Dirk Graham

Dirk Graham
Born	July 29, 1959 (1959-07-29) (age 52) Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Right
Played for	CHL  Dallas Black Hawks  Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL  Toledo Goaldiggers AHL  Springfield Indians NHL  Minnesota North Stars  Chicago Blackhawks
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	89th overall, 1979 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	1979–1995

Dirk Milton Graham (born July 29, 1959) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota North Stars in the National Hockey League. He was honored in 1991 as the Frank J. Selke Trophy winner for outstanding defensive play by a forward. Graham served as head coach of the Blackhawks during the 1998–99 season before being relieved of his duties after 59 games.

Playing career

Graham was selected 89th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft after spending four years with the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League. Graham spent four years in the minor leagues which included the International Hockey League and the Central Hockey League. In 1980–81, Graham scored 40 goals with the Toledo Goaldiggers of the IHL, and he was named to the Second All-Star Team. In 1982–83, he scored 70 goals with the Goaldiggers and was named to the First All-Star Team. This caught the attention of some, and he was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota North Stars after never playing a game with the Canucks. Graham spent two more years developing in the American Hockey League and Central Hockey League. He was selected to the CHL First All-Star Team in 1983–84. In 1985–96, Graham was playing full time with the North Star. He recorded consecutive 20 goal seasons in Minnesota and was chosen to represent Team Canada in the 1987 World Ice Hockey Championships. Early in the 1987–88 season, Graham was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Curt Fraser.

Graham played his best hockey in Chicago. In his first full season with the Blackhawks, Graham topped the 30 goal mark for the first time in his career and finished with a career high 78 points. He scored 20 goals or more four times with the Blackhawks. In 1990–91, he won the Frank J. Selke Trophy for best defensive forward in the league and represented Team Canada in the Canada Cup tournament. Canada would beat the United States to take first place. In 1989–90, Graham was named team captain, the first player of African descent to become team captain in the National Hockey League.[1] He captained the team all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1991–92, where they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Graham retired in 1994–95 after the lockout shortened season.

Post-playing career

Right after retiring, Graham served as assistant coach for Craig Hartsburg with the Chicago Blackhawks. Graham took a year off then returned as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks. He served briefly as coach in 1998–99 until he was replaced by Lorne Molleken. He is currently a scout for the San Jose Sharks.

Awards and achievements

Medal record
Competitor for  Canada
Ice hockey
Canada Cup
Gold	1991 Canada	Ice Hockey

• 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.

Career statistics

				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	Springfield Indians	AHL		37	20	28	48	41		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		36	12	11	23	23		9	0	4	4	7
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

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	P	PIM
1987	Canada	WC		9	0	3	3	9
1991	Canada	Can-Cup		8	3	1	4	0
Senior int'l totals				17	3	4	7	9

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Division rank	Result
CHI	1998–99	59	16	35	8	(70)	3rd in Central	(Fired)
Total		59	16	35	8	40

External links

• Dirk Graham's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Denis Savard	Chicago Blackhawks captain 1989–95	Succeeded by Chris Chelios
Preceded by Rick Meagher	Frank J. Selke Trophy winner 1991	Succeeded by Guy Carbonneau

Persondata
Name	Graham, Dirk
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 29, 1959
Place of birth	Regina, SK, CAN
Date of death
Place of death