David M. Hale (born June 18, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played for the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators over an eight-year National Hockey League (NHL) career. Hale is noteworthy for holding the record for most games needed to score his first NHL goal, with it taking him 231 games, scoring it in his 6th professional season.
Playing career Hale, a Colorado Springs native, played high school hockey for Coronado High School before joining Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. He was drafted from the Musketeers in the first round, 22nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2000 NHL entry draft before joining the University of North Dakota to play collegiate hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Hale made his NHL debut on October 8, 2003.
On February 27, 2007, Hale was traded by the Devils, along with a 2007 fifth-round draft pick, to the Calgary Flames for a 2007 third-round draft pick.
On July 3, 2008, Hale, a free agent, signed with the Phoenix Coyotes on a two-year deal. During the 2008–09 season on November 26, 2008, Hale scored his first NHL goal in a 3–2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hale scored in his 231st game, setting a record for the longest start to an NHL career without a goal.
On July 21, 2009, Hale was traded by the Coyotes, along with Todd Fedoruk, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Radim Vrbata. Used as a depth defenseman Hale played sparingly in 35 games, before he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, on a conditioning assignment. In his last game with the Admirals, Hale broke his foot and returned to Tampa to play in just 4 more games to end the 2009–10 season.
On August 4, 2010, Hale signed a one-year contract with the Ottawa Senators. Hale split the season between Ottawa and their AHL team, the Binghamton Senators. Hale finished the season with Ottawa, and did not take part in Binghamton's Calder Cup playoff run.
On October 15, 2011, Hale officially announced his retirement from hockey.
On June 26, 2013, Hale signed with Italian team HC Appiano, in the semi-pro Inter-National League.
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1997–98 Coronado High School HS-CO 25 11 33 44 154 — — — — — 1998–99 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 56 3 15 18 127 5 0 0 0 18 1999–2000 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 54 6 18 24 187 5 0 2 2 6 2000–01 North Dakota Fighting Sioux WCHA 44 4 5 9 79 — — — — — 2001–02 North Dakota Fighting Sioux WCHA 34 4 5 9 63 — — — — — 2002–03 North Dakota Fighting Sioux WCHA 26 2 6 8 49 — — — — — 2003–04 New Jersey Devils NHL 65 0 4 4 72 1 0 0 0 0 2004–05 Albany River Rats AHL 30 2 3 5 39 — — — — — 2005–06 New Jersey Devils NHL 38 0 4 4 21 8 0 2 2 12 2005–06 Albany River Rats AHL 30 2 5 7 64 — — — — — 2006–07 New Jersey Devils NHL 43 0 1 1 26 — — — — — 2006–07 Lowell Devils AHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2006–07 Calgary Flames NHL 11 0 0 0 10 2 0 0 0 6 2007–08 Calgary Flames NHL 58 0 2 2 46 6 0 0 0 2 2008–09 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 48 3 6 9 36 — — — — — 2009–10 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 39 0 4 4 25 — — — — — 2009–10 Norfolk Admirals AHL 4 1 1 2 0 — — — — — 2010–11 Binghamton Senators AHL 36 2 4 6 32 — — — — — 2010–11 Ottawa Senators NHL 25 1 4 5 6 — — — — — 2013–14 HC Appiano INL 30 5 14 19 65 — — — — — 2013–14 HC Appiano ITA.2 4 0 1 1 4 — — — — — NHL totals 327 4 25 29 242 17 0 2 2 20
International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 2001 United States WJC 7 0 2 2 6 Junior totals 7 0 2 2 6
Awards and honors Award Year All-WCHA Third Team 2002–03
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