Kevin Czuczman

Kevin Czuczman
Czuczman with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017
Born (1991-01-09) January 9, 1991 (age 33)
London, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
ELH team
Former teams		 HC Litvínov
New York Islanders
Pittsburgh Penguins
Ilves
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2014–present

Kevin Czuczman (/ˈtʃɜːrtʃmən/ CHURCH-man) (born January 9, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently playing with HC Litvínov in the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

Playing career

Undrafted, Czuczman attended Lake Superior State University where he played three seasons with the Lake Superior State Lakers men's ice hockey team from 2011 to 2014. He scored his first collegiate goal on November 4, 2011 against Bemidji State.[1] In 2013–14, Czuczman was named to the All-WCHA Second Team.[2]

On March 11, 2014, the New York Islanders signed Czuczman as a free agent to a two-year, entry-level deal,[3] and he made his NHL debut one week later, on March 18, 2014, playing just over 20 minutes in a 6–0 loss to the visiting Minnesota Wild.[4][5]

At the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Islanders following the 2015–16 season, Czuczman's rights were not retained by the Islanders, releasing him to free agency. He agreed to a one-year deal to continue in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, an affiliate to the Winnipeg Jets during the free agency season.[6] With the Moose, Czuczman established himself early to maintain a regular top four role on the blueline for the 2016–17 season. Improving his offensive output and becoming an alternate captain, Czuczman responded with his best professional season in compiling 9 goals and 32 points in 76 games.

On July 3, 2017, Czuczman back in the interest of NHL clubs, agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[7] On June 25, 2018, Czuczman re-signed with Pittsburgh on a one-year, two-way contract.[8] On June 26, 2019, Czuczman re-signed with Pittsburgh on two-year contract.[9]

Leaving the Penguins after four seasons within the organization, Czuczman was signed by the Minnesota Wild to a one-year, two-way contract on July 29, 2021.[10]

Having played exclusively in North America for the first nine seasons of his professional career, Czuczman signed his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year contract with Finnish club, Ilves of the Liiga, on June 23, 2022.[11]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Listowel Cyclones GOJHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2009–10 Waterloo Siskins GOJHL 51 2 23 25 84 10 1 1 2 15
2010–11 Newmarket Hurricanes OJHL 47 4 19 23 40 10 1 3 4 13
2011–12 Lake Superior State U. CCHA 40 2 11 13 26 — — — — —
2012–13 Lake Superior State U. CCHA 38 2 9 11 42 — — — — —
2013–14 Lake Superior State U. WCHA 36 10 11 21 73 — — — — —
2013–14 New York Islanders NHL 13 0 2 2 14 — — — — —
2014–15 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 50 1 6 7 56 — — — — —
2014–15 Florida Everblades ECHL 9 1 0 1 4 12 0 0 0 6
2015–16 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 74 4 11 15 95 3 0 0 0 0
2016–17 Manitoba Moose AHL 76 9 23 32 48 — — — — —
2017–18 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 71 4 31 35 48 2 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 65 4 17 21 60 — — — — —
2019–20 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 38 2 8 10 16 — — — — —
2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 28 0 4 4 4 — — — — —
2021–22 Iowa Wild AHL 48 2 8 10 17 — — — — —
2022–23 Ilves Liiga 31 2 4 6 6 — — — — —
2023–24 HC Litvínov ELH 52 0 7 7 32 13 0 1 1 2
NHL totals 15 0 2 2 14 — — — — —

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
All-WCHA Second Team 2013–14 [12]

References

  1. ^ "Freshmen net first collegiate goals". Lake Superior. November 4, 2011.
  2. ^ "Globke named WCHA Rookie of the Year". Lake Superior. March 14, 2014.
  3. ^ "Islanders sign Lake Superior State defenseman Kevin Czuczman [Update]". Lighthouse Hockey. March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  4. ^ "New York Islanders vs. Minnesota Wild: Kevin Czuczman gets NHL debut". Lighthouse Hockey. March 19, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  5. ^ "Minnesota Wild at New York Islanders – 03/18/2014". National Hockey League. March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  6. ^ "Moose sign Cormier, Czuczman". Manitoba Moose. August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  7. ^ "Pittsburgh Penguins signed Kevin Czuczman". capfriendly.com. July 3, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "Penguins Agree to Terms with Simon and Sprong on Two-year Contracts". NHL.com. June 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "Penguins Re-Sign Zach Trotman and Kevin Czuczman to Two-Year Contracts". NHL.com. June 26, 2019.
  10. ^ "Wild signs defenseman Kevin Czuczman to a one-year, two-way contract". Minnesota Wild. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "Ilves announce six player contracts" (in Finnish). Ilves. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  12. ^ "All-WCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved April 13, 2014.