Garrett Stafford

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
prospect team = Grand Rapids Griffins
prospect league = AHL
team=Dallas Stars
former_teams = Cleveland Barons (AHL)
Worcester Sharks (AHL)
Detroit Red Wings
league = NHL
position = Defense
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 0
weight_lb = 195
nationality = United States
birth_date = Birth date and age|1980|1|28|df=y
birth_place = Los Angeles, CA, U.S.
draft_team = Undrafted
career_start = 2003

Garrett Stafford (born January 28, 1980 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.) is a professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a part of the Dallas Stars organization.

Playing career

*December 9, 2003 - Signed as a free agent by the San Jose Sharks.
*July 16, 2007 - Signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings.
*July 3, 2008 - Signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars.

Stafford played his first NHL game on February 23, 2008 against the Vancouver Canucks. He was recalled by the Wings earlier that day due to injuries to Niklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski and Chris Chelios.

lashing Incident

On April 30, 2004 Stafford was playing for the Cleveland Barons against the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Calder Cup playoffs when he got into an altercation with Hamilton's winger Alexander Perezhogin. Stafford cross-checked Perezhogin in the face resulting in them both falling to the ice and as they were getting up Stafford took another swing with his stick, this time making contact with the back of Perezhogin's helmet. In response, Perezhogin swung his stick into Stafford's face as he was getting up. The slash knocked Stafford unconscious resulting in a concussion and sending him into convulsions on the ice as well as causing severe facial wounds which required 20 stitches to repair.

Perezhogin was charged with assault causing bodily harm and was given a one year probation as well as being ordered to cover Stafford's medical expenses and donate a further $5000 to charity. Perezhogin was also suspended for the rest of the playoffs and the whole of the 2004–05 season, the longest suspension in AHL history. Stafford was also suspended for six games for his part in the incident.

Awards

* 2002 Hockey East Second All-Star Team
* 2003 Hockey East All-Tournament Team
* 2004 AHL Second All-Star Team
* 2004 AHL All-Rookie Team

Career statistics

=External links=
*hockeydb|49536