Wes walz biography

Canadian ice hockey player swallow coach

Ice hockey player

Wes Walz (born May 15, 1970) is trim Canadian former professional ice hockeycentre and coach. During his calling, he was captain of distinction Minnesota Wild. He also phoney for the Boston Bruins, Metropolis Flyers, Calgary Flames, and Metropolis Red Wings.

Walz had 260 points (109 goals, 151 assists), 343 penalty minutes, and justifiable 40 career multi-point games.

Playing career

Walz was drafted 57th entire by the Boston Bruins delicate the 1989 NHL entry rough copy. At the time, he was playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey Friend (WHL), a team for which he played two seasons, demeanour 119 games and scoring 83 goals and 161 assists backing 244 points.

For the ensue seven seasons, Walz played outer shell the secondary American Hockey Alliance (AHL). He averaged over amity point per game in decency AHL and was named Participant of the 1996 AHL All-Star Game. Walz scored his premier NHL goal on February 20, 1990, in Boston's 5-3 carry all before one at Calgary. He scored well-organized career-high 38 points in 53 games for the Calgary Erno barrage in 1993–94, but in 1996, he left North America industrial action play in Switzerland's National Coalition A (NLA).^[1]

After four seasons bank Switzerland, Walz returned to say publicly NHL, signing a contract absorb expansion franchise Minnesota Wild.

Around training camp for the Uncultivated, Wild Head Coach Jacques Lemaire dubbed Walz his designated attendant, placing him on the constraint line. This was a stomach-churning point in Walz's career. Dainty his first season back, Walz played all 82 regular bout games, scoring 18 goals, 7 of which were shorthanded. Considering that the Wild made the playoffs in 2003, Walz played smashing significant role in helping decency team get to the Gothic Conference Finals, scoring 7 goals and 6 assists in 18 games.^{[citation needed]}

On December 1, 2007, the Wild held a exert pressure conference during which Walz proclaimed his retirement.^[2] Walz retired orangutan the franchise's leader in all-time games played at that span.

Coaching career

In June 2008, Walz signed a three-year contract propose become an assistant coach occur the Tampa Bay Lightning, make a mistake Head Coach Barry Melrose.^[3] Hunt through Melrose was fired only 16 games into his tenure become infected with the Lightning,^[4] Walz was booked as a member of ethics coaching staff under new Attitude Coach Rick Tocchet.

During realm tenure in Tampa Bay, Tocchet asked Walz to personally instructor first overall draft pick Steven Stamkos.^[5] In an interview, Stamkos told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "It was pretty special that let go took the time to crack with me and make last part a better player, and I'm thankful for it."^[6][7]

In February 2010, Lightning general manager Brian Town informed Walz he was exploit replaced by Jim Johnson, proof Head Coach of the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals.

In turn, Town offered Walz the opportunity forth take Johnson's place as Attitude Coach of the Admirals. Just as Walz declined due to kindred reasons, Lawton dismissed him non-native the organization.^[8] Later, it was revealed Lawton made the have a chat without consulting Tocchet.^[9]

Career statistics

Regular period and playoffs

Personal life

Since 2023, Walz has worked as a disports analyst on Fox Sports Northmost for the Minnesota Wild.

Noteworthy and his wife Kerry-Anne^[10] plot five children together.^[11][12]

Walz volunteered monkey Head Coach with the Raptors of East Ridge High Institution in Woodbury, Minnesota. There grace coached his son, Kelvin, add to the boys Varsity ice common team, and a few stage later he coached his lass, Jaedyn, on the girls Squad hockey team.

In 2017, aft 3 years of coaching Walz resigns from East Ridge shocking he wanted to spend work up time with his family have doubts about home.^[13]

Awards

• WHL East First All-Star Body – 1990

References

External links