Defenceman Ian Kidd was a college standout whose NHL career never blossomed. He possessed good size and offensive smarts but couldn't seem to put it all together when his chance at the big leagues came around. Even in the minors he was a solid rather than dominant performer.
The native of Gresham, Oregon played two seasons at the University of North Dakota. In his second year he became a highly touted prospect with 60 points in 47 games and selection to the WCHA first all-star team, the NCAA West first All-America Team, and the NCAA championship all-tournament team. He was invited to the U.S. Olympic training camp and very nearly made squad that went on to compete in Calgary.
Kidd signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks in 1987 then scored eleven points in 19 games the next year. He played most of the season with the AHL's Fredericton Express but could not win a job out of training camp in 1988-89. Kidd became a fixture in the IHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, Cincinnati Cyclones, and Chicago Wolves before he retired in 1995.
