Dave Gagner

Dave Gagner began his junior ice hockey career with the Chatham Maroons of the Western Ontario Hockey League before moving to the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League’s Newmarket Flyers for the 1980-81 season. He then had three more junior seasons with the Brantford Alexanders of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During this time, he represented Canada at the World Junior Championships and the Sarajevo Olympics in 1984, finishing fourth both times. He was then drafted by the National Hockey League’s (NHL) New York Rangers and spent 1984 through 1987 splitting his time between that team and its affiliate New Haven Nighthawks in the American Hockey League.

Gagner was traded to the NHL’s Minnesota North Stars for the 1987-88 season and, aside from a few games with the affiliated Kalamazoo Wings of the International Hockey League, remained with them until they became the Dallas Stars in 1993. That year, he was again fourth with the Canadian national team, this time at the senior World Championships. He remained with the Stars until 1996, when he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the remainder of the season. He then spent one year with the Calgary Flames, one and a half with the Florida Panthers, and a final half season with the Vancouver Canucks before retiring in 1999.

Following his retirement from active competition, Gagner founded a company that manufactures ice skating rinks. He also spent two seasons (2006-08) coaching the OHL’s London Knights and has worked in the realm of player development and scouting. His son, Sam, entered the NHL in the 2007-08 season and was still playing in it as of 2024.