Undrafted by a Western Hockey League (WHL) team,[1] Pierro-Zabotel began his junior hockey career with the Merritt Centennials of the Junior A British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in 2004–05. He produced at a near point-per-game pace in his second season with the Centennials before dominating the league in 2006–07, his draft year, with 51 goals, 65 assists and 116 points in 55 games. Going into the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Pierro-Zabotel was ranked 75th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting,[2] up from 87th in their mid-term rankings.[3] He was ultimately drafted in the third round, 80th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Beginning the 2008–09 season on the top line with Evander Kane, Pierro-Zabotel was named WHL Player of the Week on October 5 after recording seven points in two games.[8] Just 44 games into the season, he set a Giants single-season record with his 54th assist as part of a five-point game on January 17, 2009, in a 9–3 win against the Red Deer Rebels. The team mark was previously set by Darren Lynch, who recorded 53 assists in 70 games in 2002–03.[9] A little over a week later, on January 25, Pierro-Zabotel tied the Giants' franchise mark for single-season points set by Gilbert Brulé in 2004–05 with his 87th point of the season.[7] He broke the record the next game against the Medicine Hat Tigers, on January 28, with an assist in a 4–3 win.[10] His record-setting January was capped off with a WHL Player of the Month recognition after tallying 28 points in 15 games.[11] Pierro-Zabotel completed his second WHL season with a league-high 115 points (36 goals and 79 assists) to become the first Giants recipient of the Bob Clarke Trophy. He was also named co-team MVP with captainJonathon Blum[12] and was unanimously selected to the WHL West First All-Star Team.[13] After eliminating the Spokane Chiefs in the second round of the playoffs, Pierro-Zabotel was named the Western Conference's nominee for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as top WHL player. The award was given to Eastern Conference finalist Brett Sonne of the Calgary Hitmen.[1][14] In game two of the semifinals, he scored the game winningovertime goal to defeat the Kelowna Rockets 4–3 and tie the series 1–1.[15] However, the Giants were eliminated in six games. Pierro-Zabotel completed the playoffs with 17 points in 17 games.
A week after Pierro-Zabotel's final WHL season ended, the Penguins signed him to a three-year, entry level contract on May 4, 2009. He was subsequently assigned to the American Hockey League (AHL) to join the Pittsburgh's minor league affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, for their 2009 playoff run. [16] However, he did not appear in any games.
Pierro-Zabotel began the season on the Penguins' ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers, but was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 21, 2010. At the time of his reassignment, he was second in team scoring with 33 points in 38 games.[17]
In February 2011, it was announced that he was loaned to the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, who are not affiliated with the Penguins.[18][19] Prior to the start of the 2011–12 season, the Wheeling Nailers traded Pierro-Zabotel to the Bakersfield Condors for future considerations.[20]
After the 2011–12 season, his entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization expired. Pierro-Zabotel was not re-signed by the Condors and became a free agent on July 1, 2012. On September 27, he signed with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.[21][22]
On July 5, 2013, Pierro-Zabotel signed his first European contract, agreeing to a one-year contract with German second tier club, Lausitzer Füchse of the DEL2.[23] He eventually returned to the Gwinnett Gladiators, where he had spent the majority of his 2012-13 season.
On July 16, 2014, Pierro-Zabotel re-signed with the Gwinnett Gladiators[24] but was traded at the deadline to the Florida Everblades on March 12, 2015.[25] On August 6, 2015, he continued his career in the ECHL, signing a one-year contract with reigning champions, the Allen Americans.[26] In the 2015–16 season, Pierro-Zabotel quickly transitioned to become an integral contributor to the Americans offence, posting 15 goals and 47 points in 58 regular season games. With 16 playoff points, Pierro-Zabotel helped Allen retain the ECHL championship.
As a free agent in the off-season, Pierro-Zabotel opted to join his seventh ECHL club in agreeing to a one-year deal with the Colorado Eagles on August 11, 2016.[27] In his lone season with the Eagles, Pierro-Zabotel claimed his second consecutive Kelly Cup, posting 15 points in 24 playoff appearances.
After a second stint with the Allen Americans, Pierro-Zabotel continued his tenure in the ECHL, agreeing to terms with the Adirondack Thunder on September 3, 2019.[28]
Following his second season in the BCHL, Pierro-Zabotel competed for Canada West at the inaugural 2006 World Junior A Challenge in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Playing Canada East in the final, Pierro-Zabotel scored the game-winning goal on the powerplay to win the gold medal by a 4–3 score.[29][30] He finished with nine points in four games, second in tournament scoring behind teammate and tournament MVP Kyle Turris.[31]
The next year, Pierro-Zabotel was named team captain for Canada West[32] for the 2007 World Junior A Challenge in Trail, British Columbia. He led his team past Belarus in a 7–4 quarter-final win with a natural hat trick in the third period, scored in just 4 minutes,[32] en route to a second straight gold medal win against Canada East in the final. He finished with seven points in five games, tied for second in team scoring behind tournament MVP Mike Connolly.[33]
James Heward is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman, who currently serves as an associate coach for the Henderson Silver Knights.
Gilbert Jean Marco Brulé is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre.
Colby Joseph Armstrong is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. He was selected in the first round, 21st overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Armstrong also previously played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens. He currently serves as an analyst for NHL on Sportsnet.
The Merritt Centennials are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Merritt, British Columbia. They were members of the Interior Division of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Starting in the 2024–25 season, as an expansion team, the Centennials will be joining the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), and will become members of the Bill Ohlhausen Division. The franchise was established in Kamloops in 1961 and moved to White Rock in 1973 when the WCHL's Vancouver Nats moved to Kamloops and became the Chiefs. The Centennials settled in Merritt midway through the 1973–74 season. They play their home games at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.
Jonathon Gregory Blum is an American professional ice hockey defenseman, currently playing with EHC Red Bull München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Kenndal McArdle is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played with the Florida Panthers and the Winnipeg Jets in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Wacey Rabbit is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the American Hockey League (AHL) and current assistant coach of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Jason Jaffray is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and the Winnipeg Jets before finishing his career with EHC München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Jon Awe is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Colton Fretter is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward.
Adam Courchaine is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He last played with the Coventry Blaze in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).
Garet Hunt is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently under contract with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL.
Evander Frank Kane is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and San Jose Sharks. Kane was selected fourth overall by the Thrashers in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Brett Sonne is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He is a former prospect of the St. Louis Blues organization, having been selected by the Blues in the third round, 85th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He is the 2009 recipient of the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL player of the year. Sonne was a member of the gold medal winning Canadian team at the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
Brandon Scott Kozun is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing with ERC Ingolstadt in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was drafted in the sixth round, 179th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. He scored his first NHL career goal on February 20, 2015, against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Craig Alvin Cunningham is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played with the Boston Bruins and Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Boston Bruins, 97th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, before being called up to the Bruins in December 2013.
Mitch Wahl is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played with Schwenninger Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was selected in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames.
Tomislav "Tom" Zanoški is a Croatian professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing for KHL Medveščak.
Derek Nesbitt is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the current head coach of the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL.
James Henry is a Canadian former ice hockey left winger. He previously served as head coach of the Reading Royals (ECHL) and as the captain for the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL.
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