Rhett Warrener

Rhett Adam Warrener (born January 27, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played over 700 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres and Calgary Flames between 1995 and 2008. He was a member of the Canadian national junior team that won a gold medal at the 1996 World Junior Championship. Warrener retired in 2009 after missing a full season due to a shoulder injury. He briefly remained with the Flames as a scout before turning to broadcasting. Warrener was born in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, but grew up in Frontier, Saskatchewan.

Playing career

Junior Warrener played his junior hockey with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL). They selected him with their first selection, fifth overall, in the 1991 WHL Bantam Draft. He appeared in two WHL games in 1991–92 before joining the Blades full-time in 1992–93. Warrener was named the team's rookie of the year that season after recording 19 points in 68 games. He made his first appearance with the national team in the summer of 1993, joining the under-18 team for the 1993 Pacific Cup. Warrener appeared in five games for the bronze medal winning Canadians.

Following a 1993–94 season in which Warrener scored 26 points and recorded 131 penalty minutes, the Florida Panthers selected him with their second round selection, 27th overall, at the 1994 NHL entry draft. He played a third full season in the WHL in 1994–95, scoring 39 points and recording 137 penalty minutes in 66 games. During the season, the Panthers released Warrener to the Canadian national junior team for the 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He appeared in six games, recording four penalty minutes, and won a gold medal as Canada defeated Sweden for the championship.

Establishing himself as a regular defenceman in the Panthers lineup, Warrener appeared in 62 games in 1996–97. He scored his first NHL goal on January 23, 1997, against Boston Bruins' goaltender Rob Tallas and finished the season with 4 goals and 13 points. The Sabres reached the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Dallas Stars in the sixth game of the series. Like many of that year's Sabres players, Warrener believes Brett Hull's controversial Cup clinching goal should not have counted given Hull's foot was in the goal crease in apparent violation of the rules of the time.

The Calgary Flames acquired Warrener, along with Steve Reinprecht in exchange for Chris Drury and Steve Bégin on July 3, 2003. It was the third time he reached the final in his first season with a team, but he again fell short of winning the championship as the Flames were defeated for the Cup in seven games by the Tampa Bay Lightning. he appeared in 62 games, scoring ten points. Instead, he was placed on injured reserve following shoulder surgery. While he hoped to return to the Flames' lineup at some point during the season, but ultimately missed the entire season. Realizing his shoulder remained too weak, Warrener announced his retirement following the season but remained with the Flames as a scout.

Personal Heavily involved in the community, Warrener was recognized by the Flames on several occasions for his charitable endeavours. He purchased a luxury suite to bring kids otherwise unable to attend to Flames and Calgary Hitmen games and supported numerous community charities, including the Alberta Children's Hospital and KidSport. The team named him winner of the Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award as the Flames' player who "best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, determination and leadership on the ice, combined with dedication to community service" in both 2006 and 2007. The couple have two sons.