Mike Modano

Michael Thomas Modano, Jr. (born June 7 1970, in Livonia, Michigan) is a retired professional hockey player who played the majority of his career for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. He is the all-time goal-scoring and points leader amongst American-born players in the NHL.
==Playing career==
Mike Modano played 20 of his 21 NHL seasons with the Stars franchise. At the age of 17, he was the first overall draft pick in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft, an honor shared by only 5 other Americans: Brian Lawton (1983), Bryan Berard (1995), Rick DiPietro (2000), Erik Johnson (2006) and Patrick Kane (2007).
Modano won the Stanley Cup in 1999 with the Stars, putting together consecutive seasons of over twenty playoff points in 1999 and 2000. He has also played in the 1991 and 2000 championship finals. Modano has also been a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy (1990), the Frank J. Selke Trophy (2001), and the Lady Byng Trophy (2003). He lost the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the year's best rookie, to 31-year-old Sergei Makarov; because of this, the NHL imposed an age barrier for Calder candidates the following year. His best statistical seasons were in 1992-93 and 1993-94, when he had 93 points each. During the 1993-94 season, the franchise's first in Dallas, Modano recorded a personal-best 50 goals. His career high for points in a game is 6 (2-4-6) against the Anaheim Ducks. Modano has 7 career hat tricks. The long-time face of the Dallas franchise, he has recorded over 1,000 NHL points and became the captain of the Stars in 2003. On August 5, 2005, he signed a 5-year contract extension with Dallas. On September 29, 2006, he was replaced as the Stars' captain by Brenden Morrow, and was an alternate captain, a role in which he had previously served from 1995 to 2003. 
Modano was the last remaining North Stars player to play with the Dallas Stars. Jere Lehtinen, who was drafted in 1992 when the franchise was still in the Twin Cities, never played an NHL game until the 1995-96 season, more than two years after the move.
On January 21,2007, the NHL announced Modano as the Special Ambassador to the 2007 NHL All-Star Celebration, thanks to his numerous contributions towards bringing the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game to Dallas and also for his contributions to Dallas hockey as a whole. Modano, the Stars' all-time leader in several statistical categories and a member of the franchise for the entirety of his 17-year career, appeared at selected All-Star events and dropped the puck in a ceremonial face-off prior the game on January 24,2007.
Modano scored his 500th career regular-season goal on March 13, 2007 with 10:24 left in the 3rd period in a regulation win against Antero Niittymaki of the Philadelphia Flyers with assists by Antti Miettinen and Jon Klemm. He is only the 14th goal scorer to score 500 goals with a single team and the 39th player to reach 500 goals overall. 
On March 17, 2007 in an away game versus the Nashville Predators, Modano scored his 502nd and 503rd career regular-season goals, thus passing Joe Mullen's NHL record (502) for most goals scored by an American-born player. The Predators organization drew criticism from around the league after failing to mention the breaking of this record.
Modano now holds the NHL all-time record for most points scored by a U.S. born player. He broke the record, which previously belonged to Phil Housley, on November 7, 2007 by scoring two goals in the first five minutes, with the record-breaker being a short-handed goal on a breakaway, against the San Jose Sharks.
November 21, 2007 was "Mike Modano Tribute Night", where Modano was honoured by the franchise for his achievements in U.S. hockey. Those who spoke in the pre-game ceremony included Brett Hull, Joe Mullen, Phil Housley, and owner Tom Hicks. Modano later went on to score the game-tying goal in a 2-1 victory against the Anaheim Ducks.
Modano indicated in interviews that he intended to play out the duration of his contract, which expired after the 2009-2010 season. The Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk decided not to resign the 40-year-old center after the 2009-2010 season. Modano played his final home game April 8th, 2010 against the Anaheim Ducks assisting on Jamie Benn's first period goal, scoring the game tying goal in the third period on a deflection, and scoring the winning goal in the shootout. Modano collected 1st star of the game honors for his efforts. Modano played his final game as a Dallas Star April 10, 2010 against the Minnesota Wild.
==Personal life==
During the Thanksgiving of 2006, Modano proposed to his on and off girlfriend of 4 years, Willa Ford. Modano and Ford were married in a small ceremony in Athens, Texas on August 25, 2007.
Modano has two golden retrievers, Scout and Bella.
Modano is the founder and current Vice President of the Mike Modano Foundation, which raises awareness and funding for organizations offering education and assistance to children and families affected by child abuse.
