Dale Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Dale Dunbar is a retired American
professional ice hockey
defenceman
who briefly played in the National Hockey League
during the 1980s.
, where he was a teammate of future NHL star John Cullen
. At the conclusion of his collegiate career in 1985 he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks
. He would spend two years in Vancouver's farm system, appearing in a single NHL game for the Canucks during the 1985–86 season.
Released by the Canucks in 1987, he signed as a free agent with his hometown Boston Bruins
. He spent the next two seasons playing for the Maine Mariners
, Boston's AHL
affiliate, and received another one-game callup to the NHL during the 1988–89 season.
After being released by the Bruins, Dunbar moved to Europe, spending a year in Finland before moving to England, where he suffered a career-ending knee injury during the 1990–91 season.
Following his career, Dunbar moved into coaching, serving as head coach of the Erie Otters
of the OHL
from 1996–98, and as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst from 1998–2000. He currently works for the Orr Hockey Group and operates hockey and leadership camps for youth, and also coaches for Winthrop High School.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who briefly played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
during the 1980s.
Playing career
Never drafted, Dunbar had a solid college career at Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, where he was a teammate of future NHL star John Cullen
John Cullen
John Cullen is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. He was a standout player for Boston University and is the school's all-time leading scorer...
. At the conclusion of his collegiate career in 1985 he signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. He would spend two years in Vancouver's farm system, appearing in a single NHL game for the Canucks during the 1985–86 season.
Released by the Canucks in 1987, he signed as a free agent with his hometown Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
. He spent the next two seasons playing for the Maine Mariners
Maine Mariners
The Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, USA at the Cumberland County Civic Center.-History:...
, Boston's AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, and received another one-game callup to the NHL during the 1988–89 season.
After being released by the Bruins, Dunbar moved to Europe, spending a year in Finland before moving to England, where he suffered a career-ending knee injury during the 1990–91 season.
Following his career, Dunbar moved into coaching, serving as head coach of the Erie Otters
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996...
of the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
from 1996–98, and as an assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst from 1998–2000. He currently works for the Orr Hockey Group and operates hockey and leadership camps for youth, and also coaches for Winthrop High School.
Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1981–82 | Boston University Boston University men's ice hockey The Boston University Terriers men’s ice hockey program is one of the most storied teams in NCAA Division I hockey, playing its first ever game in 1918 and winning five national championships, while making twenty-one appearances in the Frozen Four.... |
ECAC | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1982–83 | Boston University | ECAC | 23 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1983–84 | Boston University | ECAC | 34 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1984–85 | Boston University | HE Hockey East Hockey East Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey conference which operates in New England. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference.... |
39 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 1985–86 AHL season The 1985–86 AHL season was the 50th season of the American Hockey League. Thirteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears finished first overall in the regular season... |
Fredericton Express Fredericton Express The Fredericton Express were a professional ice hockey team based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1981 and 1988. The Express were affiliated with the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
32 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen (IHL) The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.... |
IHL | 46 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 1987–88 AHL season The 1987–88 AHL season was the 52nd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned shootout, but continues to award points for an overtime loss... |
Maine Mariners Maine Mariners The Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, USA at the Cumberland County Civic Center.-History:... |
AHL | 66 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 120 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 33 | ||
| 1988–89 1988–89 AHL season The 1988–89 AHL season was the 53rd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned awarding points for an overtime loss. The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season... |
Maine Mariners | AHL | 65 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL Totals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||