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Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Hockey

Dale Hunter

Dale Robert Hunter is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach from Petrolia, Ontario.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Dale Hunter is a Canadian former NHL centre and current co-owner, president, and head coach of the London Knights. He played 19 seasons in the NHL and holds unique records for combining high scoring with extreme physical play.

What it is

Dale Robert Hunter was born July 31, 1960, in Petrolia, Ontario. He played for the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, and Colorado Avalanche from 1980 to 1999. Known for a tough, physical style, he also put up strong offensive numbers.

Key details

Hunter played 1,407 regular-season games, scoring 323 goals and 697 assists for 1,020 points. He recorded 3,565 penalty minutes, the most of any player with 1,000-plus points. His 731 playoff penalty minutes are an NHL record. He is the only player to reach both 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes.

Why it matters

Hunter's number 32 was retired by the Washington Capitals in 2000. After retiring, he moved into coaching and management with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, where he has won multiple championships. He remains a notable figure in Canadian hockey as both a player and junior hockey executive.

In short

  • Only NHL player with 1,000+ points and 3,000+ penalty minutes.
  • Holds league record for playoff penalty minutes (731).
  • Number 32 retired by the Washington Capitals.
  • Now co-owner, president, and head coach of the London Knights.
Canadian angle

Hunter is from Petrolia, Ontario, and is one of Canada’s notable NHL figures as both a player and junior hockey executive/co-owner with the London Knights.

Quick questions

Who is Dale Hunter?
A Canadian former NHL player and coach, known for his long career with the Quebec Nordiques, Washington Capitals, and Colorado Avalanche.
What is Dale Hunter known for?
He is known for combining high scoring totals with very high penalty minutes, including being the only NHL player with over 1,000 points and 3,000 penalty minutes.
What does Dale Hunter do now?
He has been involved with the London Knights as co-owner, president, and head coach.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Hunter
    Supports: Career teams, regular-season and playoff statistics, retired jersey number, and NHL records.
  2. Hockey-Reference — https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/h/hunteda02.html
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, height, career totals, and Hall of Fame status.
  3. StatMuse — https://www.statmuse.com/nhl/player/dale-hunter-3056
    Supports: Career regular-season totals, games played, and team summary.
  4. The Hockey Writers — https://thehockeywriters.com/docs/dale-hunter/
    Supports: Canadian background, NHL career, and London Knights roles.
  5. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/21421/dale-hunter
    Supports: Draft position, birthplace, position, career span, and penalty-minute record.