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Patrick Wiercioch

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Patrick Wiercioch
Wiercioch in 2013
Born (1990-09-12) September 12, 1990 (age 34)
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Ottawa Senators
Colorado Avalanche
Dinamo Minsk
HC Bolzano
Timrå IK
National team  Canada
NHL draft 42nd overall, 2008
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2010–2021

Patrick Wiercioch (/ˈwɪərkɒʃ/ WEER-kosh;[1] born September 12, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Ottawa Senators, the team who drafted him in 2008, and the Colorado Avalanche. Wiercioch was born in Burnaby, British Columbia, and grew up in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

Playing career

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As a youth, Wiercioch played in the 2003 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from North Vancouver.[2]

Amateur

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A Vancouver native, Wiercioch played junior hockey in the British Columbia Hockey League for the Burnaby Express in 2006–07 and later in the United States Hockey League with the Omaha Lancers in the 2007–08, when he was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[citation needed]

Having committed to the University of Denver of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Wiercioch began his collegiate career as a freshman in the 2008–09 season. In notching an impressive 12 goals and 35 points in 36 games in a regular role with the Pioneers, Wiercioch was selected to the All-Rookie Team and Second All-Star Team in the WCHA. In the following 2009–10 season as a sophomore, Wiercioch continued his positive development in recording 27 points in 39 games, being named to the First All-Star Team, and earning All-American honours.[citation needed]

Professional

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Wiercioch signalled the completion of his athletic collegiate career in agreeing to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on April 2, 2010.[3] He was slated to make his professional debut in the 2010–11 season, with the Senators affiliate, the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League. Earning a regular position within Binghamton's top four defenseman, Wiercioch contributed with 4 goals and 18 points in 67 regular season games. On March 22, 2011, he received his first recall up to the NHL to play for the Ottawa Senators.[4] He made his NHL debut that night, in a 4-3 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes. He later recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Atlanta Thrashers on March 27, 2011. After 8 games with Ottawa, Wiercioch was returned to the AHL for the post-season, appearing in 15 games for 1 assist to help the Binghamton Senators claim the Calder Cup.[5]

Wiercioch played the entirety of the 2011–12 season, and the first half of the 2012–13 season with Binghamton, before he was called up after the resolution to the 2012–13 NHL lockout to appear with Ottawa again at the NHL level. Wiercioch scored his first NHL goal on March 3, 2013, against the New York Islanders. He finished the season 5th amongst the Senators in scoring with 19 points in 42 games, placing second in the league for scoring amongst rookie defensemen. As a restricted free agent, Wiercioch was re-signed to a three-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators on July 23, 2013.[6]

In the 2013–14 season, Wiercioch compiled a career best 19 assists for 23 points in 53 games, despite being a healthy scratch on 29 occasions. He appeared in his 100th career NHL game in a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on April 8, 2014. In the following 2014–15 season, Wiercioch having stalled in his offensive development struggled to cement a role in the Senators blueline. As a healthy scratch for a further 21 games under coach Dave Cameron, he compiled 3 goals and 13 points in 56 games.[7] He rebounded in the post-season, co-leading the club with 2 goals and 4 points in a 6-game first round defeat to the Montreal Canadiens.[citation needed]

Wiercioch reverted to his previous season form in the 2015–16 season, continuing to struggle in going without a goal in 52 games for just 5 assists. Relegated to serving in a depth/reserve defensive role to end the season. Wiercioch played in four seasons with Ottawa before his tenure ended when the Senators chose not to give him a qualifying offer, making him a free agent.[8]

On July 1, 2016, Wiercioch returned to his collegiate roots in Denver by signing a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[9] Joining former Pioneer teammate and free agent signing Joe Colborne, Wiercioch began the 2016–17 season positively, recording an assist in a 6-5 season opening victory over the Dallas Stars on October 15, 2016. In his next game he collected his first Avalanche goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 17, 2016. In his first 17 games with Colorado, Wiercioch had amassed 8 points. After cooling off offensively, Wiercioch completed the season having scored 12 points. In appearing in a career best 57 games, Wiercioch was unable to provide a stability to the blueline serving in a rotational scratch role to end the season with the cellar-dwelling Avalanche.[citation needed]

On June 26, 2017, Wiercioch, now a restricted free agent, was not retained after failing to be tendered a qualifying offer from the Avalanche.[10] On July 1, 2017, Wiercioch was signed as a free agent to a one-year, $650,000 contract with his hometown team, the Vancouver Canucks.[11]

As a free agent from the Canucks, and with limited interest in continuing in the AHL, Wiercioch embarked on a career abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract with Belarusian club, HC Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on July 9, 2018.[12] Wiercioch enjoyed a successful season on the blueline with Minsk, posting 8 goals and 25 points in 59 games during the 2018–19 season.

