Rob Blake

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Defence
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 4
weight_lb = 225
team = San Jose Sharks
former_teams = Los Angeles Kings
Colorado Avalanche
league = NHL
nationality = Canada
birth_date = Birth date and age|1969|12|10|mf=y
birth_place = Simcoe, ON, CAN
career_start = 1989
draft = 70th overall
draft_year = 1988
draft_team = Los Angeles Kings

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image_size = 180px

Robert Bowlby Blake (born December 10, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman with the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Blake was drafted 70th overall in 1988 by the Los Angeles Kings, with whom he played for twelve seasons. While there, he reached the Stanley Cup final in 1993, losing to the Montreal Canadiens, and eventually became the Kings' captain after Wayne Gretzky was traded to St. Louis in 1996.

In 2001, Blake was traded to Colorado, winning the Stanley Cup that same year. After four seasons with Colorado, on October 20, 2005, Rob Blake learned that the Avalanche would not pick up his option for the 2006-2007 NHL season, making him a free agent. He re-signed with his former team, the Kings, for two years ($6 million per year) on July 1, 2006. On September 28, 2007, the Kings named Rob Blake as team captain. [cite web |url=http://kings.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=338603&nhlLink=true&page=NewsPage&service=page |title=KINGS ANNOUNCE CAPTAINS |publisher=Los Angeles Kings |date=September 28, 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-22]

Blake was selected to play for the Canadian Olympic teams of 1998 and 2002, winning gold in 2002. He also was selected to play for Canada at the 2006 Olympics. His most productive NHL season was 1993-94, when he had 68 points. In 1997-98, Blake received the James Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman for the year.

On July 3, 2008 Blake signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the San Jose Sharks.

Personal info

Blake was born in Simcoe, Ontario. He and his wife have two children. His best friend in the NHL is Edmonton Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson, whom he grew up playing hockey with in Simcoe. He is also closely related to Hall of Famer Red Kelly.

Awards

*CCHA Second All-Star Team - 1989
*CCHA First All-Star Team - 1990
*NCAA West First All-American Team - 1990
*NHL All-Rookie Team - 1990
*Played in NHL All-Star Game - 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
*James Norris Memorial Trophy - 1998
*Stanley Cup - 2001 Colorado Avalanche

Career statistics

International play

Played for Canada in:

*1991 World Championships (silver medal)
*1994 World Championships (gold medal)
*1996 World Cup of Hockey (silver medal)
*1997 World Championships (gold medal)
*1998 Winter Olympics
*1998 World Championships
*1999 World Championships
*2002 Winter Olympics (gold medal)
*2006 Winter Olympics

International statistics

References

External links

*hockeydb|415