black NHL players
• Fighting in ice hockey
• Violence in ice hockey