Jason Ward (ice hockey)

Jason Ward
Ward with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2003
Born	(1979-01-16) January 16, 1979 (age 45) Chapleau, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	Montreal Canadiens New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings Tampa Bay Lightning EHC Black Wings Linz
NHL draft	11th overall, 1997 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	1999–2011

Jason Robert Ward (born January 16, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He has played 336 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He was born in Chapleau, Ontario.

Playing career

Ward was drafted 11th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He played 186 career NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings, scoring 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points. When he was traded to the Kings, the deal sent agitator Sean Avery to the Rangers providing them boost for a playoff push.^[1] On February 27, 2007, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, making the third time he was traded during the 2006–07 season. He scored his first Lightning goal in his debut with the team.

After completing the 2009–10 season in the American Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers affiliate Adirondack Phantoms, Ward was unable to garner a new NHL contract for the following 2010–11 season. In order to maintain game shape, Ward voluntarily took on a position as an assistant coach for the major junior team Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League while on the lookout for a new contract. On November 15, 2010, Ward signed a one-year contract and played his last professional season with Austrian team EHC Black Wings Linz of the EBEL.^[2]

Ward has the distinction of scoring his first NHL goal, in his first NHL game, on his first NHL shot, all three milestones coming at Madison Square Garden against Mike Richter and the New York Rangers on December 3, 1999. ^[3]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994–95	Oshawa Legionaires	MetJHL		47	30	31	61	75		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Niagara Falls Thunder	OHL		64	15	35	50	139		10	6	4	10	23
1996–97	Erie Otters	OHL		58	25	39	64	137		5	1	2	3	2
1997–98	Erie Otters	OHL		21	7	9	16	42		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		26	19	27	46	34		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Fredericton Canadiens	AHL		7	1	0	1	2		1	0	0	0	2
1998–99	Windsor Spitfires	OHL		12	8	11	19	25		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		23	14	13	27	28		11	6	8	14	2
1998–99	Fredericton Canadiens	AHL		—	—	—	—	—		10	4	2	6	22
1999–00	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		32	2	1	3	10		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Québec Citadelles	AHL		40	14	12	26	30		3	2	1	3	4
2000–01	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		12	0	0	0	12		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Québec Citadelles	AHL		23	7	12	19	69		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Québec Citadelles	AHL		78	24	33	57	128		3	0	0	0	2
2002–03	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		8	3	2	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		69	31	41	72	78		23	12	9	21	20
2003–04	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		53	5	7	12	21		5	0	2	2	2
2003–04	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		2	0	3	3	17		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Hamilton Bulldogs	AHL		77	20	34	54	66		4	2	1	3	2
2005–06	New York Rangers	NHL		81	10	18	28	44		1	0	0	0	2
2006–07	New York Rangers	NHL		46	4	6	10	26		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		7	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		17	4	4	8	10		6	0	1	1	6
2007–08	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		79	8	6	14	42		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		1	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		21	2	7	9	16		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Adirondack Phantoms	AHL		56	12	17	29	30		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	EHC Linz	AUT		35	9	10	19	50		5	0	1	1	26
2013–14	Dundas Real McCoys	ACH		5	3	5	8	0		8	4	6	10	4
2013–14	Dundas Real McCoys	AC		—	—	—	—	—		4	1	5	6	12
2015–16	Hamilton Steelhawks	ACH		7	1	2	3	2		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				373	111	159	270	436		44	20	13	33	52
NHL totals				336	36	45	81	171		12	0	3	3	10

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998	Canada	WJC		7	1	0	1	2
1999	Canada	WJC		7	1	1	2	8
Junior totals				14	2	1	3	10

References

1. "Kings deal Avery to Rangers". tsn.ca. 2007-02-05. Archived from the original on October 30, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
2. "Ex-NHLer storms for Linz". EHC Black Wings Linz. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
3. "Canadiens v Rangers". hockeyreference.com. 1999-12-03. Retrieved 2013-01-02.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Matt Higgins	Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick 1997	Succeeded by Eric Chouinard