David Rutherford (ice hockey)

David Rutherford (born April 30, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who last played for Diables Rouges de Briançon in the Ligue Magnus. Rutherford was previously with the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

Playing career
Rutherford played Junior Hockey in the PJHL, BCHL, and WHL. He played for the Abbotsford Pilots in the PJHL, the Penticton Panthers, Chilliwack Chiefs, and Surrey Eagles in the BCHL, and the Vancouver Giants and Spokane Chiefs in the WHL.

Rutherford began his professional ice hockey career with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL during the 2008–09 season and Phoenix RoadRunners, before being traded to the Phoenix RoadRunners on March 13, 2009, along with Peter-James Corsi and Brian Deeth in exchange for Steve Ward and future considerations.

On December 7, 2009, Rutherford signed with the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs of the Central Hockey League, for which he would play for the 2009–10 season and 2010–11 season. Rutherford won the Ray Miron President's Cup championship with the Mudbugs for the 2010–11 season. On July 26, 2011, Rutherford returned to the ECHL by signing with the Florida Everblades.

On August 6, 2012, Rutherford signed a two-way AHL/ECHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League, which coincidentally was affiliated with Rutherford's prior team, the Florida Everblades. Rutherford split the 2012–13 season between the Checkers and Everblades, accumulating 38 points on 16 goals and 22 assists in 36 games with the Everblades, while accumulating 7 points with 1 goal and 6 assists in 18 games with the Checkers.

On August 19, 2013, Rutherford left the Everblades and signed with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL.

On December 28, 2013, Rutherford was traded to the Fort Wayne Komets in exchange for Mickey Lang. He refused to report, however, and then signed with the Arizona Sundogs of the CHL.

On June 18, 2014, Rutherford signed with Visby/Roma HK of Hockeyettan, but was released by the team on September 14, 2014. On October 9, 2014, Rutherford signed with the Missouri Mavericks of the ECHL. On January 22, 2014, Rutherford was traded to the Ontario Reign of the ECHL in exchange for Right Wing Geoff Walker.

On August 17, 2015, Rutherford signed his first contract abroad agreeing to a one-year contract with Scottish club Edinburgh Capitals of the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Rutherford left Edinburgh in January 2016, signing for Belfast Giants. Rutherford later agreed an extension to remain with the team for the 2016–17 season.

In July 2017, Rutherford announced his retirement from hockey. However, in November 2017, Rutherford reversed his decision and re-signed with Belfast until the end of the 2017/18 season. Rutherford remained in Belfast until the end of the 2018/19 season, before signing for Hungarian side DEAC of the Erste Liga in October 2019.

For the 2020/21 season, Rutherford moved to France to sign for Ligue Magnus side Diables Rouges de Briançon.