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Tyler Wotherspoon

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Tyler Wotherspoon
Wotherspoon with the Abbotsford Heat in 2013
Born (1993-03-12) March 12, 1993 (age 31)
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
AHL team
Former teams		 Laval Rocket
Calgary Flames
National team  Canada
NHL draft 57th overall, 2011
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2013–present

Tyler Wotherspoon (born March 12, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the second round, 57th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Wotherspoon played four seasons of major junior hockey for the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and was a member of the team's Ed Chynoweth Cup championship run before turning professional in 2013.

Playing career

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Junior

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A native of Burnaby, British Columbia,[1] Wotherspoon was selected by the Portland Winter Hawks in the second round of the 2008 Western Hockey League (WHL) bantam draft.[2] He made his WHL debut as a 15-year-old in 2008–09, appearing in four games for Portland, then played four full seasons between 2009 and 2013. During his WHL career, he appeared in 239 total games, scoring 17 goals, and registering 65 assists. With the Winterhawks, Wotherspoon appeared in the WHL championship series in three consecutive years as Portland lost the final in 2011 and 2012 to the Kootenay Ice and Edmonton Oil Kings, respectively, before finally winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup championship in 2013 by defeating Edmonton.[3][4] Wotherspoon was also named to the WHL's Western Conference second All-Star Team in 2012–13.[5] Wotherspoon scored three points in five games at the 2013 Memorial Cup, however Portland lost the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) championship game, the Memorial Cup, to the Halifax Mooseheads, 6–4.[6] During the season, Wotherspoon was also a member of the Canadian junior team, recording two points in six games at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[7]

Professional

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Wotherspoon playing for the Calgary Flames in 2014

Selected by the Calgary Flames with their second-round pick (57th overall) during the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft,[8] Flames Special Assistant to General Manager Craig Conroy described Wotherspoon as a player whose qualities often go unnoticed: "If you're a stay-at-home defenceman that can join the rush, make the good first pass, doesn't get beat one-on-one, very sound, it doesn’t stand out."[1] Upon turning professional, Wotherspoon was assigned to Calgary's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, for the 2013–14 season.[1] He had nine points in his first 48 games and a plus-minus of +13 when an injury to defenceman Dennis Wideman late in the season caused the Flames to recall Wotherspoon on an emergency basis. He made his NHL debut on March 7, 2014, a 4–3 victory over the New York Islanders.[9] He recorded his first point the following night with an assist on a Brian McGrattan goal in a contest against the Vancouver Canucks.[10] Wotherspoon appeared in 14 games with the Flames, recording four assists, before suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery and ended his season.[11] In the 2014–15 season, Wotherspoon was assigned to the Flames new AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Flames.[12] Having played 61 games with Adirondack, scoring 2 goals and 24 points, he was recalled by Calgary on April 3, 2015.[13] He made his NHL season debut in the season finale, a 5–1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.[14] He made his playoff debut in the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, making four appearances in the first round win over the Vancouver Canucks, paired with David Schlemko.[15] He made two more appearances in the second round where the Flames were defeated by the Anaheim Ducks.[16][17]

Wotherspoon was assigned to the Flames' new AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, to start the 2015–16 season. He was recalled by Calgary in February 2016 and made his NHL season debut against the Vancouver Canucks.[18] He appeared in 53 games with Stockton, scoring 2 goals and 10 points. In 11 games with Calgary, he registered just one assist.[16] In the 2016–17 season, Wotherspoon spent the majority of the season with Stockton, playing in 56 games, netting six goals and 18 points.[19] In the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs, Wotherspoon appeared in five games for Stockon, going scoreless.[16] He also played in four games with Calgary going scoreless. On September 5, 2017, the Flames re-signed Wotherspoon to a one-year, two-way contract worth $650,000.[19] He was assigned to Stockton for the 2017–18 season after going unclaimed on waivers[20] where he put up career highs in goals with 7, assists with 30 and points with 37 in 67 games.[16] He was named one of Stockton's associate captains for the season.[21]

After five seasons within the Flames organization, Wotherspoon left as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1, 2018.[22] He was assigned to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, for the 2018–19 season.[23] He played in 70 games with San Antonio, scoring 4 goals and 22 points.[16]

On July 1, 2019, Wotherspoon signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.[24] He was assigned to the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, after going unclaimed on waivers to start the 2019–20 season.[25] He played in 54 games, scoring 4 goals and 22 points before the AHL suspended play on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16][26] He spent the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season with Lehigh Valley, playing in 24 games and registering six points, all assists.[27]

On September 14, 2021, Wotherspoon signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the New Jersey Devils.[28] After participating in training camp and preseason, he was released from his PTO and signed a one-year deal with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, on October 13, 2021.[27] Following a successful season with the Comets in which he scored three goals and 21 points in 53 games, Wotherspoon was signed to a two-year, two-way contract by the Devils to continue within their organization on July 13, 2022.[29] He would be assigned to Utica for the 2022–23 season and was named one of team's alternate captains.[30] Wotherspoon was again assigned to Utica for the 2023–24 season, recording four goals and 18 assists in 65 games.[31]

On July 1, 2024, Wotherspoon signed a one-year AHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate Laval Rocket.[31] He was subsequently named one of Laval's alternate captains for the 2024–25 AHL season.[32]

International play

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In January 2022, Wotherspoon was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China.[33][34][35]

Personal life

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Wotherspoon's younger brother, Parker, was a fourth round selection by the New York Islanders in the 2015 NHL entry draft[36] and currently plays for the Boston Bruins.[37]

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
2008–09 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2009–10 Portland Winterhawks WHL 43 1 4 5 21 2 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Portland Winterhawks WHL 64 2 10 12 73 20 3 1 4 10
2011–12 Portland Winterhawks WHL 67 7 21 28 42 22 1 6 7 6
2012–13 Portland Winterhawks WHL 61 7 30 37 30 21 2 8 10 20
2013–14 Abbotsford Heat AHL 48 1 8 9 12 — — — — —
2013–14 Calgary Flames NHL 14 0 4 4 4 — — — — —
2014–15 Adirondack Flames AHL 61 2 22 24 20 — — — — —
2014–15 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 53 2 8 10 16 — — — — —
2015–16 Calgary Flames NHL 11 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2016–17 Stockton Heat AHL 56 6 12 18 24 5 0 0 0 2
2016–17 Calgary Flames NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Stockton Heat AHL 67 7 30 37 46 — — — — —
2018–19 San Antonio Rampage AHL 70 4 18 22 28 — — — — —
2019–20 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 54 4 18 22 26 — — — — —
2020–21 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 24 0 6 6 18 — — — — —
2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 53 3 17 20 22 5 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Utica Comets AHL 65 4 17 21 22 6 0 2 2 6
2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 65 4 18 22 20 — — — — —
NHL totals 30 0 5 5 4 6 0 0 0 0

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Canada Pacific U17 5th 5 0 0 0 4
2013 Canada WJC 4th 6 1 1 2 0
2022 Canada OG 6th 5 0 2 2 2
Junior totals 11 1 1 2 4
Senior totals 5 0 2 2 2

