Scott Parker (ice hockey)

Scott Parker
Born	(1978-01-29) January 29, 1978 Hanford, CA, USA
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	240 lb (110 kg; 17 st 2 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Colorado Avalanche San Jose Sharks
NHL Draft	63rd overall, 1996 New Jersey Devils 20th overall, 1998 Colorado Avalanche
Playing career	1998–2008

Scott Parker (born January 29, 1978) is a retired American professional ice hockey right winger who played for the Colorado Avalanche and San Jose Sharks in the NHL. Parker earned his nickname, "The Sheriff", from his reputation as a feared fighter and enforcer.

Playing career

Parker grew up playing roller hockey in Hanford, California, and he later played high school hockey for the Chugiak Mustangs in Eagle River, Alaska.

He was initially drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the third round, 63rd overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. However unable to come to an agreement with the Devils he re-entered into the 1998 draft and was selected in the first round, 20th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche. After playing a few seasons in the WHL with the Kelowna Rockets, Parker started his NHL career with the Avalanche in 1998 and was a member of their 2001 Stanley Cup Championship team.

Parker was acquired by San Jose for a fifth round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft on June 21, 2003. In 2005, Parker was struck in the head by the puck, and spent a long time off the ice recovering from the resulting concussion.

In a game against the Nashville Predators on March 11, 2006, Parker got involved in an altercation with Nashville defenceman Brendan Witt. Called for elbowing Nashville player Jordin Tootoo, Parker was ejected from the game after an outburst of emotion in the penalty box, including slamming his stick against the glass. As he was led off the ice, Parker jumped onto the glass between the two teams' benches and struck Witt several times. As a result, he was suspended for two games.

On February 27, 2007, Parker was re-acquired by the Colorado Avalanche from the Sharks for a 6th round draft pick in the 2008 draft.

On October 17, 2008, Parker was assigned to Colorado's affiliate the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL. In a rare conflict between the team and one of its own players, the Avalanche terminated Parker's contract on November 9, 2008 for insubordination for not reporting to the Monsters.

Parker retired in early August 2009 and has since started a barbershop business with his wife Francesca in Castle Rock, Colorado.

In July, 2012, Parker made some controversial comments about Steve Moore. Parker was on the roster of the San Jose Sharks at the time of the 2004 Todd Bertuzzi - Steve Moore incident in which Moore's career was ended by an on-ice attack from Todd Bertuzzi, but Parker and Moore had been teammates in Colorado during prior seasons. In an interview with milehighhockey.com, Parker defended Bertuzzi and spoke disparagingly of Moore, being quoted as saying "he (Moore) always thought he was better than everybody else. He went to Harvard, you know what, blow me. College grad. I never went to college, but I can kick your ass. I'll bring you right down to my IQ level if you want. I'll hit you about four times in the skull, that'll bring you right down." Note that during the two seasons Parker and Moore were teammates, Moore played only 12 NHL games for the Avalanche while spending the bulk of his time with the AHL Avalanche affiliate Hershey Bears.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995–96	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		64	3	4	7	159		6	0	0	0	12
1996–97	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		68	18	8	26	330		6	0	2	2	4
1997–98	Kelowna Rockets	WHL		71	30	22	52	243		7	6	0	6	23
1998–99	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		27	0	0	0	71		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Hershey Bears	AHL		32	4	3	7	143		4	0	0	0	6
1999–00	Hershey Bears	AHL		68	12	7	19	206		11	1	1	2	56
2000–01	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		69	2	3	5	155		4	0	0	0	2
2001–02	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		63	1	4	5	154		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		43	1	3	4	82		1	0	0	0	2
2003–04	San Jose Sharks	NHL		50	1	3	4	101		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	San Jose Sharks	NHL		10	1	0	1	38		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	San Jose Sharks	NHL		11	0	0	0	22		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		10	1	1	2	6		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		25	0	0	0	70		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				308	7	14	21	699		5	0	0	0	4

External links

• Scott Parker's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Robyn Regehr	Colorado Avalanche first round draft pick 1998	Succeeded by Mikhail Kuleshov