Mark Wotton

Mark Wotton
Wotton with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2011
Born	(1973-11-16) November 16, 1973 Foxwarren, Manitoba, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Vancouver Canucks Dallas Stars SKA Saint Petersburg
NHL draft	237th overall, 1992 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	1994–2011

Mark A. Wotton (born November 16, 1973) is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars.

Playing career

Considered small for an NHL defender, Wotton was selected 237th overall in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Despite his low draft position, Wotton improved his stock considerably over the next few seasons with his intelligent positional play, leadership, and excellent work ethic. Turning pro in the 1994–95, he would score 41 points for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League and earn a one-game late-season callup to the Canucks. He would also feature in 5 playoff games for the team, before his season was ended on a vicious high-stick from St. Louis Blues winger Glenn Anderson which detached his retina.

Wotton would earn an extended audition with the Canucks in 1996–97, playing largely as a regular in the second half of the season, and finishing with 3 goals and 9 points in 36 games. He would crack the Canucks' roster out of training camp in 1997–98, but a coaching change would alter his fortunes as new Canuck coach Mike Keenan decided to go in a different direction with larger, tougher players like Jamie Huscroft and Enrico Ciccone. Wotton was sent back to the AHL where he spent the next two seasons.

Wotton left the Canucks organization in 1999 to sign with the Dallas Stars. He would spend 5 seasons in the Stars organization, but played only a single NHL game for them in the 2000–01 season. He was, however, valued for his experience on the farm and his work with younger defenders.

In 2004, Wotton signed in Russia with SKA Saint Petersburg. He would spend a year there before returning to North America, signing with the Washington Capitals. After spending the 2005–06 season with the Hershey Bears, the Capitals' AHL farm club, he signed with the New York Islanders organization for 2006–07. He was then assigned and named captain to the Islanders' AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Wotton has appeared 43 career NHL games, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points. He has also made more than 800 appearances in the American Hockey League in his 16-year professional career. He retired in 2012.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1989–90	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		51	2	3	5	31		7	1	1	2	15
1990–91	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		45	4	11	15	37		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		64	11	25	36	92		21	2	6	8	22
1992–93	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		71	15	51	66	90		9	6	5	11	18
1993–94	Saskatoon Blades	WHL		65	12	34	46	108		16	3	12	15	32
1994–95	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		75	12	29	41	50		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		5	0	0	0	4
1995–96	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		80	10	35	45	96		15	1	12	13	20
1996–97	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		27	2	8	10	25		2	0	0	0	4
1996–97	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		36	3	6	9	19		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		56	12	21	33	80		5	0	0	0	12
1997–98	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		5	0	0	0	6		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Syracuse Crunch	AHL		72	4	31	35	74		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Michigan K-Wings	IHL		70	3	7	10	72		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Utah Grizzlies	IHL		63	2	2	4	64		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Dallas Stars	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Utah Grizzlies	AHL		57	9	18	27	68		4	0	1	1	6
2002–03	Utah Grizzlies	AHL		69	8	26	34	68		2	0	0	0	2
2003–04	Utah Grizzlies	AHL		23	1	3	4	25		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	SKA St. Petersburg	RSL		50	3	3	6	32		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Hershey Bears	AHL		69	7	19	26	58		14	0	4	4	6
2006–07	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		78	9	24	33	56		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		69	2	18	20	54		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		73	5	16	21	40		5	0	0	0	0
2009–10	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		77	3	23	26	42		5	0	0	0	2
2010–11	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		71	3	7	10	84		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				896	87	278	365	820		52	1	17	18	52
NHL totals				43	3	6	9	25		5	0	0	0	4

Awards and honours

Award	Year
WHL
East Second All-Star Team	1994
CHL Plus/Minus Award	1994

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database