Craig Weller

Last updated
Craig Weller
Craig Weller.JPG
Born (1981-03-17) March 17, 1981 (age 43)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Phoenix Coyotes
Minnesota Wild
Florida Panthers
Cardiff Devils
Villacher SV
ERC Ingolstadt
NHL draft 167th overall, 2000
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2002–2013

Craig Weller (born March 17, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and right winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted 167th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Weller played for the Phoenix Coyotes, Minnesota Wild, and Florida Panthers during his career.

Contents

Playing career

Weller was born in Calgary, Alberta. As a youth, he played in the 1995 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Calgary Junior Flames minor ice hockey team. [1]

Weller was the St. Louis Blues 5th round choice, 167th overall, in the 2000 NHL Draft. After playing with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL and the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League, he was signed as a free agent by the Phoenix Coyotes on July 19, 2007. [2]

He scored his first career NHL goal on October 25, 2007, against the Anaheim Ducks; the goal turned out to be the game-winning goal. [3]

On July 1, 2008, Weller signed a two-year, $1.2 million contract with the Minnesota Wild. On October 18, 2009, he was traded to the Boston Bruins along with prospect Alexander Fallstrom and a second round draft pick in 2011 in exchange for Chuck Kobasew. [4]

On March 3, 2010, Weller was traded from the Bruins to the Florida Panthers along with Byron Bitz and a second round draft pick in exchange for Dennis Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski. [5]

On 1 November 2010, the Cardiff Devils of the EIHL in the UK announced they had signed Weller, who was a free agent at the time. He became the most experienced NHL player after Theoren Fleury to play in the Elite League, playing in his preferred position as a defenceman.[ citation needed ]

With Weller on board, the Devils embarked on 22-game unbeaten streak, breaking the league and world records. However, the Devils narrowly missed out on the league title, finishing level on points with the Sheffield Steelers but having won 1 regulation game less, before being beaten in the Playoff final 5–4 to the Nottingham Panthers. After his first season in the UK Weller quickly established himself as a reliable, solid two way defenceman, drawing admiration from across the league, culminating in 3 awards - League Player of the Season (Journalist's Choice), Player of the Season (Voted by League GM's and Coaches) and Defenceman of the Season (Voted by League GM's and Coaches).[ citation needed ]

Weller left the Devils to join Villacher SV of the Austrian Hockey League for a single season before venturing to Germany to accept a try-out with ERC Ingolstadt for the 2012–13 season. In establishing a position within Panther's lineup, Weller was signed for the remainder of the campaign on September 5, 2012. [6]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1997–98Calgary Flames AAA AMHL 33210126530112
1998–99 Calgary Canucks AJHL 4941418801301110
1999–2000Calgary CanucksAJHL533141710040004
2000–01 University of Minnesota Duluth WCHA 60110—————
2000–01 Kootenay Ice WHL 30156401102226
2001–02 Kootenay IceWHL695131812722371027
2002–03 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 11000820000
2002–03 Charlotte Checkers ECHL 483111484—————
2003–04 Hartford Wolf PackAHL685914861622430
2004–05 Hartford Wolf PackAHL761091918260116
2005–06 Hartford Wolf PackAHL801221331521323544
2006–07 Hartford Wolf PackAHL56116179640004
2007–08 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 59381180—————
2008–09 Minnesota Wild NHL3612347—————
2009–10 Houston Aeros AHL50117—————
2009–10 Providence Bruins AHL554101462—————
2009–10 Chicago Wolves AHL140332140004
2010–11 Cardiff Devils EIHL 411636525242026
2011–12 EC VSV AUT 455611107—————
2012–13 ERC Ingolstadt DEL 3401136401127
2013–14 Bentley Generals ChHL 8257052136
AHL totals365426010261445461088
NHL totals9541014127—————

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
West Second All-Star Team 2002
EIHL
Defenseman of the season 2011
Player of the season2011
League Player of the season2011

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References

  1. ↑ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  2. ↑ "COYTOES SIGN CRAIG WELLER". NHL.com. July 19, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Auld blanks Ducks as Coyotes' end Anaheim losing streak". ESPN . October 26, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2019.[ dead link ]
  4. ↑ "B's sign Fallstrom to entry-level contract". Boston Bruins. 2013-03-17. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  5. ↑ "Bruins trade Bitz, Weller for Seidenberg". ESPN. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  6. ↑ "Weller remains a Panther" (in German). ERC Ingolstadt. 2012-09-05. Archived from the original on 2012-12-09. Retrieved 2012-09-05.
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