Topic: Nigel Dawes

Nigel Dawes (born February 9, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Atlanta Thrashers. Before joining the Thrashers he played for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the New York Rangers and Phoenix Coyotes during his career.

Dawes played junior hockey for the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League. In his first year, 2001–02, the Ice won the Memorial Cup after winning the President's Cup as champions of the WHL. Dawes improved his play in his next two seasons in the WHL, and, for the 2003–04 season, he was named a first team All-Star in the Western Conference, the winner of the Brad Hornung Trophy (most sportsmanlike), and the Ice's most valuable player.

Dawes was drafted in the fifth round, 149th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers, after two seasons in the WHL. After three seasons of junior hockey and four games in the American Hockey League for the Hartford Wolf Pack at the end of the 2003–04 season, the Rangers signed Dawes to his first professional contract on September 1, 2004, when he was 19 years old. Dawes went on to play another season with the Ice, recognized for his talent as a finalist for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL player of the year), before breaking into the professional game in the AHL. Dawes finished his Kootenay Ice career as the franchise leader in goals, with 159 scored in 245 games.