Aaron Ward (ice hockey)

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Boston Bruins
league = NHL


image_size = 200px
position = Defence
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 215
nickname =
nationality = CAN
birth_date = birth date and age|1973|1|17|mf=y
birth_place = Windsor, ON, CAN
draft = 5th overall
former_teams = New York Rangers
Carolina Hurricanes
Detroit Red Wings
draft_year = 1991
draft_team = Winnipeg Jets
career_start = 1993
nickname = Wardo, Farva

Aaron Ward (born January 17, 1973 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) is an ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. He also made headlines in the early 90s for popularizing the sports term "wham."

Playing career

Ward was drafted 5th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft out of the University of Michigan. Ward has played 632 career NHL games, scoring 35 goals and 80 assists for 115 points. Ward has won three Stanley Cups, two while playing for the Detroit Red Wings and one with the Hurricanes. In 2006, Ward scored the first goal in game seven of the Stanley Cup finals to help his team win the Cup. After the 2006 season, Ward became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the New York Rangers on July 3, 2006. He joined fellow 2006 Cup winner Matt Cullen as a free agent signee by the Rangers.

Toucher and Rich

While in Boston, Ward has gained popularity with Bruins fans by calling into The Toucher and Rich Show, Boston's 18–30 year old male demographic afternoon drive ratings juggernaut, talking to the hosts about life as a veteran NHL player. Come to be known as "Ward Wednesday's" this segment is one of the most popular on the show and even prompted Boston Bruins officials to coordinate marketing campaigns in conjunction with the segment

"Ward Wednesday's" was also the catalyst in the creation of the "Dancing Guy" segment that takes place in the TD Banknorth Garden during occasional Bruins home games. In this segment, radio personality Crash "Dancing Guy" Clark has a pre-arranged performance where he is seen dancing to select songs, broadcast on the screen in the arena. This also proved to be relevant because the emergence of Clark as "Dancing Guy" brought the sudden and unexpected demise of the once popular "Moustache Man" and his own brand of moustached arena screen dancing.

The segment's increase in popularity during the 2007–2008 season culminated with Ward and other Bruins players to take part in "Cuts for a Cause" where Ward and other Bruins players shaved their heads to raise money for charity. The entire event was broadcast live on the radio program.

Trades and transactions

* June 9, 1991, Drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1st round (5th overall) in 1991.
* June 11, 1993, Traded by the Winnipeg Jets along with a 4th round selection to the Detroit Red Wings for Paul Ysebaert.
* July 9, 2001, Traded by the Detroit Red Wings to the Carolina Hurricanes for a future second round selection.
* July 3, 2006, Signed with the New York Rangers as a free agent.
* February 27, 2007, Traded by the New York Rangers to the Boston Bruins for Paul Mara.
* May 22, 2008, Signed a 2 year contract with the Boston Bruins.

Personal life

Ward and his wife Kelly have two children, a son Liam and a daughter Libby. Ward is also the half-brother to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jason Ward.

External links

*hockeydb|5635|Aaron Ward
* [http://www.AaronWard.com Unofficial website of Aaron Ward]