Although his 2001-02 season was shortened by injury, David Goverde turned in another of his patented playoff performances for the West Coast Hockey League's (WCHL) Tacoma Sabercats in the 2002 Taylor Cup Playoffs. The 6-1, 200-pound net minder posted a 5-4 mark with a 2.54 goals against average (GAA) and a .927 save percentage (SPCT) to lead the underdog Sabercats within one win of the Taylor Cup Finals.

During the regular season, Goverde was 12-11-2 with a 3.80 GAA and a .892 SPCT in 28 appearances. The 32-year-old played the previous four seasons from 1997-98 to 2000-01 with the WCHL's now-defunct Phoenix Mustangs, leading the club to the 1999 Taylor Cup Championship and earning WCHL Playoff Most Valuable Player honors in the process.

Goverde posted a 10-2 mark with a 2.32 GAA, .931 SPCT, and two shutouts during that championship run in Phoenix. Entering the 2001-02 season, he ranked among the top WCHL goaltenders all-time in nearly every category including GAA (fourth), wins (third), SPCT (sixth), and shutouts (third).

The Toronto, Ontario native spent the majority of the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) with the Toledo Storm and Louisville Riverfrogs. Goverde enjoyed his finest ECHL season in 1995-96 with Toledo, posting a 23-3-4 record with a 2.96 GAA and a .915 SPCT in backstopping the Storm to the top of the ECHL's Northern Division with a 48-14-8 mark (104 points).

His 12-year professional career has also included stints with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Saint John Flames, New Haven Nighthawks, and Portland Pirates; Colonial Hockey League's (CoHL) Detroit Falcons; and International Hockey League's (IHL) Detroit Vipers, Peoria Rivermen, and Phoenix Roadrunners.

A fifth round (91st overall) National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft selection of the Los Angeles Kings in 1990, Goverde made five career appearances in net for Los Angeles from 1991-92 to 1993-94. Prior to beginning his professional career, he played three seasons in the major junior Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Windsor Compuware Spitfires and Sudbury Wolves.