==Awards and achievements==
*East First All-Star Team (WHL) - 1989
*NHL All-Rookie Team - 1990
*NHL Second All-Star Team - 2000
*NHL All-Star Games - 1993, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 (as the Western Conference team captain), 2004, 2007 (as the Special Ambassador)
*Stanley Cup champion - 1999
==Records==
(as of last completed NHL season)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career games played (1238)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career goals (507)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career assists (719)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career points (1226)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career playoff games (156)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career playoff goals (53)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career playoff assists (80)
*Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise record for career playoff points (133)
*National Hockey League record for most goals scored by an American-born player (511)
*National Hockey League record for most points by an American-born player (1233)
==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
1985-86 	Detroit Compuware 	MNHL 	 	69 	66 	65 	131 	32 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1986-87 	Prince Albert Raiders	WHL 	 	70 	32 	30 	62 	96 	 	8 	1 	4 	5 	4
1987-88 	Prince Albert Raiders	WHL 	 	65 	47 	80 	127 	80 	 	9 	7 	11 	18 	18
1988-89 	Prince Albert Raiders	WHL 	 	41 	39 	66 	105 	74 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1989-90 	Minnesota North Stars	NHL 	 	80 	29 	46 	75 	63 	 	7 	1 	1 	2 	12
1990-91 	Minnesota North Stars	NHL 	 	79 	28 	36 	64 	65 	 	23 	8 	12 	20 	6
1991-92 	Minnesota North Stars	NHL 	 	76 	33 	44 	77 	46 	 	7 	3 	2 	5 	4
1992-93 	Minnesota North Stars	NHL 	 	82 	33 	60 	93 	83 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1993-94 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	76 	50 	43 	93 	54 	 	9 	7 	3 	10 	16
1994-95 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	30 	12 	17 	29 	8 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1995-96 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	78 	36 	45 	81 	63 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
1996-97 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	80 	35 	48 	83 	42 	 	7 	4 	1 	5 	0
1997-98 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	52 	21 	38 	59 	32 	 	17 	4 	10 	14 	12
1998-99 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	77 	34 	47 	81 	44 	 	23 	5 	18 	23 	16
1999-00 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	77 	38 	43 	81 	48 	 	23 	10 	13 	23 	10
2000-01 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	81 	33 	51 	84 	52 	 	9 	3 	4 	7 	0
2001-02 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	78 	34 	43 	77 	38 	 	-- 	-- 	-- 	-- 	--
2002-03 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	79 	28 	57 	85 	30 	 	12 	5 	10 	15 	4
2003-04 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	76 	14 	30 	44 	46 	 	5 	1 	2 	3 	8
2005-06 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	78 	27 	50 	77 	58 	 	5 	1 	3 	4 	4
2006-07 	Dallas Stars 	NHL 	 	59 	22 	21 	43 	34 	 	7 	1 	1 	2 	4
WHL Totals	WHL Totals 	WHL Totals	 	176 	118 	176 	294 	250 	 	17 	8 	15 	23 	22
NHL Totals	NHL Totals 	NHL Totals	 	1238 	507 	719 	1226 	806 	 	156 	53 	80 	133 	106
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==International play==
Played for the United States in:
*1988 World Junior Championships
*1989 World Junior Championships
*1990 World Championships
*1991 Canada Cup (silver medal)
*1993 World Championships
*1996 World Cup of Hockey (gold medal)
*1998 Winter Olympics
*2002 Winter Olympics (silver medal)
*2004 World Cup of Hockey
*2005 World Championships
*2006 Winter Olympics 
International statistics
Year 	Team 	Event 	 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
1988 	USA 	WJC 	 	7 	4 	1 	5 	8
1989 	USA 	WJC 	 	7 	6 	9 	15 	12
1990 	USA 	WC 	 	8 	3 	3 	6 	2
1991 	USA 	CC 	 	8 	2 	7 	9 	2
1993 	USA 	WC 	 	6 	0 	0 	0 	2
1996 	USA 	WCH 	 	7 	2 	4 	6 	4
1998 	USA 	Oly 	 	4 	2 	0 	2 	0
2002 	USA 	Oly 	 	6 	0 	6 	6 	4
2004 	USA 	WCH 	 	5 	0 	6 	6 	0
2005 	USA 	WC 	 	7 	3 	1 	4 	4
2006 	USA 	Oly 	 	6 	2 	0 	2 	6
Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	 	57	14	27	41 	24
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==See also==
*List of NHL statistical leaders
*List of NHL players with 1000 points
*List of NHL players with 500 goals
*List of NHL first overall draft choices
==External links==
*
*Official web site
*
*Mike Modano at DallasStars.com
*Mike Modano's U.S. Olympic Team bio
*The Mike Modano Foundation
Category:American ice hockey players
Category:Prince Albert Raiders alumni
Category:Minnesota North Stars players
Category:Dallas Stars players
Category:Minnesota North Stars draft picks
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:NHL players with 50 goal seasons
Category:NHL first round draft picks
Category:NHL first overall draft picks
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Member of the American National Team
Category:Born in 1970
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Retired in 2011