Curt Fraser

Curt Fraser (born Curtis Martin Fraser on January 12, 1958) is a former ice hockey player who currently serves as assistant coach of the National Hockey League's Dallas Stars.

Playing Career
Curt played junior hockey with the Victoria Cougars of the Western Hockey League, where he set franchise records for goals, assists, points and penalty minutes.

He was then drafted 22nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft.

Curt made the team right away and was placed on a line with fellow rookies Thomas Gradin & Stan Smyl. The trio would be the Canucks' top offensive line for the next four years and play a large role in the club's trip to the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals.

On December 20, 1982, Curt was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks for Tony Tanti. He had his best season in Chicago, registering 68 points (29 goals and 39 assists) in only 61 games in 1985–86.

After five years with the Hawks, he was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars on January 2, 1988 for Dirk Graham.

After playing in only 53 games over the next two and a half years with the Stars, Curt's back problems forced him to retire in 1990.

Coaching Career
After his playing career ended, Curt embarked upon a coaching career.

After minor league stops in Milwaukee, Syracuse and Orlando, he became the first head coach of the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999.

Curt's record was 64–169–46 over three and a half seasons with Atlanta before being fired in 2003. Since then he has served as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders and St. Louis Blues.

Recently, Curt has coached the Belarusian national men's ice hockey team at the 2007 and 2008 IIHF World Championships.

On July 23, 2008, the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Grand Rapids Griffins hired Fraser as their head coach, where he served until June 18, 2012 when he was hired by the Dallas Stars as assistant coach.

International Play
Owing to his dual U.S./Canadian citizenship, Curt has represented both countries in international tournaments. He played for Canada at the 1978 World Junior Championship and for the USA at the 1987 Canada Cup.

Personal Life
Curtis was born in Cincinnati while his father played for the International Hockey League (IHL)'s Cincinnati Mohawks. He was raised in Winnipeg & Vancouver, Canada.

In 1983, he was diagnosed with diabetes and is active in fundraising and awareness efforts for the disease.