Defenceman Don Dietrich played parts of two NHL seasons in the early 80s. He was a fine passer and efficient point man on the power play though most of his pro career took place in the minors and Europe.
Born in Deloraine, Manitoba, Dietrich was chosen 183rd overall by the Chicago Black Hawks in 1980 after scoring 60 points for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. He returned to junior and registered 80 points in 1980-81 before turning pro with the AHL's New Brunswick Hawks the next season. Dietrich was a useful role player on the club and played a couple of playoff games when the Hawks won the Calder Cup.
After spending the 1982-83 season with the Springfield Indians, the young blueliner played 17 games for the Hawks. Eventually he was demoted to Springfield and traded to the New Jersey Devils in the off-season. Apart from an 11-game recall in 1985-86, he spent the next two years with the AHL's Maine Mariners.
Dietrich joined Germany's Schwennigen ERC in 1986-87 and remained there for three seasons. He also toiled briefly for the Swiss club EHC Kloten before spending some time with the Canadian national team in 1989-90. Dietrich retired in 1990-91 after playing a few games in the AHL and ECHL.
