Playing career

Hale, a Colorado Springs native, played high school hockey with Coronado High School before joining Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL. He was drafted from the Musketeers in the first round, 22nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft before joining the University of North Dakota to play collegiate hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

On February 27, 2007, Hale was traded by the Devils, along with a 2007 fifth-round draft pick, to the Calgary Flames for a 2007 third-round draft pick.

On July 3, 2008, Hale a free agent, signed with the Phoenix Coyotes on a two-year deal. During the 2008-09 season on November 26, 2008, Hale scored his first NHL goal in a 3-2 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Hale scored in his 231st game, setting a record for the longest start to a NHL career without a goal.

On July 21, 2009, Hale was traded by the Coyotes, along with Todd Fedoruk, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Radim Vrbata. Used as a depth defenseman Hale played sparingly in 35 games, before he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, on a conditioning assignment. In his last game with the Admirals, Hale broke his foot and returned to Tampa to play a part in just 4 further games to end the 2009-10 season.

On August 4, 2010, Hale signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with the Ottawa Senators. Hale split the season between Ottawa and their AHL team, the Binghamton Senators. Hale finished the season with Ottawa, and did not take part in Binghamton's Calder Cup playoff run.

On October 15, 2011, Hale officially announced his retirement from hockey.

On June 26, 2013 Hale signed with Italian team HC Appiano, in the semi-pro Inter-National League.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998-99	Sioux City Musketeers	USHL		56	3	15	18	127		5	0	0	0	18
1999-00	Sioux City Musketeers	USHL		54	6	18	24	187		5	0	2	2	6
2000-01	North Dakota Fighting Sioux	WCHA		44	4	5	9	79		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	North Dakota Fighting Sioux	WCHA		34	4	5	9	63		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	North Dakota Fighting Sioux	WCHA		26	2	6	8	49		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	New Jersey Devils	NHL		65	0	4	4	72		1	0	0	0	0
2004-05	Albany River Rats	AHL		30	2	3	5	39		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	New Jersey Devils	NHL		38	0	4	4	21		8	0	2	2	12
2005-06	Albany River Rats	AHL		30	2	5	7	64		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	New Jersey Devils	NHL		43	0	1	1	26		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Lowell Devils	AHL		2	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Calgary Flames	NHL		11	0	0	0	10		2	0	0	0	6
2007-08	Calgary Flames	NHL		58	0	2	2	46		6	0	0	0	2
2008-09	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		48	3	6	9	36		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL		39	0	4	4	25		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		4	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Binghamton Senators	AHL		36	2	4	6	32		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Ottawa Senators	NHL		25	1	4	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
2013-14	HC Appiano	INL		30	5	14	19	65		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				327	4	25	29	242		17	0	2	2	20

International

Year	Team	Comp	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001	United States	WJC	7	0	2	2	6
Junior int'l totals			7	0	2	2	6

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-WCHA Third Team	2002-03

[ Source: Wikipedia ]