Chris Dingman

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Chris Dingman (born July 6, 1976) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is lovingly known among Tampa Bay Lightning fans as Dinger.

Dingman was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He played junior hockey for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, and served as that team's captain when they won the WHL Championship during the 1995-96 season. In his best campaign (1994-95) he scored 40 goals and totalled 83 points in 66 games, while also amassing 201 minutes in penalties, making him a multiple threat.

Dingman, or "Dinger" as he is known colloquially, was drafted by the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (19th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft), and played his first full NHL season for the Flames in 1997-98, where he earned a reputation as a tough customer and found himself involved as a checker and a pugilist as opposed to a scoring line player.

During the 1998-99 season, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in a multiplayer swap that saw him trade places with fellow combatant and old nemesis from the WHL, Wade Belak. Dingman plied his trade with the Avalanche for three seasons and won a Stanley Cup with them in 2001 before ending up with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2002, where he has played since. While he saw only limited action in his first campaign there, he gradually earned more and more ice time and in 2004, Dingman won another Stanley Cup with the Lightning.

While the NHL in its new form has seen a decrease in fighting, and the role that "tough guys" play has been considerably diminished, Dingman still plays games for the Lightning but has had his minutes reduced. However, he has earned his place in the NHL as a player without fear and whose presence commands respect from those who share the ice with him.

He was scratched for the last two Lightning/Senators games of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs after earning a seven minute Ottawa powerplay after challenging Chris Neil, but Neil turtled when Dingman started punching him, leading to a fighting, instigator, and game misconduct penalties for Dingman.

In November 2006 he was acquired by Södertälje SK, currently of the Swedish second division.

[edit] References

[1] Chris Dingman's Stats