A former Weyburn Red Wing, Hartigan captured the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Most Valuable Player honors in 1997-98 before playing the next three years at St. Cloud State.

In his three years at St. Cloud State, Hartigan won numerous awards including, Third Team All-WCHA honors in 2000-01, First Team All-WCHA honours, WCHA Player of the Year honors, NCAA All-American honors and Hobey Baker finalist in 2001-02. Following seasons of 42 and 48 points, Hartigan led the Huskies and the WCHA in scoring in 2001-02 with 75 points (37 goals, 38 assists) in 42 games becoming the first player in St. Cloud State history to lead the WCHA in scoring.

The Fort St. John, B.C., native not only led the WCHA in goals but also the NCAA with 37 and was tied for third in scoring. Hartigan's six short-handed goals led the NCAA and was sixth in the NCAA with 38 assists while leading the WCHA with 49 points (24 goals, 25 assists) in 28 league games.

At the end of the 2001-02 Husky season, Hartigan joined the Thrashers and played his first two NHL games. Following a short stint with Thrasher organization, Hartigan signed as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the summer of 2003 and spent the majority of his first season with the club's AHL affiliate in Syracuse.

In January, 2007 Hartigan was part of a four player trade that sent him to the Anaheim Ducks. Hartigan competed in six games with the Ducks and spent 25 games with the club's AHL affiliate during the regular season. In the post-season, Haritgan appeared in a single playoff game during the Ducks' successful run to the Stanley Cup in 2007. Only months after joining the Ducks, Hartigan's stint in Anaheim came to an end as the Fort St. John B.C. native signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings in the off-season.

As a member of the Detroit Red Wings' organization, Hartigan would split his time between the Motor City and their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. In the playoffs that season, Hartigan dressed for four games of the first round series against the Nashville Predators but did not see the ice in rounds two through four. Without Hartigan in their line-up, the Red Wings would go on to capture their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 seasons.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame