PERSONAL
Derek spends his summers in his hometown of Richmond Hill, Ontario… His sister, Jamie, is on a hockey scholarship at Robert Morris in Pittsburgh… Derek participated in events this summer that benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Facing Off Fore Charity… He began playing hockey at age 4, and first played on the Oak Ridges Kings… He says his dad, who played junior as a defenseman and was his first hockey coach, was the biggest influence on his career… Derek’s favorite players growing up were Wayne Gretzky and Nicklas Lidstrom… His favorite television show is Criminal Minds and favorite movie is Rise of the Planet of the Apes… The most-played artist on his iPod is Usher… Derek’s first job was working as a caddie at Beacon Hall Golf Club, and his favorite magazine is Golf Digest… Golf is his favorite sport to watch and play outside of hockey… His favorite video game is Call of Duty, and favorite food is steak… The person he would most like to meet is Tiger Woods… Derek wears 27 because he was bumped from 33 when Brian Boucher arrived in Carolina, but he also wore 27 in minor hockey… His favorite road city is Chicago, favorite road arena is Bell Centre and favorite team to play against is Toronto… His game-day routine includes a nap and enjoying the Jay Harrison Special for his pregame meal… His favorite thing about playing in the NHL is living his dream of putting on an NHL jersey each night… His most memorable hockey moment was his first NHL goal, and his favorite former teammate is Brad Staubitz, who was his first roommate as a pro.

2010-11 SEASON
Completed his third NHL season, splitting the year between San Jose and Carolina… Established career highs in games played (34), goals (2), assists (7) and points (9)… Had five points (1g, 4a) and was (+7) in 17 games played after joining the Hurricanes… Scored his first goal with the Hurricanes with the game-winning tally vs. DET (4/6)… Assisted on Jokinen’s goal and was (+1) in 20:40 of ice time at NYI (4/2)… Blocked a game-high five shots and was (+1) in 18:17 of ice time vs. OTT (3/22)… Earned the primary assist on the game’s only goal at BUF (3/15)… Earned his first career multi-point game with a pair of assists and was (+3) in 17:14 of ice time vs. PIT (2/25)… Made his Hurricanes debut, registered two hits and was (even) in 11:07 of ice time vs. NJ (2/19)… Beat Andrew Raycroft for his first career NHL goal vs. DAL (12/13)… Registered an assist at DET (12/6)… Posted an assist and was (+1) vs. DET (11/30)… Activated off injured reserve (upper body) on 11/15, after missing the first 15 games of the season… Appeared in his first game that night and registered an assist vs. LA… Began the season on injured reserve… Was a healthy extra for six games with the Hurricanes (2/22, 3/1-3/11)… Multi-assist games: 1 (2/25 vs. PIT: 0g, 2a)… Multi-point games: 1 (2/25 vs. PIT: 0g, 2a).

CAREER
Is in his fourth NHL season and second with Carolina… Signed a two-year contract with the Hurricanes on July 8, 2011… Has appeared in 203 career American Hockey League games with Cleveland and Worcester, totaling 26 goals, 70 assists (96 points) and 113 penalty minutes.

2003-04: One of 16 rookies who made their major junior debut with the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)… Skated in seven games for Ottawa.

2004-05: Completed his first full OHL season with Ottawa… Totaled six goals and 24 assists (30 points) in 68 games… Ranked second among 67’s defensemen, 18th among OHL rookies and 21st among OHL defensemen in scoring… Earned three assists in 21 OHL playoff games for Ottawa, as the 67’s advanced to the OHL Finals before falling to London in five games.

2005-06: Tallied 11 goals, 37 assists (48 points) and 40 penalty minutes for Ottawa… Led all 67’s defensemen and ranked sixth overall on the team in scoring… Was 14th among OHL defensemen in points… Selected as a member of Team OHL for the Subway Super Series, which featured all-star teams from the OHL, WHL and QMJHL playing games against Team Russia… Earned six points (1g, 5a) in six OHL playoff games, as Ottawa fell to Peterborough in the first round… Made his AHL debut with Cleveland, skating in two games.

2006-07: Notched 49 points (11g, 38a) in 68 games, ranking third overall among 67’s skaters in assists and fifth in points… Was tied for 16th among OHL defensemen in scoring… Named to the OHL Eastern Conference All-Star Team, earning an assist and a (+5) rating in the game… Earned five points (1g, 4a) in five OHL playoff games, as Ottawa fell to Belleville in the first round… Joined Worcester (AHL) following the OHL season, appearing in three regular-season games and four Calder Cup Playoff games.

2007-08: Completed his first full professional season with Worcester, earning 34 points (10g, 24a) in 80 games… Ranked third among AHL rookie defensemen in points and tied for second in goals… Was tied for fifth among AHL defensemen in power-play goals (8)… Ranked fourth on the team in game-winning goals (3) and third on the team, first among defensemen, in power-play points (21)… One of only two Sharks players to skate in all 80 regular-season games… Netted his first professional goal with a power-play, game-winner at Manchester (11/23)… Earned his first professional points with a pair of assists at Bridgeport (11/7).

2008-09: Split the season between San Jose (NHL) and Worcester (AHL), appearing in his first 12 NHL games with the Sharks… Made his NHL debut vs. NYI (1/3)… Earned 30 points (11g, 19a) in 63 AHL games, ranking third among Worcester defensemen in scoring… Matched the franchise record for goals by a defenseman… Participated in the AHL All-Star Game for the Canadian team… Won the Hardest Shot Contest (98.6 mph) and finished second to teammate Ryan Vesce in the Puck Control Relay at the AHL Skills Competition… Appeared in 12 Calder Cup Playoff games, earning two assists as Worcester topped Hartford before falling to Providence.

2009-10: Played 24 games on the NHL level for the Sharks, totaling three assists… Had a career-high, three-game assist streak from 11/15-11/20… Earned his first career NHL point (assist) at Chicago (11/15)… Played 55 regular-season games on the AHL level for Worcester, earning 32 points (5g, 27a)… Scored four goals in 11 Calder Cup Playoff games for Worcester, ranking tied for first among AHL defensemen and tied for the team lead in playoff goals.