Scott Parker (ice hockey)

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Right Wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 5
weight_lb = 240
team = Colorado Avalanche
league = NHL
former_teams = San Jose Sharks
nationality = USA
birth_date = January 29, 1978
birth_place = Hanford, CA, USA
draft = 20th overall
draft_year = 1998
draft_team = Colorado Avalanche
career_start = 1998

Scott Parker (born January 29, 1978 in Hanford, California) is an American professional ice hockey right winger in the National Hockey League who has played for the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks.

Playing career

Parker earned his nickname, "The Sheriff", from his reputation as a feared fighter and enforcer. After playing several seasons in the WHL, Parker started his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche in 1998 and was a member of their 2001 Stanley Cup Championship team.

As a rookie, Parker sported a massive beard, comparable to those of members of ZZ Top. He played in the 1999 Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Red Wings at the height of the great Colorado-Detroit rivalry. However, he was used sparsely.

Parker was acquired by San Jose for a fifth round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft on June 21, 2003. Parker was praised by his teammates in San Jose for bringing moral character into the locker room, as well as for providing inspirational speeches. In 2005, Parker was struck in the head by the puck, and spent a long time off the ice recovering from the resulting concussion.

In a game against the Nashville Predators on March 11, 2006, Parker got involved in an altercation with Nashville defenceman Brendan Witt. Called for elbowing Nashville player Jordin Tootoo, Parker was ejected from the game after an outburst of emotion in the penalty box, including slamming his stick against the glass. As he was lead off the ice, Parker jumped onto the glass between the two teams' benches and struck Witt several times. As a result, he was suspended for two games. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2367071]

On February 27, 2007, Parker was re-acquired by the Colorado Avalanche from the Sharks for a 6th round draft pick in the 2008 draft.

Career Statistics

External links

*hockeydb|28680|Scott Parker
* [http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8465016 Scott Parker Profile]