Ben Blood

Ben Blood
Blood with the Löwen Frankfurt in 2023
Born (1989-03-15) March 15, 1989 (age 35)
Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 227 lb (103 kg; 16 st 3 lb)
Position Defenseman
Shoots Left
Liiga team
Former teams		 Lahti Pelicans
Binghamton Senators
Stjernen Hockey
Ässät
Cardiff Devils
Tappara
Graz99ers
Löwen Frankfurt
NHL draft 120th overall, 2007
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2012–present

Ben Blood (born March 15, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Lahti Pelicans of the Liiga. He was drafted in the fourth round, 120th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators.

Playing career

Blood played prep hockey at Shattuck-Saint Mary's for two seasons. He helped them win USA Hockey's Tier I 18 & Under National Championship in 2007.[1]

Collegiate

Blood played for the University of North Dakota for four seasons while majoring in recreation and tourism studies.[2]

In his freshman season, Blood was named UND's Most Improved Player. He recorded one point that season, an assist, in a game against the Michigan Tech Huskies on March 13, 2009.[2] His sophomore season was more productive. Blood put up 14 points in 43 games and was named to the All-WCHA Academic team and WCHA Final Five All-Tournament team.[2]

In his junior year, Blood played in all 44 games of the season and set a new career high with 10 assists. At the conclusion of the season, he was again named to the All-WCHA Academic team.[2]

In his senior year, Blood set a new career high with 21 points in 42 games. Blood was named an alternate captain for the Sioux at the beginning of the season, however, after an on ice altercation during a January game against Minnesota, he was stripped of his A status.[3] Despite this, Blood was selected for the NCAA (WCHA) Third All-Star Team.[4]

On April 4, 2012, Blood signed a two-year Entry Level Contract with the Ottawa Senators and an amateur tryout contract with the Senators American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators so Blood could finish the season with them.[5]

Professional

Blood began the 2012–13 season with the Binghamton Senators but after three games was reassigned to their ECHL affiliate, the Elmira Jackals.[6] He was periodically moved between the AHL and ECHL until he agreed to terms with the Wheeling Nailers in October 2014.[7] His agreement was short-lived, however, as on November 25, 2014, Blood left the Wheeling Nailers and joined Stjernen Hockey in the GET-ligaen league.[8] The following season, Blood joined the Lahti Pelicans in the Liiga.[9] While playing with the Pelicans, Blood received a two-game suspension due to an altercation with Siim Liivik and a three-game suspension for Cross-checking and injuring Anthony Guttig.[10][11] On October 30, 2015, Blood signed a two-year contract extension with the Pelicans.[12] On April 11, 2017, Blood left the Pelicans and joined Ässät.[13]

In July 2018, Blood joined the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League.[14] However, he soon left on November 7, 2018, to re-join the Liiga league with Tappara on a two-year contract.[15]

In May 2021, Blood agreed to terms with Graz 99ers on a one-year contract ahead of the 2021–22 season.[16]

Following a return to Lahti Pelicans, Blood continued his journeyman career in Europe by agreeing to a one-year contract with German club, Löwen Frankfurt of the DEL, on May 26, 2023.[17]

Personal life

Blood's sisters, Erin and Molly, both play hockey. Molly played for the Minnesota Thoroughbreds and Erin played NCAA hockey for Boston College. His second cousin Danny Kristo was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.[18]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Shattuck-Saint Mary's MNHS 58 4 21 25 74 — — — — —
2006–07 Shattuck-Saint Mary's MNHS 63 11 25 36 144 — — — — —
2007–08 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 11 0 7 7 17 — — — — —
2007–08 Indiana Ice USHL 46 10 6 16 83 4 1 2 3 14
2008–09 U. of North Dakota WCHA 31 0 1 1 12 — — — — —
2009–10 U. of North Dakota WCHA 43 5 9 14 96 — — — — —
2010–11 U. of North Dakota WCHA 44 2 10 12 48 — — — — —
2011–12 U. of North Dakota WCHA 42 3 18 21 73 — — — — —
2011–12 Binghamton Senators AHL 4 0 0 0 17 — — — — —
2012–13 Elmira Jackals ECHL 32 1 1 2 23 6 0 1 1 9
2012–13 Binghamton Senators AHL 24 0 0 0 30 — — — — —
2013–14 Binghamton Senators AHL 54 0 3 3 61 — — — — —
2013–14 Elmira Jackals ECHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2014–15 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 13 0 2 2 34 — — — — —
2014–15 Stjernen Hockey GET 22 7 12 19 40 4 1 1 2 10
2015–16 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 32 1 7 8 160 — — — — —
2016–17 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 55 2 8 10 146 5 0 0 0 4
2017–18 Ässät Liiga 57 3 7 10 207 7 1 0 1 0
2018–19 Cardiff Devils EIHL 12 3 4 7 31 — — — — —
2018–19 Tappara Liiga 37 4 14 18 42 11 0 0 0 12
2019–20 Tappara Liiga 56 2 5 7 22 – – – – –
2020–21 Tappara Liiga 35 3 6 9 34 7 0 1 1 10
2021–22 Graz99ers ICEHL 43 5 9 14 74 2 1 0 1 14
2022–23 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 32 0 5 5 39 18 4 1 5 41
2023–24 Löwen Frankfurt DEL 37 2 7 9 60 – – – – –
2023–24 Lahti Pelicans Liiga 12 1 1 2 37 9 0 0 0 14
Liiga totals 316 16 53 69 687 57 5 2 7 81

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
College
WCHA All-Academic Team 2010, 2011, 2012
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2010
WCHA Third All-Star Team 2012 [4]

References

  1. ^ Raffel, John (April 4, 2007). "SHATTUCK-ST. MARY'S OVERPOWERING IN TITLE CLINCHER". nationals.usahockey.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "BEN BLOOD". fightinghawks.com. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ben Blood disciplined for post-game altercation". fightinghawks.com. January 16, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Eidsness named WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, Blood and Nelson named All-WCHA". fightinghawks.com. March 8, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Brad Elliott Schlossman (April 4, 2012). "UND MEN'S HOCKEY: Blood signs with Sens". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "Defenseman Ben Blood Reassigned to Elmira (ECHL)". oursportscentral.com. November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  7. ^ Nolte, Scott (October 16, 2014). "Nailers Announce Season Opening Roster". wtrf.com. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  8. ^ Simensen, Joakim (November 25, 2014). "– En stor og sterk spiller som kan rydde opp" (in Norwegian). Fredriksstad Blad. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  9. ^ @PelicansFi (October 30, 2015). "Ben Blood jatkaa Pelicansissa kevääseen 2018. #PelicansFi #Liiga" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Ben Blood: "En ole likainen pelaaja"". iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). November 19, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "Pelicans-pakin sikailusta pelikieltoa". yle.fi (in Finnish). October 6, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  12. ^ "Bloodille jatkosopimus Lahteen". jatkoaika.com (in Finnish). October 30, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  13. ^ "Ben Blood Pelicansista Ässiin". liiga.fi (in Finnish). April 11, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  14. ^ "Ben Blood: Cardiff Devils sign American defenceman". bbc.com. July 21, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  15. ^ "Cardiff Devils: Ben Blood leaves Elite League champions for Tappara". bbc.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Graz99ers nehmen Ben Blood unter Vertrag".
  17. ^ "American Ben Blood signs with the Lions" (in German). Löwen Frankfurt. May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  18. ^ "Ben Blood". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved December 20, 2018.