Blake Geoffrion

Last updated

Blake Geoffrion
Geoffrion2011.jpg
Geoffrion with the Nashville Predators in 2011
Born (1988-02-03) February 3, 1988 (age 36)
Plantation, Florida, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 188 lb (85 kg; 13 st 6 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Nashville Predators
Montreal Canadiens
NHL draft 56th overall, 2006
Nashville Predators
Playing career 20102013

Blake Daniel Geoffrion (born February 3, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey player who last played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 56th overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut on February 26, 2011. In doing so, he became the first fourth-generation player in the league's history, after his father Dan, grandfather Bernie and great-grandfather Howie Morenz. He was traded to the Canadiens in 2012 and, while playing with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, suffered a depressed skull fracture that forced his retirement from the game in 2013. He then joined the Columbus Blue Jackets initially as a pro scout, before earning a promotion as the assistant general manager to AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters.

Contents

A graduate of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Geoffrion represented Team USA three times. He was a member of the gold medal winning team at the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championship and won bronze at the 2007 World Junior Hockey Championship. He moved on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he enjoyed a standout college career. He was a conference all-star in his senior year of 2009–10, was also named the consensus All-American and Player of the Year and won the Hobey Baker Award as the top college player in the United States.

Playing career

Early life and playing career

Geoffrion was born in Plantation, Florida, but grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee. [1] As a youth, he played in the 2002 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Cleveland. [2]

He first attended the Culver Military Academy where he helped his team win the Indiana state championship in 2003. [3] He was invited to join the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) where he spent two seasons between 2004 and 2006. He made his international debut with Team USA at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. He scored five points in six games in the tournament for the gold medal winning Americans. [4]

During the 2012-13 season, Geoffrion suffered a fractured skull which ultimately put an end to his professional hockey career.

College

Geoffrion playing for the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Blake Geoffrion (4471816001) (1).jpg
Geoffrion playing for the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
Geoffrion playing for the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey West Regional Final Blake Geoffrion (4471868667).jpg
Geoffrion playing for the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey West Regional Final

From the USNTDP, Geoffrion was recruited to play with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers.[ citation needed ]

Geoffrion joined the Badgers in 2006–07 where he led the team in penalties with 62 minutes. [3] He again played for Team USA, this time at the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he appeared in all seven of his team's games, registering one assist as the Americans won a bronze medal. [5] In his sophomore season, Geoffrion improved to 30 points overall and tied for the team lead with 19 points in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play. His teammates named him the most competitive player on the Badgers. [3] He returned to the World Junior Hockey Championships in 2008, scoring one point in six games while the Americans failed to win a medal. [6]

Named co-captain of the Badgers in his junior season of 2008–09, Geoffrion led his team in goals within the WCHA with 12 and tied for the lead overall at 15. His overall total of 28 points was fourth best on the team. [3] Serving as a tri-captain, he led the WCHA in goal scoring in 2009-10 with 19 and was second in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with 28. He reached the 50-goal plateau for his college career on March 13 and 100 points on February 19. [3] Considered one of the NCAA's most complete players, Geoffrion was his team's top faceoff performer and was praised for the way his play improved as his team's games grew in importance. [7]

He was named a first-team all-star in both the WCHA and the NCAA-West. [8] Additionally, Geoffrion was named US College Hockey Online's national player of the year. [9] Soon after the Badgers reached the 2010 NCAA championship game, Geoffrion was named the winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in American college hockey. [10] In doing so, he became the first Wisconsin player to win the award. [11] Geoffrion and the Badgers were unable to cap off their season with a championship, however, losing 5–0 to the Boston College Eagles before a world indoor record crowd of 37,592 at Ford Field in Detroit. [12]

Professional

Following his sophomore season with the Badgers, the Nashville Predators made Geoffrion their second round selection, 56th overall, at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He chose to complete his college career before turning to the professional game and signed an amateur try-out contract with the Predators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, to conclude the 2009–10. [13] He appeared in three playoff games with the Admirals and scored two goals. [8]

The Predators signed Geoffrion to a two-year entry-level contract on June 15, 2010. [14] [15] He was assigned back to Milwaukee to begin the 2010–11 AHL season where he struggled to begin the season before injuries and the promotion of other players to Nashville opened up more ice time for him. After scoring 16 points in his first 31 games of the season, Geoffrion improved to 17 points in seven games at the end of January and beginning of February. His scoring outburst made him the first player to earn consecutive AHL player of the week since Jim Carey in 1994. [16]

