Blake Wheeler
Blake James Wheeler (born August 31, 1986) is an American ice hockey right winger. He currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Boston Bruins and Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL and EHC München of the DEL.
Blake Wheeler | |
---|---|
Wheeler with the Jets in 2013 | |
Born | Plymouth, MN, USA | August 31, 1986
Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
Position | Right Wing |
Shoots | Right |
NHL team Former teams |
Winnipeg Jets Boston Bruins Atlanta Thrashers DEL: EHC München |
National team | United States |
NHL Draft | 5th overall, 2004 Phoenix Coyotes |
Playing career | 2008–present |
Career
Before playing in the NHL, Wheeler played 1 season with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He also played 3 years of college ice hockey at the University of Minnesota. During his time with University of Minnesota, he was named the WCHA Most Valuable Player in Tournament in 2007.[1]
Wheeler was drafted with the 5th overall pick by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Wheeler and the Coyotes could not agree on a contract and he signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2008.[2] On October 9, he scored played in his first NHL games and also scored his first NHL goal against Peter Budaj of the Colorado Avalanche.[3]
On February 18, 2011, he was traded along with Mark Stuart to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Boris Valabik and Rich Peverley.[4] On July 18, 2011, he signed a two-year, $5.1 million deal with the Jets when the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg.[5]
Blake Wheeler Media
Wheeler played with the University of Minnesota from 2005 to 2008.
Wheeler practicing with the Boston Bruins in November 2008.
Wheeler (left) with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and John Carlson in a ceremony for American-bound Olympians to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Both Carlson and Wheeler were members of Team USA in 2014.
References
- ↑ "Gophers Defeat N.D. In OT, 3-2". WCCO-TV. Archived from the original on 2007-03-21. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
- ↑ "Boston Bruins Sign Forward Blake Wheeler". Boston Bruins. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
- ↑ "Game Boxscore: Boston @ Colorado - 10/09/2008". NHL. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
- ↑ "Bruins land Peverley for Wheeler, Stuart". NHL. Retrieved 2014-04-04.
- ↑ "Wheeler Among Seven Jets Signings on Monday". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2014-04-04.