Craig Ludwig

Craig Lee Ludwig (born March 15, 1961) is an American former professional hockey player. He played as a defenceman in the National Hockey League from 1982 to 1999 and was renowned for his shot-blocking ability. Ludwig was the color analyst for the Dallas Stars television and radio broadcasts for two seasons from 2016 to 2018.
==Playing career==
===Amateur===
Ludwig played high school hockey at Northland Pines High School in Eagle River, Wisconsin from 1975–1979. He helped the Eagles to the semi-finals in 1978–1979. He played on the USA Hockey National Junior Team that toured Germany in 1979–80. Ludwig went on to attend the University of North Dakota from 1979–1982 as a walk on. He won two National Championships while playing for the Fighting Sioux, alongside other future NHL players James Patrick, Mark Taylor, Doug Smail, Dave Tippett, Rick Zombo, Phil Sykes, Troy Murray, and Jon Casey.
===Professional===
Ludwig was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 3rd round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, 61st overall. He won a Stanley Cup with the team in 1986. In 1990 he was traded to the New York Islanders for Gerald Diduck. After one season with the Isles, Ludwig signed as a free agent with the Minnesota North Stars.
After joining the North Stars in 1991, he moved with the team to Dallas in 1993 and finished his career in 1999 after helping the Dallas Stars win their first Stanley Cup. Ludwig was an alternate captain for the Stars during his time with the team.
== Personal ==
Ludwig was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002. After his retirement, he worked as an assistant coach for the Utah Grizzlies, Dallas Stars, and Texas Tornado. Three of his sons became professional ice hockey players as well. Trevor and younger son C.J. are currently teammates on the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL. C.J. previously played defense for Northern Michigan University. Trevor and his twin brother Tyler were also previously teammates.
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
 	 	 		Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season		Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 		GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 		GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1975–76 	Northland Pines High School	HS-WI 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1976–77 	Northland Pines High School	HS-WI 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1977–78 	Northland Pines High School	HS-WI 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1978–79 	Northland Pines High School	HS-WI 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1979–80 	University of North Dakota 	WCHA 		33 	1 	8 	9 	32 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1980–81 	University of North Dakota 	WCHA 		34 	4 	8 	12 	48 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1981–82 	University of North Dakota 	WCHA 		37 	4 	17 	21 	42 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		80 	0 	25 	25 	59 		3 	0 	0 	0 	2
1983–84 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		80 	7 	18 	25 	52 		15 	0 	3 	3 	23
1984–85 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		72 	5 	14 	19 	90 		12 	0 	2 	2 	6
1985–86 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		69 	2 	4 	6 	63 		20 	0 	1 	1 	48
1986–87 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		75 	4 	12 	16 	105 		17 	2 	3 	5 	30
1987–88 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		74 	4 	10 	14 	69 		11 	1 	1 	2 	6
1988–89 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		74 	3 	13 	16 	73 		21 	0 	2 	2 	24
1989–90 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 		73 	1 	15 	16 	108 		11 	0 	1 	1 	16
1990–91 	New York Islanders 	NHL 		75 	1 	8 	9 	77 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1991–92 	Minnesota North Stars 	NHL 		73 	2 	9 	11 	54 		7 	0 	1 	1 	19
1992–93 	Minnesota North Stars 	NHL 		78 	1 	10 	11 	153 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1993–94 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		84 	1 	13 	14 	123 		9 	0 	3 	3 	8
1994–95 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		47 	2 	7 	9 	61 		4 	0 	1 	1 	2
1995–96 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		65 	1 	2 	3 	70 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		77 	2 	11 	13 	62 		7 	0 	2 	2 	18
1997–98 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		80 	0 	7 	7 	131 		17 	0 	1 	1 	22
1998–99 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 		80 	2 	6 	8 	87 		23 	1 	4 	5 	20
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals		1,256 	38 	184 	222 	1,437 		177 	4 	24 	28 	244
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year	Team 	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1981	United States	WJC 		5 	0	0	0 	12
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
==Awards and honors==
Award 	Year 	
All-WCHA Second Team	1981–82 	
Stanley Cup 	1986, 1999	
==See also==
*List of NHL players with 1000 games played
==References==
== External links ==
*
*Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com
*Profile at Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:1961 births
Category:Living people
Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen
Category:Dallas Stars players
Category:Ice hockey people from Wisconsin
Category:Minnesota North Stars players
Category:Montreal Canadiens draft picks
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:New York Islanders players
Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Dallas Stars announcers
Category:NCAA men's ice hockey national champions
Category:Ice hockey players from Wisconsin