As a result of his improved play Geoffrion was recalled to Nashville on February 25, 2011. After Jared Ross, he became the second player raised in the American South to participate in an NHL game. [17] One night later, he made his National Hockey League debut against the Dallas Stars. [18] He scored his first NHL goal, in his third game, against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Martin Gerber on March 1. Geoffrion registered his first hat trick on March 20, 2011, against the Buffalo Sabres.[ citation needed ]

On February 17, 2012, Geoffrion was traded to the Montreal Canadiens with Robert Slaney and a 2012 second-round pick for defenseman Hal Gill and a conditional fifth-round draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. [19] To honor his grandfather and great-grandfather, Geoffrion chose to wear number 57 on his jersey (Bernie Geoffrion wore 5, Howie Morenz wore 7). [20]

Geoffrion began the 2012–13 season with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. During a November 9, 2012, game against the Syracuse Crunch, he suffered a depressed skull fracture following a hip check by Jean-Philippe Côté. [21] As Geoffrion fell to the ice, his head struck the end of Côté's skate blade, causing the injury. He required emergency surgery to repair the fracture and was initially expected to make a full recovery. [22] Four months after the injury, Geoffrion informed the Canadiens that he was contemplating retirement due to the injury, though he had not come to a final decision. [23] He eventually decided to retire from professional hockey on July 15, 2013, at the age of 25. [24] The following day he was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as a pro scout. [25]

After two seasons with the Blue Jackets as a scout, Geoffrion moved into management, being selected as the assistant general manager of Columbus' AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters on July 19, 2016. [26]

Family and personal life

Upon making his debut with the Predators, Geoffrion became the NHL's first fourth generation player. [27] His great-grandfather (paternal grandmother's father) was Hockey Hall of Famer Howie Morenz, [28] and the man named the best hockey player of the first half of the 20th century by the Canadian Press. [18] His paternal grandfather, Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, is also a Hall of Famer and the man who invented the slap shot (hence the nickname "Boom-Boom"). [29]

His father, Dan, played three NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and the original Winnipeg Jets. [18]

Geoffrion's uncle by marriage, Hartland Monahan, was also an NHL player, while Hartland's son, Shane, was a Major League Baseball player. [30]

Geoffrion was close to his grandfather and was the last person "Boom Boom" spoke to before his death in 2006. Geoffrion wore #5 while with the Predators in his honor, while his teammates have nicknamed him "Boomer", after his grandfather. [15] He has three brothers: Nick, Sebastien and Brice. [3]

He majored in consumer affairs at Wisconsin [3] and is associated with a marketing firm in Madison. He continues to learn about marketing and public relations, and writes a weekly blog for Nashville newspaper The Tennessean . [31]

Geoffrion got engaged to his girlfriend Katelyn Deady in June 2012. [32]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2003–04 Culver Military Academy HS Prep 4512284062
2004–05 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP1123524
2004–05U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 3771522621025723
2005–06U.S. NTDP U18USDP4112142638
2005–06U.S. NTDP U18NAHL13691530
2006–07 University of Wisconsin WCHA 3624662
2007–08 University of WisconsinWCHA3610203052
2008–09 University of WisconsinWCHA3515132873
2009–10 University of WisconsinWCHA4028225056
2009–10 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 32020
2010–11 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL451126373810222
2010–11 Nashville Predators NHL 206287120224
2011–12 Nashville PredatorsNHL2203317
2011–12 Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL202798
2011–12 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL948124
2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL1320210
2012–13 Hamilton BulldogsAHL104269
AHL totals842143645942242
NHL totals55851334120224

International

Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2007 Mora
IIHF U18 Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Halmstad
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2005 United States U17 5th52352
2006 United States WJC18 Gold medal icon.svg61458
2007 United States WJC Bronze medal icon.svg70116
2008 United StatesWJC4th60118
Junior totals24391224

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-WCHA First Team 2009–10
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2009–10
West First Team All-American2009–10
Hobey Baker Memorial Award 2009–10
Nominated for ESPY Award for Best Male College Athlete2010

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernie Geoffrion</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Joseph Bernard André Geoffrion, nicknamed "Boom Boom", was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Generally considered one of the innovators of the slapshot, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 following a 16-year career with the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. In 2017 Geoffrion was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howie Morenz</span> Canadian ice hockey player (1902–1937)

Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Beginning in 1923, he played centre for three National Hockey League (NHL) teams: the Montreal Canadiens, the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers. Before joining the NHL, Morenz excelled in the junior Ontario Hockey Association, where his team played for the Memorial Cup, the championship for junior ice hockey in Canada. In the NHL, he was one of the most dominant players in the league and set several league scoring records. A strong skater, Morenz was referred to as the "Stratford Streak" and "Mitchell Meteor" in reference to his speed on the ice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Coutu</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Wilfrid Arthur "Billy" Coutu, nicknamed "Wild Beaver", was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, the Hamilton Tigers, and the Boston Bruins. He is the only player ever to have been banned from the NHL for life, as a result of his attack on a referee in 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimmo Timonen</span> Finnish ice hockey player (born 1975)

Kimmo Samuel Timonen is a Finnish former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks. Timonen had played in over 1,100 NHL games before retiring. During his career, Timonen had also featured in three IIHF World Junior Championships, seven IIHF World Championships, two World Cups and five Olympic tournaments. He won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 in his final career game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hal Gill</span> American ice hockey player (born 1975)

Harold Priestley Gill III is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 NHL seasons with six different teams, winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrei Kostitsyn</span> Belarusian ice hockey player (born 1985)

Andrei Olegovich Kostitsyn is a former Belarusian professional ice hockey forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shea Weber</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1985)

Shea Michael Weber is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently under contract with the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally selected in the second round, 49th overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, he spent eleven seasons in Nashville until being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in June 2016. Weber is predominantly known for his powerful slapshot, winning the hardest shot event four times at the annual NHL All-Star Skills Competition. He is set to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Suter</span> American ice hockey player (born 1985)

Ryan Suter is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is an unrestricted free agent. He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars. Internationally, Suter has represented the U.S. national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rene Bourque</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1981)

Rene Gary Wayne Bourque is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). An undrafted player, Bourque was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2005–06. He spent three years in Chicago before a 2008 trade sent him to the Calgary Flames where he established himself as a key offensive player. He was traded to the Montreal Canadiens before stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Peverley</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1982)

John Richard Peverley is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He spent four years with the St. Lawrence University hockey team before turning professional, then playing three years for several teams in both the ECHL and American Hockey League (AHL). In 2007, he signed a contract with the Nashville Predators of the NHL, playing for the team for parts of three seasons before the Atlanta Thrashers claimed him off waivers in 2009. Peverley first played internationally for Team Canada at the 2010 World Championships. He retired after the 2013–14 season because of a heart ailment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan McDonagh</span> American ice hockey player (born 1989)

Ryan Patrick McDonagh is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted in the first round, 12th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, he played college hockey for the Badgers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also played for the New York Rangers, for whom he served as team captain from October 2014 until being traded to the Lightning in 2018. McDonagh won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021, before spending two seasons with the Nashville Predators.

Daniel Jean-Paul "Danny" Geoffrion is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 111 games in the National Hockey League and 78 in the World Hockey Association. He played with the original Winnipeg Jets, Montreal Canadiens, and Quebec Nordiques. As a youth, he played in the 1971 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Dorval, Quebec.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yannick Weber</span> Swiss ice hockey player (born 1988)

Yannick Cyril Weber is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with the ZSC Lions of the National League (NL). He was selected in the third round, 73rd overall, by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Weber has also previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, and Vancouver Canucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. K. Subban</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1989)

Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Between 2009 and 2022, he played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, and New Jersey Devils. The Canadiens selected Subban in the second round, 43rd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. In 2013, he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman, and tied with Kris Letang as the season's leading scorer among defencemen. In the summer of 2014, he signed an eight-year, $72 million contract with the Canadiens, running through the 2021–22 season. After the 2015–16 season, Subban was traded to the Nashville Predators, where he spent three seasons before being traded to New Jersey in 2019. He is now a broadcast analyst for the NHL on ESPN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gustav Nyquist</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1989)

Gustav Nyquist is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nyquist was drafted 121st overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, with whom he spent the first portion of his NHL career. He has also played for the San Jose Sharks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Smith (ice hockey)</span> American ice hockey player (born 1989)

