{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1968)}} {{Infobox Ice Hockey Player | position = Right Wing | shoots = Right | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lb = 200 | league = NHL | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|9|23|mf=y}} | birth_place = Leduc, Alberta, Canada | career_start = 1992 | career_end = 2003 | draft = 128th overall | draft_year = 1988 | draft_team = Vancouver Canucks | played_for =Vancouver Canucks <br>Los Angeles Kings <br>Toronto Maple Leafs <br>Buffalo Sabres <br>Boston Bruins <br>New York Rangers }} '''Dixon McRae Ward III''' (born September 23, 1968) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was drafted in the seventh round, 128th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1988 NHL entry draft. Ward spent his NHL career with the Canucks, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, and New York Rangers. In his NHL career, Ward appeared in 537 games, scoring 95 goals and adding 129 assists.

==Personal life== Ward was born on September 23, 1968, in Leduc, Alberta, Canada,<ref name="EP">{{cite web |title=Dixon Ward |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/27537/dixon-ward |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=January 24, 2026}}</ref> to Dixon Ward II. His father was a goaltender with the senior Edmonton Movers and a scout for the Medicine Hat Tigers.<ref name="Sicinski">{{cite news |last1=Sicinski |first1=Larry |title=The return of Dixon Ward |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator-the-return-of-dix/189734075/ |access-date=January 24, 2026 |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator |date=March 11, 1995|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Both Dixon and his younger brother Colin played collegiate ice hockey.<ref>{{cite news |title=20-20 hindsight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-20-20-hindsight/189741519/ |access-date=January 24, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=January 13, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Ward's son Taylor is also a professional hockey player.<ref>{{cite web |title=Taylor Ward |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/247054/taylor-ward |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=January 24, 2026}}</ref>

==Career== ===Junior=== As a youth, Ward played two seasons with the Red Deer Rustlers in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.<ref name="EP"/> After failing to receive a scholarship offer in his rookie season, Ward focused on improving his skating before the 1987–88 season. By December of his sophomore season, Ward had scored 31 goals through 25 games and ranked third in league scoring. His improvements began to attract the attention of at least six collegiate recruiters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meachem |first1=Greg |title=Rustler sniped popular target for the scouts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/red-deer-advocate-rustler-sniped-popular/189738662/ |access-date=January 24, 2026 |publisher=Red Deer Advocate |date=December 18, 1987|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He finished the season with 131 points and was recognised as team MVP.<ref name="EP"/> He also received a scholarship to play college hockey for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux at the University of North Dakota (UND).<ref>{{cite news |title=Line change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/red-deer-advocate-line-change/189740418/ |access-date=January 24, 2026 |publisher=Red Deer Advocate |date=April 5, 1988|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Prior to his freshman season at UND, Ward was drafted in the seventh round of the 1988 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meachem |first1=Greg |title=Sylvan Lake native, Rustler star impress scouts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/red-deer-advocate-sylvan-lake-native-ru/189739569/ |access-date=January 24, 2026 |publisher=Red Deer Advocate |date=June 13, 1988|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Collegiate=== Ward spent four seasons with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux at UND while earning a degree in journalism.<ref name="McDonald">{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Archie |title=It's later than he wanted, but Ward's time has finally come |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-its-later-than-he-wan/189735152/ |access-date=January 24, 2026 |publisher=The Vancouver Sun |date=October 9, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

While playing the majority of his freshman season with a hand cast, Ward scored eight goals and nine assists through 37 games.<ref name="healthier">{{cite news |last1=Foss |first1=Virg |title=Healthier Ward has rediscovered scoring touch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-healthier-ward-has-re/189740741/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=November 24, 1989|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He scored his first collegiate goal on November 26, 1988, against the Denver Pioneers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foss |first1=Virg |title=Sioux lose battle of hat tricks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-sioux-lose-battle-of/189741124/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=November 27, 1988|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> During the opening round of the 1988 Great Lakes Invitational tournament, Ward recorded his first collegiate hat-trick.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foss |first1=Virg |title=UND shocks No. 1-ranked Mich. State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-und-shocks-no-1-rank/189740901/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=December 30, 1988|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He finished the season as the team's Most Improved Player.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Germsheid |first1=J. |title=Leduc hockey players turn heads |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-representative-leduc-hockey-players/189740818/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=The Representative |date=April 4, 1989|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Ward improved drastically in his sophomore season and finished with a career-best 35 goals and 69 points.<ref name="EP"/> By November 1989, Ward ranked third in team scoring with seven goals and seven assists.<ref name="healthier"/>

