By Patrick Cwiklinski

At 22, most goaltenders have yet to brush the surface of their NHL careers, but for Dan Blackburn, a career-ending injury forced the New York Rangers budding netminder to leave the game and never look back.

Blackburn was a sought-after prospect at the 2001 NHL draft after two strong seasons with the Kootenay Ice of the Western League that included a league championship and Memorial Cup appearance in 2000. He was named Canadian League Goaltender of the Year the following season - his last in junior hockey - by earning 33 wins in 50 games and posting a 2.77 goals-against average.

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