Tyler Wotherspoon

Tyler Wotherspoon
Born March 12, 1993
Surrey, BC, CAN
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team 		Calgary Flames
Adirondack Flames (AHL)
NHL Draft 57th overall, 2011
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2013–present

Tyler Wotherspoon (born March 12, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Flames in the second round, 57th overall, at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Wotherspon played four seasons of junior hockey for the Portland Winterhawks and was a member of the team's Western Hockey League championship team before turning professional in 2013.

Playing career

A native of Surrey, British Columbia,[1] Wotherspoon was selected by the Portland Winterhawks in the second round of the 2008 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft.[2] He made his WHL debut as a 15-year-old in 2008–09 by appearing in four games for Portland, then played four full seasons between 2009 and 2013; Wotherspoon appeared in 239 games in his WHL career and scored 17 goals along with 65 assists.[3] With the Winterhawks, he appeared in the WHL championship series in three consecutive years as Portland lost the final in 2011 and 2012 to the Kootenay Ice and Edmonton Oil Kings, respectively, before finally winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup championship in 2013 by defeating Edmonton.[4][5] Wotherspoon was also named to the WHL's Western Conference second All-Star Team in 2012–13.[6] Wotherspoon scored three points in five games at the 2013 Memorial Cup,[3] however Portland lost the Canadian Hockey League championship game to the Halifax Mooseheads, 6–4.[7] During the season, Wotherspoon was also a member of the Canadian junior team and recorded two points in six games at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[8]

The Calgary Flames had selected Wotherspoon with their second round pick, 57th overall, at the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft.[9] Flames' special assistant to the General Manager, Craig Conroy, described Wotherspoon as a player who's qualities often go unnoticed: "If you’re a stay-at-home defenceman that can join the rush, make the good first pass, doesn’t get beat one-on-one, very sound, it doesn’t stand out."[1] Upon turning professional, Wotherspoon was assigned to Calgary's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, for the 2013–14 season.[1] He had nine points in his first 48 games and a plus-minus of +13 when an injury to Dennis Wideman late in the season caused the Flames to recall Wotherspoon on an emergency basis. He made his NHL debut on March 7, 2013, a 4–3 victory over the New York Islanders.[10] He recorded his first point the following night with an assist on a Brian McGrattan goal in a contest against the Vancouver Canucks.[11] Wotherspoon appeared in 14 games with the Flames, and recorded four assists, before suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery and ended his season.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2009–10 Portland Winterhawks WHL 43 1 4 5 21 2 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Portland Winterhawks WHL 64 2 10 12 73 20 3 1 4 10
2011–12 Portland Winterhawks WHL 67 7 21 28 42 22 1 6 7 6
2012–13 Portland Winterhawks WHL 61 7 30 37 30 21 2 8 10 20
2013–14 Abbotsford Heat AHL 48 1 8 9 12 — — — — —
2013–14 Calgary Flames NHL 14 0 4 4 4 — — — — —
NHL totals 14 0 4 4 4 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2010 Canada Pacific U17 5th 5 0 0 0 4
2013 Canada WJC 4th 6 1 1 2 0
Junior totals 11 1 1 2 4

Awards and honours

Career
Award Year Ref.
WHL Second All-Star Team 2012–13 [6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sportak, Randy (2013-07-15). "Calgary Flames prospect Tyler Wotherspoon could crack roster". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  2. ↑ Watts, Jesse (2013). 2013–14 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 110.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Tyler Wotherspoon player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  4. ↑ "Portland Winterhawks clinch WHL championship with win over Edmonton Oil Kings". National Hockey League. 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  5. ↑ Watts, Jesse (2013). 2013–14 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 216.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Watts, Jesse (2013). 2013–14 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 261.
  7. ↑ "Halifax Mooseheads win Mastercard Memorial Cup". Canadian Hockey League. 2013-05-26. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  8. ↑ "Player statistics by team – Canada". International Ice Hockey Federation. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  9. ↑ Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Thomas, Rob, eds. (2013). 2013–14 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 130.
  10. ↑ Vickers, Aaron (2014-03-07). "Wotherspoon latest Flames player to make NHL debut". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  11. ↑ Sportak, Randy (2014-03-09). "West toasted". Calgary Sun. p. S3.
  12. ↑ Sportak, Randy (2014-04-02). "Flames' Ramo makes return to Tampa". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 2014-04-02.

External links