Playing career
Sikura played for the Aurora Tigers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for three years before committing to play for Northeastern University in February 2014. [1] That June, Sikura was drafted 178th overall in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. [2]
Sikura played hockey for four years at Northeastern University. In the 2016–17 season Sikura was named to the Hockey East Second Team All-Star and named a Hobey Baker Award candidate. [3] In his last year with the Huskies, Sikura and the Huskies won the program's first Beanpot championship in 30 years, defeating Boston University by a score of 5–2. Sikura recorded a pair of assists during the championship game. [4] At the conclusion of the season, Sikura was again named a Hobey Baker candidate, and named to the First Team All-Star and Hockey East All-Tournament Team. [5] He was also named an AHCA East First-Team All-American along with teammates Adam Gaudette and Jeremy Davies. [6] He finished his career with Northeastern with 146 points, placing him 14th in the program's all-time scoring list. [7]
On March 25, 2018, Sikura signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. [8] He made his NHL debut on March 29, 2018, in a game against the Winnipeg Jets. [9] [10] He recorded his first two NHL points in his debut, with assists on Erik Gustafsson's goal and Alex DeBrincat's goal. [11] [12]
After attending the Blackhawks training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, Sikura was reassigned to the Blackhawks American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. [13] On December 12, Sikura was called up the NHL for the first time that season after recording 18 points in 26 games, leading the team in goals and points. [14] After playing in 11 games with the Blackhawks and collecting three points, Sikura was reassigned to the IceHogs. [15] On February 11, Sikura was again called up from Rockford and played his first game back the next day against the Boston Bruins. [16] After nearly two months in the NHL, Sikura was reassigned to the IceHogs on April 2 to help the team qualify for the 2019 Calder Cup playoffs. [17]
On June 28, 2019, the Blackhawks re-signed Sikura to a two-year contract extension. [18] After beginning the season with the IceHogs, Sikura was recalled to the NHL on December 8. Upon his recall, Sikura was leading the team with nine goals and 16 points in 22 games. [19] On January 5, 2020, Sikura recorded his first career NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings to clinch a 4–2 win. [20]
On September 28, 2020, Sikura was traded by the Blackhawks to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Brandon Pirri. [21]
On July 29, 2021, having left the Golden Knights organization, Sikura was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche. [22] After attending the 2021 Avalanche training camp, Sikura was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, to begin the 2021–22 season. In a first-line offensive role with the Eagles, Sikura established career highs to finish sixth in league scoring with 33 goals and 40 assists for 73 points in just 60 regular season games. He made 5 appearances through a recall to the Avalanche, registering 1 assist. In the playoffs with the Eagles, Sikura was limited by injury to 6 post-season games, collecting 4 points. Sikura remained a part of the Avalanche black aces squad through the remainder of the playoffs, as the club went on to claim the Stanley Cup.
As a free agent from the Avalanche at the conclusion of his contract, Sikura opted to return to his original club by re-joining the Chicago Blackhawks on a one-year, two-way contract on July 14, 2022. [23] In his return to the Blackhawks, Sikura rejoined former AHL club the Rockford IceHogs for the 2022–23 season, and collected 12 goals and 32 points through 52 games. On March 2, 2023, the Blackhawks traded Sikura to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for prospect Max Golod. [24]
After 6 professional seasons in North America, Sikura left the Ducks as a free agent and embarked on a career abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract with Swedish club, Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on September 7, 2023. [25] In his lone season with Skellefteå, Sikura quickly adapted to the European play-style and registered 10 goals and 26 points through 49 regular season games. He posted 9 points in 13 playoff games to help Skellefteå claim the Swedish Championship.
As a free agent, Sikura left Sweden and was signed to a one-year contract with Russian club, Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, on June 7, 2024. [26]