Un-signed leading into the 2019–20 season, Wiercioch signed as a free agent to continue his European career with Italian club, HC Bolzano of the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL), on December 11, 2019.[13] Following a lone season with Bolzano, Wiercioch moved to Sweden in helping Timrå IK gain promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan to the Swedish Hockey League.

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Czech Republic

Wiercioch was first introduced to the international stage after he was invited to Canada's selection camp for the 2009 World Junior Championships. Failing to initially make the squad he was again invited the following season to selection camp for the 2010 World Junior Championships, however was unable to participate due to injury.

In 2015 Wiercioch was a member of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the World Championships, where they won the title for the first time since 2007 with a perfect 10-0 record.[14]

Personal life

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Wiercioch and his wife, Kresson, have three children, Paxton, Lachlan and Leighton. [15]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Vancouver North East Attack BCMML 35 9 23 32 18 — — — — —
2006–07 Burnaby Express BCHL 42 9 16 25 46 14 3 4 7 10
2007–08 Omaha Lancers USHL 40 3 18 21 24 14 2 9 11 22
2008–09 University of Denver WCHA 36 12 23 35 26 — — — — —
2009–10 University of Denver WCHA 39 6 21 27 34 — — — — —
2010–11 Binghamton Senators AHL 67 4 14 18 25 15 0 1 1 0
2010–11 Ottawa Senators NHL 8 0 2 2 4 — — — — —
2011–12 Binghamton Senators AHL 57 4 16 20 34 — — — — —
2012–13 Binghamton Senators AHL 32 10 9 19 22 — — — — —
2012–13 Ottawa Senators NHL 42 5 14 19 39 1 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Ottawa Senators NHL 53 4 19 23 20 — — — — —
2014–15 Ottawa Senators NHL 56 3 10 13 28 6 2 2 4 4
2015–16 Ottawa Senators NHL 52 0 5 5 24 — — — — —
2016–17 Colorado Avalanche NHL 57 4 8 12 23 — — — — —
2017–18 Utica Comets AHL 58 10 27 37 45 5 0 3 3 2
2018–19 Dinamo Minsk KHL 59 8 17 25 34 — — — — —
2019–20 HC Bolzano EBEL 19 4 9 13 10 3 0 2 2 10
2020–21 Timrå IK Allsv 11 0 7 7 8 12 3 4 7 12
NHL totals 268 16 58 74 138 7 2 2 4 4

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 1 3 4 0
Senior totals 10 1 3 4 0

Awards and honours

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Award Year
USHL
Clark Cup (Omaha Lancers) 2008
College
All-WCHA Second Team 2009 [16]
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2009
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2009 [17]
All-WCHA First Team 2010
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2010 [18]
AHL
Calder Cup (Binghamton Senators) 2011 [5]

References

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  1. ^ "2014-15 National Hockey League Player Pronunciations" (PDF). Los Angeles Kings. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  2. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  3. ^ "Senators sign Patrick Wiercioch to three-year, entry-level contract". Ottawa Senators. April 2, 2010. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
  4. ^ "Wiercioch gets an NHL shot". Ottawa Citizen. March 22, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Binghamton Senators win 2011 Calder Cup". Fox News. June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ "Senators re-sign Patrick Wiercioch to three-year, entry-level contract". Ottawa Senators. July 23, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  7. ^ "Catching up with former Senators D-man Patrick Wiercioch". silversevensens.com. March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "Senators don't extend qualifying to offer to Wiercioch". thescore.com. June 28, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2016.
  9. ^ "Avalanche signs Patrick Wiercioch". Colorado Avalanche. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  10. ^ "Avalanche part ways with Mikahil Girgorenko, Siemens given qualifying offer". BSNDenver.com. June 26, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  11. ^ "Patrick Wiercioch signed to one-year contract". Vancouver Canucks. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  12. ^ "Patrick Wiercioch to HC Dinamo Minsk" (in Russian). HC Dinamo Minsk. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  13. ^ "Bozen sign former NHL defenseman Patrick Wiercioch" (in German). HC Bolzano. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  14. ^ "Canada's National Men's Team wins gold medal at 2015 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship". Hockey Canada. May 17, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  15. ^ Wayne Scanlan (March 3, 2015). "For Senators Patrick Wiercioch, family ties put under the NHL's trade deadline pressure". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "Patrick Wiercioch player profile". The Hockey News. February 3, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  17. ^ "WCHA Tourney History". WCHA. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  18. ^ "Denver Puts 3 on All-America Team". College Hockey News. April 9, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
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