Born	May 8, 1972 (1972-05-08) (age 37), Fort Saskatchewan, AB, CAN
Height Weight	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team F. teams	Carolina Hurricanes San Jose Sharks Edmonton Oilers Florida Panthers Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings
Ntl. team	Canada
NHL Draft	23rd overall, 1991 San Jose Sharks
Pro career	1991 – present

Ray Whitney (born May 8, 1972) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain currently with the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League.

[edit] 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. ^[1]

On April 13, 2007, Whitney re-signed a three-year contract with the Hurricanes that pays him $3.5 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," and was originally given to him by former Florida Panthers' play-by-play man and current Columbus Blue Jackets' play-by-play man 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, which is quite impressive considering his older age.^[2]

Whitney has a nephew, Dominic, who is a stand out star playing pee-wee hockey in Victora, BC. Scouts have been keeping a close eye on the younger Whitney from an early age. He is leadig his team in scoring in the 2009-10 season with 33 goals,21 assists and 54 points in 14 games. He plays on the pee wee AAA Jaun de Fuca grizzles.

Whitney is one of only 29 players in NHL history to record an overtime game-winner in a seventh game in the playoffs. He did that in 1995 in a seventh game 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.^[3]

[edit] Awards and achievements

• Stanley Cup Champion (2006)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2000)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (2003)
• IHL All-Star Game MVP (1992)
• Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL Player of the Year) (1991)
• WHL Bob Clarke Trophy (Leading Scorer) (1991)
• Memorial Cup George Parsons Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player) (1991)
• Memorial Cup All-Star Team (1991)
• WHL West First All-Star Team (1991)

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ray Whitney's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Ray Whitney at TSN.ca