Daniel Winnik

Daniel Spencer Winnik (born March 6, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who is currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

After two seasons in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJHL) with the Wexford Raiders, Winnik joined the college hockey ranks with the University of New Hampshire of Hockey East. Following his freshman year, Winnik was drafted 265th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. He found his scoring touch with the Wildcats in his sophomore year scoring 18 goals for 40 points and was one of UNH's best in being named in the NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament team. In his junior year Daniel consolidated his break out year by leading the Wildcats with 26 assists and finishing 5th in the Hockey East in scoring with 41 points. He was named as Hockey East player of the month for November and was selected to the Hockey East Second All-Star Team. After completing a three year career with New Hampshire he signed a three-year entry level contract with the Coyotes on March 31, 2006. He immediately made his professional debut with AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, to finish the 2005–06 season.

Antoine Roussel

Antoine Roussel (born 21 November 1989) is a French professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born in France, Roussel first played hockey there before moving to Quebec at the age of 16. After four years in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) he turned professional and played in the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL, minor leagues in North America. Signed by the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) in 2012, he made his NHL debut in 2013 for the club. Regarded as a physical player, Roussel has consistently been one of the NHL's leaders in penalty minutes throughout his career. Internationally Roussel has represented the French national team both at the junior and senior level, including multiple World Championships.

Early life

Roussel was born in Roubaix, France. He first played rugby as a child, but was released from his team after repeatedly running off the field during the heated summer practices. As a result his mother enrolled him in hockey, deciding the cooler rink would benefit Roussel. At the age of 16 Roussel and his family moved to Canada, settling in Quebec. He holds Canadian citizenship.

Adam Clendening

Adam Clendening (born October 26, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Clendening was raised in Wheatfield, New York. He was selected 36th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Prior to his professional career, he played for Boston University, and played hockey in Canada for the Toronto Marlboros' AAA junior team.

Clendening was part of Team USA's gold medal winning team at the 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships. During the tournament he led all defensemen with 10 points, and tied for the lead among defensemen with 3 goals and 7 assists. His 10 points ranked 6th among all players in the tournament, and his 7 assists ranked 4th. He was named as one of the defensemen to the tournament all star team and as one of Team USA's 3 top players.

He made his NHL debut on November 20, 2014 and scored his first NHL goal on his first shot against Jonas Hiller of the Calgary Flames. On January 29, 2015, the Blackhawks traded Clendening to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Gustav Forsling.

Daniel

Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means, "God is my judge", and derives from two early biblical figures, primary among them Daniel from the Book of Daniel. It is a common given name for males, and is also used as a surname. It is also the basis for various derived given names and surnames.

Background

The name evolved into over 100 different spellings in countries around the world. Nicknames (Dan, Danny) are common in both English and Hebrew, although in some instances "Dan" may be a complete given name rather than a nickname. The name "Daniil" (Даниил) is common in Russia. Feminine versions (Danielle, Daniela, Daniella, Dani, Danitza) are prevalent as well. The Dutch names "Daan" and "Daniël" are also variations of Daniel. A related surname developed as a patronymic, Daniels. Other surnames derived from "Daniel" include McDaniel and Danielson.

In the United States, the U.S. Social Security Administration reports that Daniel has peaked as the fifth most popular name for newborns in 1985, 1990, 2007, and 2008. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in the 2000 census, "Daniels" was the 182nd most common surname in the U.S., while "McDaniel" was ranked at 323, and "Daniel" (without a final "s") was ranked at 380.

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals are an American professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. that competes in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are members of the league's Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. Since their founding in 1974, the "Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals, and captured eight division titles. In 1997, the team moved their home hockey rink from the suburban Capital Centre before its own 1999 closure, to the new Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

Businessman Ted Leonsis has owned the team since 1999, and has revitalized the franchise by drafting star players such as Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Mike Green. The 2009–10 Capitals won the franchise's first-ever Presidents' Trophy, for being the team with the most points at the end of the regular season.

History

Along with the Kansas City Scouts, the Capitals joined the NHL as an expansion team for the 1974–75 season. The team was owned by Abe Pollin (also owner of the National Basketball Association's Washington Bullets/Wizards until his death on November 24, 2009). Pollin had built the Capital Centre in suburban Landover, Maryland, to house both the Bullets (who formerly played in Baltimore) and the Capitals. His first act as owner was to hire Hall of Famer Milt Schmidt as general manager.