Ward started his junior season with 10 goals through his first nine games, despite suffering from a shoulder injury.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foss |first1=Virg |title=Fossbudgets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-fossbudgets/189777535/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=December 24, 1990|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

At the end of his college career, Ward set numerous program records, including becoming the first Sioux player to record 100 goals and 100 assists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foss |first1=Virg |title=A 'double-triple' career |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-a-double-triple-car/189741718/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=January 16, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He also ranked second all-time in scoring with 219 points, although this record was later surpassed by Greg Johnson.<ref name="McKenty">{{cite news |last1=McKenty |first1=Brian |title=Ex-UND standout Dixon Ward loving it in Vancouver |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-ex-und-standout-dixon/189741347/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=December 15, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Professional=== After earning his journalism degree from UND, Ward signed a $150,000 contract with the Canucks for the 1992–93 season.<ref name="McDonald"/> During his rookie season with the Canucks, Ward wrote a column for the ''Vancouver Sun'' detailing his first year in the NHL.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Dixon |title='I kept waiting for someone to tell me that the ride was over' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-i-kept-waiting-for-so/189735619/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=The Vancouver Sun |date=December 12, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Column One |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun/189736130/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |date=December 11, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He made his NHL debut on October 6, 1992, against the Edmonton Oilers and recorded an assist on Greg Adams' goal. Ward wore jersey number 17 in his debut, as his usual jersey number has been retired by the Canucks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fee |first1=Kevin |title=Ex-UND standout Ward shoots his way into Vancouver lineup in rapid-fire fashion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-ex-und-standout-ward/189738192/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=October 7, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He recorded two more points over the Canucks' next two games to help them start the 1992–93 season with a perfect 3-0-0 record.<ref>{{cite news |title=Faceoff |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winnipeg-sun-faceoff/189737990/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=The Winnipeg Sun |date=October 16, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Ward scored his first career NHL goal on October 16 against the Winnipeg Jets to help lead the Canucks to a 6–2 win.<ref>{{cite news |title=Valk, Ward score in Canucks' win over Jets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-valk-ward-score-in-c/189738282/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=October 17, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He continued to score through October and November and tallied 10 points through his first 10 games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ward scores in confidence |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winnipeg-sun-ward-scores-in-confiden/189781599/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=The Winnipeg Sun |date=November 8, 1992|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> By mid-December, Ward had tallied 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points through 26 games. George McPhee, the team's director of operations, praised Ward's quick acclimation into the Canucks lineup.<ref name="McKenty"/> Ward continued to rank amongst the rookie league leaders in scoring through March, accumulating 18 goals and 28 assists.<ref>{{cite news |title=Canucks update |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-canucks-update/189737752/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=March 11, 1993|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He was on pace to best the Canucks' rookie scoring record before suffering an ankle injury on March 14, 1993, during a game against the Calgary Flames.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jamieson |first1=Jim |title=Rookie Ward sidelined by Stern's late check |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-rookie-ward-sidelined-by-st/189736943/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=The Province |date=March 15, 1993|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Even once he recovered, Ward struggled to return to the Canucks lineup due to an abundance of qualified players.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luba |first1=Frank |title=Ward caught in talent trap |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-ward-caught-in-talent-trap/189736553/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=The Province |date=March 26, 1993|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> He finished his rookie season with 22 goals and 30 assists for 52 points.<ref name="EP"/>

