Playing career

Ference was drafted in the first round, 10th overall, of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. He played junior hockey with the Spokane Chiefs, and Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League.

Before ever playing a game for the Canucks, Ference was traded on January 17, 1999 along with Pavel Bure, Bret Hedican and 3rd round selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft to the Florida Panthers for Dave Gagner, Ed Jovanovski, Mike Brown, Kevin Weekes and a 1st round selection in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.

He spent nearly 4 years in the Panthers organization before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes on March 8, 2003 for Darcy Hordichuk and a 2nd round selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

After a year and half with the Coyotes, and the lockout year of 2004-2005 spent in France, Ference was traded to the New Jersey Devils on November 25, 2005 for Pascal Rheaume, Ray Schultz and Steven Spencer. He was on the move again at the end of the season, signing a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent on July 26, 2006 with the Calgary Flames.

After his contract with the Flames ended he was signed by the Detroit Red Wings and spent a year with their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Ference was offered 1-year deal from Anyang Halla of Asia League Ice Hockey in summer of 2008, but failed to sign since his wife was pregnant. Ference retired from professional hockey in 2008, returned to Calgary, and began a new career as a firefighter in 2009.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1995-96	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		5	0	2	2	18		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		67	6	20	26	324		9	0	4	4	21
1997-98	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		54	9	29	38	213		18	0	7	7	59
1998-99	Spokane Chiefs	WHL		31	3	22	25	125		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Tri-City Americans	WHL		20	6	15	21	116		12	1	9	10	63
1999-00	Louisville Panthers	AHL		58	2	7	9	231		2	0	0	0	2
1999-00	Florida Panthers	NHL		13	0	2	2	46		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Louisville Panthers	AHL		52	3	21	24	200		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Florida Panthers	NHL		14	0	1	1	14		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Florida Panthers	NHL		80	2	15	17	254		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Florida Panthers	NHL		60	2	6	8	118		—	—	—	—	—
2002-03	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		15	0	1	1	28		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		63	0	5	5	103		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	Hockey Club Morzine-Avoriaz	FRA		17	2	10	12	138		4	1	4	5	10
2005-06	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		19	2	9	11	39		—	—	—	—	—
2005-06	Albany River Rats	AHL		43	3	8	11	96		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights	AHL		73	3	23	26	210		6	0	0	0	6
2006-07	Calgary Flames	NHL		5	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		32	1	1	2	78		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				250	4	30	34	565		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1998	Canada	WJC	8th		7	0	1	1	6
1999	Canada	WJC	02 !		7	0	2	2	25
2002	Canada	WC	6th		6	0	0	0	4
Junior totals					14	0	3	3	31
Senior totals					6	0	0	0	4

[ Source: Wikipedia ]