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
CHL
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2011 [38]
WHL
Ed Chynoweth Cup champion 2013 [39]
West Second All-Star Team 2013 [5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Sportak, Randy (July 15, 2013). "Calgary Flames prospect Tyler Wotherspoon could crack roster". Calgary Sun. Retrieved March 8, 2014.[dead link]
  2. ^ Watts, Jesse (2013). 2013–14 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 110.
  3. ^ "Portland Winterhawks clinch WHL championship with win over Edmonton Oil Kings". NHL.com. May 12, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014.[dead link]
  4. ^ Watts, Jesse (2013). 2013–14 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 216.
  5. ^ a b Watts, Jesse (2013). 2013–14 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 261.
  6. ^ "Halifax Mooseheads win Mastercard Memorial Cup". CHL.ca. May 26, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Player statistics by team – Canada" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. January 4, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2014.[dead link]
  8. ^ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Thomas, Rob, eds. (2013). "Flames in the System". 2013–14 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 130. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  9. ^ Kupchuk, Rick (March 11, 2014). "Wotherspoon called up by NHL's Flames". Peace Arch News. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Sportak, Randy (March 9, 2014). "West toasted". Calgary Sun. p. S3.
  11. ^ Sportak, Randy (April 2, 2014). "Flames' Ramo makes return to Tampa". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  12. ^ "Calgary Flames Assign Wotherspoon to Adirondack". Adirondack Thunder. October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  13. ^ "Calgary Flames Recall Tyler Wotherspoon". Adirondack Thunder. April 3, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Jets rout Flames 5-1 to close regular season". ESPN. Associated Press. April 11, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Adirondack Alumni Shine in Playoffs". Adirondack Thunder. April 27, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Tyler Wotherspoon". hockeydb.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  17. ^ "Calgary Flames season over for players, but not for GM Brad Treliving". CBC News. May 12, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  18. ^ Kupchuk, Rick (February 25, 2016). "Wotherspoon back in NHL". Surrey Now-Leader. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Flames re-sign Tyler Wotherspoon". Calgary Flames. September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017 – via NHL.com.
  20. ^ "Flames assign Shinkaruk, Poirier, Wotherspoon to AHL". Sportsnet. September 27, 2017. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Danzer, Paul (May 1, 2018). "Three ex-Winterhawks vying for Stanley Cup". Portland Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  22. ^ @DarrenDreger (July 1, 2018). "St Louis agrees to 1 year two way deal with Tyler Wotherspoon. $700,000 (nhl) or $325,009 (AHL), however $400,000 guaranteed" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Blues assign eight skaters, two goalies to San Antonio Rampage". Fox News. September 22, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "Flyers Free Agency Tracker 2019". Philadelphia Flyers. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  25. ^ "Flyers Assign More Players to Phantoms as Training Camp Continues". Lehigh Valley Phantoms. September 19, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  26. ^ "AHL cancels rest of regular season, playoffs due to COVID-19 pandemic". Sportsnet. May 11, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Comets sign defenseman Wotherspoon". Utica Comets. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  28. ^ "Devils Sign Three Players to Professional Tryout Contracts". New Jersey Devils. September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via NHL.com.
  29. ^ "Devils sign four players to two-way contracts". New Jersey Devils. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  30. ^ Jones, Steve (October 13, 2022). "Utica Comets captain for 2022-23 season? Dineen reveals pick". Rome Daily Sentinel. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Rocket puts six players under contract". Laval Rocket. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Sheridan, Mathieu (October 12, 2024). "Laval Rocket Announce Leadership Group". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  33. ^ Harrison, Doug (January 25, 2022). "Canada unveils non-NHL Olympic hockey roster with pro experience, young talent". CBC Sports. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  34. ^ Nichols, Paula (January 25, 2022). "Team Canada's 25-player men's hockey roster nominated for Beijing 2022". Canadian Olympic Committee. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  35. ^ Stephens, Mike (January 25, 2022). "Canada Names Men's 2022 Olympic Hockey Roster". The Hockey News. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  36. ^ Fornabaio, Michael (October 30, 2019). "Family meeting: Wotherspoons could meet for first time". Connecticut Post. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  37. ^ McBride, Jim (November 2, 2023). "Move to Boston organization pays early dividends for Parker Wotherspoon". Boston Globe. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  38. ^ "CHL Announces Rosters and Coaches for 2011 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game". Canadian Hockey League. December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  39. ^ Kupchuk, Rick (May 16, 2013). "Surrey and Delta pair with Winterhawks In Saskatoon". Surrey Now-Leader. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
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