Dave Steckel Information & Dave Steckel Links at HealthHaven.com

Born	March 15, 1982 (age 27),; West Bend, Wisconsin
Height; Weight	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m); 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Washington Capitals
NHL Draft	30th overall, 2001; Los Angeles Kings
Pro career	2004 – present

David Steckel (born March 15, 1982 in West Bend, Wisconsin) is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for the Washington Capitals in the National Hockey League.

[edit] Playing career

Steckel was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Steckel played one full season with the US Junior National Team in the United States Hockey League before entering The Ohio State University. He played four seasons with the Buckeyes hockey team, and then joined the American Hockey League's Manchester Monarchs for the 2004–05 season.

Steckel, a free agent, then signed with the Washington Capitals August 25, 2005, on the recommendation of Bruce Boudreau.^[1]

He made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals in the 2005–06 season, appearing in seven games. After appearing in five more games with the Capitals in 2006–07, he made the team's opening night roster in 2007–08.^[2]

Steckel proved himself to be a valuable commodity to the Capitals. He often centered the third line and was called on as a key member of the penalty kill. Steckel also proved himself very effective at face-offs, and typically was placed on the ice to take face-offs during critical moments of games. Near the end of the season, Steckel broke his finger blocking a shot and had to have pins put in. However, he missed very few games and was back on the ice during the playoffs.

Steckel's size and grit have served the Capitals well, and it was expected that he will have an expanded role in the 2008–09 season.^[3]

In the 2008-09 season Steckel was once again one of the Capitals top face-off men and one of their top penalty killers. He was 2nd on the team in shorthanded time-on-ice per game (first among forwards) with 3:48. On face-offs, he finished the season 5th in the NHL, winning 57.9% of his draws. He scored 8 goals and had 11 assists during the regular season. In the 2nd round of the 2009 playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins he scored his first-ever playoff game-winning goal in overtime of Game 6 to force a Game 7.

[edit] Awards

2000–01 CCHA All-Rookie Team

[edit] Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998–99	USNTDP	NAHL	51	3	14	17	18	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	U.S. Jr National Team	USHL	2	0	0	0	2	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	U.S. Jr National Team	USHL	52	13	13	26	94	—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Ohio State University	CCHA	33	17	18	35	80	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Ohio State University	CCHA	36	6	16	22	75	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Ohio State University	CCHA	36	10	8	18	50	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Ohio State University	CCHA	41	17	13	30	44	—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Reading Royals	ECHL	9	3	6	9	2	—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Manchester Monarchs	AHL	63	10	7	17	26	6	1	1	2	4
2005–06	Hershey Bears	AHL	74	14	20	34	58	21	10	5	15	20
2005–06	Washington Capitals	NHL	7	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Hershey Bears	AHL	71	30	31	61	46	19	6	9	15	16
2006–07	Washington Capitals	NHL	5	0	0	0	2	—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Washington Capitals	NHL	67	5	7	12	34	7	1	1	2	4
2008–09	Washington Capitals	NHL	76	8	11	19	34	14	3	2	5	4
NHL totals			155	13	18	31	70	21	4	3	7	8

[edit] Personal

Dave married his college girlfriend, Diondra "Didi" Reynolds, in 2007. Didi played basketball from 1999-2003 for The Ohio State University.

[edit] References

^ "Steckel in the mix for Caps". Washington Post. 2007-09-29. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/28/AR2007092802122.html. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
^ "Capitals announce opening night roster". Capitals.com. 2008-10-07. http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=385264. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
^ "Steckel branches out". Washington Post. 2008-10-13. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/12/AR2008101201659.html. Retrieved 2008-10-22.

[edit] External links

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[0] "Steckel in the mix for Caps". Washington Post. 2007-09-29. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/28/AR2007092802122.html. Retrieved 2008-10-22.

[1] "Capitals announce opening night roster". Capitals.com. 2008-10-07. http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=385264. Retrieved 2008-10-22.

[2] "Steckel branches out". Washington Post. 2008-10-13. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/12/AR2008101201659.html. Retrieved 2008-10-22.

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