Craig Smith is an American professional ice hockey player for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round, 98th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob de la Rose</span> Swedish ice hockey player (born 1995)

Jacob Waldemar de la Rose is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the National League (NL). He was selected in the second round, 34th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. de la Rose has also previously played for the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael McCarron</span> American ice hockey player (born 1995)

Michael McCarron is an American professional ice hockey player for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 25th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Kunin</span> American ice hockey player (born 1997)

Luke Kunin is an American professional ice hockey center for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators. The Wild selected him in the first round, 15th overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cole Caufield</span> American ice hockey player (born 2001)

Cole Caufield is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 15th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

References

  1. "Chat live with Wisconsin forward Blake Geoffrion". CSTV. January 22, 2008. Archived from the original on January 23, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  2. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Blake Geoffrion player profile". University of Wisconsin-Madison. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  4. "Player statistics by team: USA" (PDF). IIHF . August 25, 2006. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  5. "Player statistics by team – USA" (PDF). IIHF . January 5, 2007. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  6. "Player statistics by team – USA" (PDF). IIHF . January 5, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  7. "UW's Geoffrion named a Hobey Baker finalist". WKOW. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Blake Geoffrion profile". The Sports Network. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  9. "USCHO Awards: In Mr. Everything Role, Geoffrion is Nation's Best". US College Hockey Online. April 15, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  10. "Wisconsin's Blake Geoffrion wins Hobey Baker Award". The Sports Network. April 9, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  11. Lerch, Chris (April 9, 2010). "Geoffrion First Wisconsin Player to Win Hobey Baker Award". US College Hockey Online. Archived from the original on April 12, 2010. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  12. Gerstner, Joanne (April 10, 2010). "B.C. wins 4th N.C.A.A. title, crushing Wisconsin before record crowd". New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  13. Milwaukee Admirals (April 16, 2010). "Admirals sign Blake Geoffrion; Will join team for playoff run". Nashville Predators Hockey Club. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  14. "Preds Sign Brentwood Native Blake Geoffrion". Nashville Predators Hockey Club. June 15, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  15. 1 2 Van Diest, Derek (March 1, 2011). "Predators' Geoffrion excited by opportunity". Toronto Sun. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  16. Kramer, Lindsay (February 11, 2011). "Geoffrion starting to get a good read on AHL". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  17. Cooper, Josh (February 25, 2011). "Predators call up Brentwood's Blake Geoffrion". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  18. 1 2 3 Meltzer, Bill (February 26, 2011). "Predators' Geoffrion Carries on the Name". Versus. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  19. "Canadiens acquire Geoffrion from Predators in trade for Gill". TSN. February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  20. Montreal Canadiens (February 17, 2012). "All in the family". Canadiens.com. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  21. "VIDEO: Near-fatal skull fracture jeopardizes Blake Geoffrion's NHL dream". Hamilton Spectator. November 12, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  22. Branswell, Brenda (November 13, 2012). "Danny Geoffrion thankful for care his son, Blake, received after head injury". Montreal Gazette. p. A20. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  23. Glennon, John (March 13, 2013). "Blake Geoffrion pondering retirement, his father says". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  24. "Canadiens' Geoffrion Steps Away From Hockey At Age 25". TSN. July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  25. Gretz, Adam (July 16, 2013). "Blake Geoffrion hired as pro scout for Columbus Blue Jackets". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  26. "Jared Bednar extended, CBJ announced additional Monsters staff hirings". Lake Erie Monsters. July 19, 2016. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  27. "Preds Call Up Blake Geoffrion and Matt Halischuk From Milwaukee". Nashville Predators. February 25, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  28. "Howie Morenz: Hockey Royalty". February 24, 2021.
  29. Duplacey, James; Zweig, Eric (2010). Official Guide to the Players of the Hockey Hall of Fame . Firefly Books. p.  187. ISBN   978-1-55407-662-8.
  30. Matheson, Jim (March 1, 2011). "Predators' Geoffrion a fourth-generation NHL player". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  31. Mertz, Adam (February 17, 2011). "Ex-Badger Geoffrion continues to brew up 'storybook career'". The Capital Times. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  32. "Brice Geoffrion on Twitter: "Congrats to @BlakeGeoffrion and @katelyndeady on getting engaged! So happy for them. Love you guys! #welcometothefamily"". Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Winner of the Hobey Baker Award
2009–10
Succeeded by