Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba my first pair of shoes had blades on them. In 1995, I left home at the age of 17 to play junior hockey with the Minot Top Guns of the SJHL. While playing for the Top Guns, the University of North Dakota offered me a hockey scholarship. For the next four years, I attended the University and played Division I varsity hockey. Our team won 2 NCAA championships, 3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association championships, and 2 McNaughton Cups. In my senior year, I lead all Division I NCAA players in goals scored (34), was named the MVP of the Frozen Four, and was selected as an All-American. I graduated with honors from the University of North Dakota and was designated as North Dakota’s male athlete of the year.

It was after my freshman year at UND, that the Boston Bruins drafted me in the 3^rd round of the NHL entry draft.  Following my graduation in 2000, and our second National Championship season, I signed my first professional contract with the Bruins. During the seven seasons that followed, I played in the NHL for the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Vancouver Canucks.  During that time I also played in the American Hockey League with the Providence Bruins, San Antonio Rampage and the Manitoba Moose.

The next 6 years were spent in Europe playing in the top divisions in Sweden (SHL), Switzerland (NLA), Finland (SM-Liiga) and Germany (DEL).  Having played over 900 professional hockey games in 13 seasons, I retired from hockey in May of 2013.

My playing career became a coaching career.  First as an assistant coach at St. Olaf College for the 2013-2014 season and then in my current position as the Vice President of Hockey Operations and the U18 Head Hockey Coach for the B.E. Emerson Prep Academy in North St. Paul, Minnesota.

Hockey and family are my lifelong passions. They provide direction and purpose to my life. Many of my most significant professional and personal associations are within the hockey community. My wife, Angie, and I were married in July 2001. We have 2 sons that share my passion for hockey, Oliver (2007) and Lincoln (2010).