Dan Blackburn 714184 220415718 2008-06-19T19:22:34Z 24.191.206.193 /* NHL career */ {{Infobox Ice Hockey Player | image= | image_size= | pro_clubs = [[New York Rangers]] | league = [[National Hockey League|NHL]] | position = [[Goaltender]] | catches = Left | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 180 | nickname = | nationality = CAN | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|5|20}} | birth_place = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec|QC]], [[Canada|CAN]] | career_start = [[2001]] | career_end = [[2005]] | draft = 10th overall | draft_year = 2001 | draft_team = [[New York Rangers]] }} {{Inappropriate tone|date=December 2007}} '''Daniel Blackburn''' (born [[May 20]], [[1983]] in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]]) is a [[retired]] [[Canada|Canadian]] [[professional]] [[ice hockey|hockey]] [[goaltender]]. He played 63 regular-season games for the [[New York Rangers]], going 20–32–11 with 1 shutout. ==Minor league career== Born in Quebec, Blackburn moved to [[Canmore, Alberta|Canmore]], [[Alberta]] as a teen and moved on to major junior hockey with the [[Western Hockey League]]'s [[Kootenay Ice]] in [[Cranbrook, British Columbia|Cranbrook]], [[British Columbia]]. In 2001, he was named the [[Canadian Hockey League]]'s Goaltender of the Year. Blackburn was drafted by the [[New York Rangers]] in the first round of the [[2001 NHL Entry Draft]], 10th overall. ==NHL career== For most of [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], Blackburn served as backup to [[Mike Richter]], a longtime Ranger goalie. He played 31 games for the Blueshirts, an amazing total for a teenaged net minder. He was selected as the 2002 goaltender for the [[NHL All-Rookie Team]], due to his strong performance with the Rangers. He posted a 3.28 [[goals-against average]] and .898 [[save percentage]]. For [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]], Richter returned to [[Manhattan]] as a free agent. "I really wanted him back," said Blackburn with relief. "We've gotten really close and I knew it would help me a lot, having him around." <div class=McDonell, Chris. ''Hockey's Greatest Stars''. 2005. Page 179.''"references-small"> He also liked that Richter no longer started 60-70 games each season. "Mike doesn't play as much as some other star goalies do," said Blackburn. "If someone like [[Curtis Joseph]] came, I wouldn't be on the ice as much as I was last year." <div class=McDonell, Chris. ''Hockey's Greatest Stars''. 2005. Page 179.''"references-small"> In a [[November 7]] game, Richter went down with a concussion, and all goaltending responsibilities fell onto Blackburn's [[shoulder]]s. He notched his first and only career shutout &mdash; a 1–0 overtime win over the [[Calgary Flames]] &mdash; in the first game of the season Richter missed. Blackburn dismissed concerns that the heavy workload would be too much for him by pointing out that he had endured a heavier workload in juniors.<ref>McDonell, Chris. ''Hockey's Greatest Stars''. 2005. Page 179.</ref> However, after 17 consecutive starts, Blackburn eventually burned out, playing less effectively and tiring. It was becoming clear that Richter's difficulties with post-concussion syndrome were unlikely to abate, and that more help was needed. "We had to make a deal," Sather claimed. "I did not want to see Danny lose his confidence and struggle, or for our team to struggle." <div class=McDonell, Chris. ''Hockey's Greatest Stars''. 2005. Page 179.''"references-small"> Sather traded for [[Nashville Predators|Nashville Predator]] [[Mike Dunham]], an experienced number-one goaltender, in order to let Blackburn develop at a consistent rate. Blackburn finished the 2002–2003 season with a 3.17 GAA and a slightly disappointing .890 [[save percentage]]. ==Injuries and retirement== Unfortunately for Blackburn, a shoulder injury forced him into retirement in 2005. He retired after missing the entire [[2003–04 NHL season]] due to a [[nerve]] injury sustained just before training camp to his left shoulder. He had nerve exploration [[surgery]] on [[March 31]], [[2004]], then made an attempt to return to hockey, sporting a pair of blockers rather than the conventional blocker/catcher combination, as his injury rendered him incapable of closing his catcher. On [[February 1]], [[2005]], he joined the [[ECHL]] [[Victoria Salmon Kings]] going 3–9–0, with a 3.54 GAA in 12 games. On [[September 15]], during the Rangers training camp, he suffered a strained [[MCL]]. Subsequently, Blackburn announced his retirement on [[September 25]]. Had Blackburn continued to attempt a comeback, he would have forfeited an insurance payout of approximately 6 million dollars. His cousin, Peter Blackburn, is currently in the [[Boston Bruins]] minor league organization, the [[Providence Bruins]]. After retiring, Dan enrolled at Arizona State University. Afterwards he became manager of business development for Goaltender Development Institute. When asked if he ever envisioned a return to hockey, he was quoted as saying, "Never, I doubt I will ever put goalie pads on again. I don't have interest in playing net." He also stated, "It's not bittersweet, you know what? I don't really miss it anymore - it's been such a long time. It was a chapter of my life and I'm on to the next....I don't have any regrets at all about what transpired or the way things happened for me. I really enjoy what I do now in the business world....From my point of view, I was really fortunate, even though I was only there for a couple of years. It really set up the rest of my life for all the things that I want to do, from there on out." Information and quotes were from a news article entitled, "No regrets: Former 1st-rounder Blackburn moves on" written by Scott Cruickshank, CanWest News Service. Published: Saturday, November 17, 2007 <ref>[http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=ffa0cb07-d943-4144-8cfe-6b96ca6ea78d Windsor Star article]</ref>. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{hockeydb|50619}} {{RangersFirstPick}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Blackburn, Dan}} [[Category:1983 births]] [[Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders]] [[Category:Ice hockey personnel from Quebec]] [[Category:Kootenay Ice alumni]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks]] [[Category:New York Rangers players]] [[Category:New York Rangers draft picks]] [[Category:People from Montreal]] [[Category:Victoria Salmon Kings players]] [[de:Dan Blackburn]]