NMU Alum, Dallas Drake, Hopeful for Stanley Cup

As commented in an earlier post about Jeff Finger, Corey suggested that Dallas Drake should be considered an Honorary Yooper. We couldn’t agree more!

Dallas Drake has become a household name in the Upper Peninsula, at least for any hockey household. For the first time in his NHL career (over 1,000 games spanning 16 years) he will be playing in the Stanley Cup finals.

Drake, who is from Trail, British Comlumbia, played his college hockey at Northern Michigan University from 1988 through 1992. Under longtime coach Rick Comley (another honorary Yooper) Dallas Drake and the Wildcats went on to win the 1991 NCAA National Hockey Championship. It still holds as NMU’s only national hockey championship.

The Detroit Red Wings drafted Drake in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, but after just two season with the Red Wings Drake went on to play Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, and St. Louis Blues where he was the captain for two seasons.

Dallas Drake signed a contract with the Red Wings for the 2007-2008 season in the hopes of chasing the Stanley Cup.

Traverse City is where Dallas Drake calls him in the off-season, but he still makes time to take trips to Marquette and worth with youth hockey programs.

If Dallas Drake and company play some good hockey in the next two weeks his next trip to Marquette and NMU might include a Stanley Cup.

Photo courtesy of Dan on Flickr