Brad Ference

Bradley William Ference (born April 2, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 250 games in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career Born in Calgary, Alberta, Ference played junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs, and Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Ference was drafted in the first round, 10th overall, of the 1997 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks.

Before ever playing a game for the Canucks, Ference was traded on January 17, 1999, along with Pavel Bure, Bret Hedican and third-round selection in the 2000 NHL entry draft (Robert Fried) to the Florida Panthers for Dave Gagner, Ed Jovanovski, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and a first-round selection in the 2000 NHL entry draft (Nathan Smith).

Ference spent nearly four years in the Panthers organization before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on March 8, 2003, for Darcy Hordichuk and a second-round selection in the 2003 NHL entry draft.

After a year and half with the Coyotes, and the lock-out year of 2004–2005 spent in France, Ference was traded to the New Jersey Devils on November 25, 2005, for Pascal Rheaume, Ray Schultz and Steven Spencer. He was on the move again at the end of the season, signing a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent on July 26, 2006, with the Calgary Flames.

After Ference's contract with the Flames ended he was signed by the Detroit Red Wings and spent a year with their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Ference was offered a 1-year deal from Anyang Halla of Asia League Ice Hockey in summer of 2008, but did not sign as his wife was pregnant. Ference retired from professional hockey in 2008, returned to Calgary, and began a new career as a firefighter in 2009.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1994–95 Calgary Royals AAA CBHL 60 19 47 66 220 — — — — — 1995–96 Calgary Royals AAA CBHL 22 7 21 28 140 — — — — — 1995–96 Spokane Chiefs WHL 5 0 2 2 18 — — — — — 1996–97 Spokane Chiefs WHL 67 6 20 26 324 9 0 4 4 21 1997–98 Spokane Chiefs WHL 54 9 29 38 213 18 0 7 7 59 1998–99 Spokane Chiefs WHL 31 3 22 25 125 — — — — — 1998–99 Tri-City Americans WHL 20 6 15 21 116 12 1 9 10 63 1999–2000 Louisville Panthers AHL 58 2 7 9 231 2 0 0 0 2 1999–2000 Florida Panthers NHL 13 0 2 2 46 — — — — — 2000–01 Louisville Panthers AHL 52 3 21 24 200 — — — — — 2000–01 Florida Panthers NHL 14 0 1 1 14 — — — — — 2001–02 Florida Panthers NHL 80 2 15 17 254 — — — — — 2002–03 Florida Panthers NHL 60 2 6 8 118 — — — — — 2002–03 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 15 0 1 1 28 — — — — — 2003–04 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 63 0 5 5 103 — — — — — 2004–05 Pingouins de Morzine-Avoriaz FRA 17 2 10 12 138 4 1 4 5 10 2005–06 San Antonio Rampage AHL 19 2 9 11 39 — — — — — 2005–06 Albany River Rats AHL 43 3 8 11 96 — — — — — 2006–07 Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights AHL 73 3 23 26 210 6 0 0 0 6 2006–07 Calgary Flames NHL 5 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2007–08 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 32 1 1 2 78 — — — — — AHL totals 277 14 69 83 854 8 0 0 0 8 NHL totals 250 4 30 34 565 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1998 Canada WJC 8th 7 0 1 1 6 1999 Canada WJC 7 0 2 2 25 2002 Canada WC 6th 6 0 0 0 4 Junior totals 14 0 3 3 31 Senior totals 6 0 0 0 4