Vancouver, B.C. native John Craighead spent three years in the East Coast Hockey League before he jumped to the International Hockey League and the Detroit Vipers. Craighead, who was born on November 23rd 1971 quickly established himself as a physical force for the Vipers racking up 653 penalty minutes in just 107 games over two seasons. Craighead's scrappy ways caught the eye of the Toronto Maple Leafs who signed him to a contract on July 22 1996.
Craighead spent the bulk of the 1996-97 serving as the St. John Maple Leafs' enforcer but did play five games with the big club. Though he was unable to score during his brief time with the Leafs, he did record 10 penalty minutes in his only time in the NHL.
Craighead spent one more year in the minors then headed overseas in 1998 to continue his career in Germany. He spent three seasons with the Nuernberg Ice Tigers then switched clubs in 2001 when he joined the Revier Lions.