Following his rookie season, Ward spent the summer in Vancouver training with the Canucks' strength and conditioning coach. He scored five points in Vancouver's four preseason games, but told members of the media he expected to earn a bottom-six role in the 1993–94 season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pap |first1=Elliott |title='Paranoid' Ward wonders where he'll fit in with Canucks this season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-paranoid-ward-wonder/189736411/ |access-date=March 22, 2026 |publisher=The Vancouver Sun |date=September 30, 1993|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> However, while he spent most of training camp on the left wing, an impromptu signing shifted him into a right wing role. After struggling in this position, Ward was sat out for the third game of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Luba |first1=Frank |title=Playing numbers game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-playing-numbers-game/189735953/ |access-date=March 22, 2026 |publisher=The Province |date=October 14, 1993|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Shortly after returning to the Canucks' lineup, Ward was suspended for three games and fined $500 for illegially checking Gary Roberts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Suspended |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-suspended/189736085/ |access-date=March 22, 2026 |publisher=The Province |date=October 17, 1993|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Following the suspension, Ward was deployed as a centreman for the Canucks' fourth line to replace an injured player. He was eventually rotated back into a top-six role at the end of October after Pavel Bure suffered a groin injury.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jamieson |first1=Jim |title=Back to basics for so-so soph |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-province-back-to-basics-for-so-so-so/189736471/ |access-date=March 22, 2026 |publisher=The Province |date=October 29, 1993|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Ward's continued struggles in his sophomore season resulted in a mid-season trade to the Los Angeles Kings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lambert |first1=Cynthia |title=Kings deal Carson to Canucks for Ward |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-kings-deal-carson-to/189737807/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |publisher=Detroit Free Press |date=January 9, 1994|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Before the start of the 1994–95 season, Ward was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-UND star Dixon Ward traded to Toronto |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-ex-und-star-dixon-war/189778321/ |access-date=March 22, 2026 |publisher=Grand Forks Herald |date=October 4, 1994}}</ref>

==Post-playing career== As of 2010, Ward is a VP with the Okanagan Hockey School in Penticton, BC.

==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- | All-WCHA Second Team | 1990–91 | |- | All-WCHA Second Team | 1991–92 | |- | Jack A. Butterfield Trophy | 1995–96 | |- | Calder Cup (Rochester Americans) | 1995–96 | |}

==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! colspan="5" | Regular&nbsp;season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | &nbsp; ! colspan="5" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 1986–87 | Red Deer Rustlers | AJHL | 59 | 46 | 40 | 86 | 153 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 16 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1987–88 | Red Deer Rustlers | AJHL | 51 | 60 | 71 | 131 | 167 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1988–89 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 37 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1989–90 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 45 | 35 | 34 | 69 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1990–91 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 43 | 34 | 35 | 69 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1991–92 | University of North Dakota | WCHA | 38 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1992–93 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 70 | 22 | 30 | 52 | 82 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1993–94 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 33 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1993–94 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 34 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1994–95 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 22 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 1994–95 | St. John's Maple Leafs | AHL | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1994–95 | Detroit Vipers | IHL | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 |- | 1995–96 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1995–96 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 71 | 38 | 56 | 94 | 74 | 19 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 8 |- | 1996–97 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 79 | 13 | 32 | 45 | 36 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1997–98 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 71 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 42 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 6 |- | 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 78 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 44 | 21 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 32 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1999–2000 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 71 | 11 | 9 | 20 | 41 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |- | 2000–01 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 63 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2001–02 | SC Langnau | NLA | 23 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2002–03 | New York Rangers | NHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2002–03 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 67 | 23 | 41 | 64 | 108 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2003–04 | SC Rapperswil–Jona | NLA | 35 | 22 | 11 | 33 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 537 ! 95 ! 129 ! 224 ! 431 ! 62 ! 14 ! 20 ! 34 ! 46 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Ice hockey stats}}

{{s-start}} {{succession box | before = Corey Schwab | title = Winner of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy | years = 1995–96 | after = Mike McHugh}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, Dixon}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Boston Bruins players Category:Buffalo Sabres players Category:Canadian ice hockey right wingers Category:Detroit Vipers players Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players Category:Ice hockey people from Alberta Category:Los Angeles Kings players Category:New York Rangers players Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:People from Leduc, Alberta Category:Red Deer Rustlers players Category:Rochester Americans players Category:SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers players Category:SCL Tigers players Category:St. John's Maple Leafs players Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players Category:Vancouver Canucks draft picks Category:Vancouver Canucks players Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen