Ray Whitney

Ray Whitney (born May 8, 1972) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently with the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League.
==Playing career==
Before Whitney played his first game on the ice, he was one of the Oilers stick boys during Wayne Gretzky's late career in Edmonton; the others were Ryan Smyth and Ray's brother Dean. He was drafted in the second round (23rd overall) in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks. He has played for several different NHL teams during his 17 year career, including the San Jose Sharks (1991–92 to 1996–97), Edmonton Oilers (1997–98), Florida Panthers (1997–98 to 2000–01), Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01 to 2002–03), and Detroit Red Wings (2003–04). As well as playing in the NHL, Whitney has also played in the Western Hockey League (WHL), International Hockey League (IHL), and American Hockey League (AHL).
On August 6, 2005, Whitney signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes paying him $1.5 million per year. In his first season with the Hurricanes in 2005–06, Whitney helped Carolina win their first Stanley Cup with fellow Fort Saskatchewan native Mike Commodore.
On April 13, 2007, Whitney re-signed with the Hurricanes, agreeing to a three-year contract that pays him $3.5 million per year.
On July 1, 2010 Whitney signed a 2 year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes for $3 million per year.
Whitney is known for his comedic tendencies for doing such things as making sure he's visible in pre-game on-screen interviews behind the interviewee, leading to the Hurricanes fans' favorite game of "Where's Whitney"? His commonly used nickname is "Wizard," which was originally given to him by former Florida Panthers play-by-play commentator Jeff Rimer.
Whitney is considered to be one of the most underrated players currently in the NHL, as his name is not mentioned a lot amongst hockey fans and hockey writers despite his consistently high point-production, especially considering his older age.
Whitney is one of only 31 players in NHL history to record an overtime game-winner in a seventh game in the playoffs, which he accomplished in 1995 against the Calgary Flames while with San Jose. Whitney is the only remaining member of the San Jose Sharks inaugural team (1991–92) still active in the NHL.
==Personal life==
Ray and wife Brijet married in 2000 and have 3 children; daughters Hanna (born April 2002)http://hurricanes.nhl.com/v2/ext/media%20guides/2009-10/09-10_CHguide_2players.pdf and Harper (born April 5, 2008)http://hurricanes.nhl.com/ext/media%20guide%202008/PART2%20PLAYERS.pdf and son Hudson.
==International play==
Whitney debuted with Team Canada at the 1998 World Championships. He recorded six points in seven games as Canada finished in sixth place. The following year, he notched seven points in 10 games at the 1999 World Championships. Canada finished out of the medals once more, losing in the semifinal to the Czech Republic. He made his next appearance at the 2003 World Championships with Canada finishing in first. Seven years later, he was named Canada's captain for the 2010 World Championship, replacing Ryan Smyth who broke his foot early in the tournament.
==Awards and achievements==
* Stanley Cup Champion (2006)
* Played in NHL All-Star Game (2000)
* Played in NHL All-Star Game (2003)
== Career statistics ==
  	  	  	 	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
1987–88 	Fort Saskatchewan 	AMBHL 	 	71 	80 	155 	235 	119 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1988–89 	Spokane Chiefs 	WHL 	 	71 	17 	33 	50 	16 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1989–90 	Spokane Chiefs 	WHL 	 	71 	57 	56 	113 	50 	 	6 	3 	4 	7 	6
1990–91 	Spokane Chiefs 	WHL 	 	72 	67 	118 	185 	36 	 	15 	13 	18 	31 	12
1991–92 	Cologne Sharks 	DEL 	 	10 	3 	6 	9 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1991–92 	San Diego Gulls 	IHL 	 	63 	36 	54 	90 	12 	 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
1991–92 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	2 	0 	3 	3 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1992–93 	Kansas City Blades 	IHL 	 	46 	20 	33 	53 	14 	 	12 	5 	7 	12 	2
1992–93 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	26 	4 	6 	10 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1993–94 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	61 	14 	26 	40 	14 	 	14 	0 	4 	4 	8
1994–95 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	39 	13 	12 	25 	14 	 	11 	4 	4 	8 	2
1995–96 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	60 	17 	24 	41 	16 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	San Jose Sharks 	NHL 	 	12 	0 	2 	2 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	Kentucky Thoroughblades	AHL 	 	9 	1 	7 	8 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996–97 	Utah Grizzlies 	IHL 	 	43 	13 	35 	48 	34 	 	7 	3 	1 	4 	6
1997–98 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 	 	9 	1 	3 	4 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1997–98 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	68 	32 	29 	61 	28 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998–99 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	81 	26 	38 	64 	18 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999–00 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	81 	29 	42 	71 	35 	 	4 	1 	0 	1 	4
2000–01 	Florida Panthers 	NHL 	 	43 	10 	21 	31 	28 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000–01 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	NHL 	 	3 	0 	3 	3 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001–02 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	NHL 	 	67 	21 	40 	61 	12 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002–03 	Columbus Blue Jackets 	NHL 	 	81 	24 	52 	76 	22 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2003–04 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	67 	14 	29 	43 	22 	 	12 	1 	3 	4 	4
2005–06 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	63 	17 	38 	55 	42 	 	24 	9 	6 	15 	14
2006–07 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	81 	32 	51 	83 	46 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2007–08 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	66 	25 	36 	61 	30 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2008–09 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	82 	24 	53 	77 	32 	 	18 	3 	8 	11 	4
2009–10 	Carolina Hurricanes 	NHL 	 	80 	21 	37 	58 	26 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2010–11 	Phoenix Coyotes 	NHL 	 	75 	17 	40 	57 	24 	 	4 	1 	2 	3 	2
WHL totals	WHL totals 	WHL totals	 	214 	141 	207 	348 	102 	 	21 	16 	22 	38 	18
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	1147 	341 	585 	926 	419 	 	87 	19 	27 	46 	38
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==References==
==External links==
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Category:Born in 1972
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Carolina Hurricanes players
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Edmonton Oilers players
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:Kansas City Blades players
Category:Kentucky Thoroughblades players
Category:Memorial Cup winners
Category:National Hockey League All-Stars
Category:Phoenix Coyotes players
Category:San Diego Gulls (IHL) players
Category:San Jose Sharks draft picks
Category:San Jose Sharks players
Category:Spokane Chiefs alumni
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Utah Grizzlies (IHL) players