Bjork played college hockey at Notre Dame in the Hockey East from 2014 to 2017. In 2016–17, Bjork was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, marking him as one of the ten best players in men's college hockey;[1] he was also named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star,[2] and was a co-winner of the Hockey East Three-Stars Award.[3]
Professional
Boston Bruins
At the completion of his junior season with the Fighting Irish, Bjork concluded his collegiate career in signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins on May 30, 2017.[4]
Bjork's NHL career started with the 2017–18 Bruins season opener, a 4–3 home ice victory over the Nashville Predators, when he scored an assist on fellow Bruins rookie Jake DeBrusk's first-ever NHL goal, for his first point as an NHL player.[5] Bjork's first NHL goal came in the fourth game of the season on the road against the Arizona Coyotes, as the final goal of a 6–2 road win for the Bruins.[6]
On January 30, 2018, during a home-ice game against the visiting Anaheim Ducks, Bjork suffered a season-ending left shoulder injury – he underwent a successful arthroscopy and labral repair three weeks later, and was expected to take six months to fully heal from the surgical repair.[7]
Buffalo Sabres
In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Bjork collected 2 goals and 5 points through 30 regular season games before he was dealt by the Bruins on the eve of the trade deadline along with a 2021 second-round draft pick to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar on April 11, 2021.[8]
Chicago Blackhawks
In the final year of his contract, on March 2, 2023, on the eve of that season's trade deadline, Bjork was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.[9] At the time of the trade, Bjork had spent the entire season with Buffalo's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, save for one game with the Sabres on November 16, 2022.[10] Bjork was recalled from the minors by the Blackhawks and played out the remainder of the season with the team in posting 2 goals and 8 points through 13 appearances.
As a free agent from the Blackhawks, and unable to earn an NHL contract on the open market, Bjork opted to continue his tenure within the Blackhawks organization in signing a one-year AHL contract with affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, on August 10, 2023.[11]
Later years
Leading into the 2024–25 season, Bjork remained an un-signed free agent following his tenure with the IceHogs. At the mid-point of the season, Bjork agreed to a PTO to join the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, the primary affiliate to the Nashville Predators, on January 12, 2025.[12]
Personal life
Before Notre Dame, Bjork went to high school at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, when he moved there to play for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.[13] Bjork's family includes several Notre Dame alumni. His parents, Kirt and Patricia, both of whom are of Swedish descent, his sisters Brinya and Keali, and cousin Erik Condra all attended the school. Kirt Bjork also played hockey for Notre Dame.[14][15] During college, Anders was enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business. He has a younger brother, Brady, who has committed to play hockey at University of Notre Dame.[15]
^Ryan, Conor (February 22, 2018). "Anders Bjork injury: Boston Bruins rookie forward to miss rest of the season due to shoulder surgery". masslive.com. MassLive. Retrieved May 29, 2018. The Boston Bruins released an update on the 21-year-old forward Thursday, announcing that the rookie underwent a successful left shoulder arthroscopy and labral repair on February 20 at Massachusetts General Hospital. As a result of the procedure, Bjork is expected to be out for six months...Bjork suffered the injury during a loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 30, exiting the game after just 2:43 of time on ice after taking a crosscheck from Francois Beauchemin.
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