Position: D Date of Birth: 01/28/1980 Height: 6' 0" Weight: 195 lbs
Shoots: R Resides: Los Angeles, CA
Biography:
2009-2010 is Stafford's seventh full professional season. Despite spending most of the 2008-09 season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, Stafford also made a three-game appearance with the Dallas Stars. He picked up two assists during his short stay with Dallas. In 70 AHL games with Grand Rapids, Stafford led all defensemen in goals (11) and points (45). His 34 assists were the second highest total on the team. Stafford finished seventh overall in scoring among all AHL defensemen. In 2007-08, he skated in 69 games with the Grand Rapids, collecting 44 points (11goals, 33 assists) and 36 penalty minutes. He went scoreless in two NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings, making his NHL debut on February 23, 2008 vs. Vancouver. Stafford spent the first four years of his career in the San Jose Sharks system, spending most of his time in Cleveland with the Barons of the AHL. In his first season, he was selected to the AHL All-Rookie Team and named to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 2004. As a rookie, Stafford led all Cleveland defensemen with 46 points (12g -34a) in 73 games played. Five of the six previous pro seasons, Stafford has led the team in scoring by a defenseman. NCAA Notes: Stafford had a stellar four-year career at the University of New Hampshire, earning 14 goals and 67 assists for 81 points in 134 games from 1999-2003. Stafford was named to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team in 2002 and to the league’s All-Tournament Team in 2003. Stafford played in New Hampshire’s 2003 National Championship game, a 5-1 loss to Minnesota.
