Spencer Machacek

Last updated
Spencer Machacek
2024-12-06 Grizzlys Wolfsburg gegen EHC Red Bull Munchen (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2024-25) by Sandro Halank-076.jpg
Born (1988-10-14) October 14, 1988 (age 36)
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 182 lb (83 kg; 13 st 0 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
DEL team
Former teams
Grizzlys Wolfsburg
Atlanta Thrashers
Winnipeg Jets
Augsburger Panther
Eisbären Berlin
Düsseldorfer EG
NHL draft 67th overall, 2007
Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career 2008present

Spencer Machacek (born October 14, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently under contract to Grizzlys Wolfsburg of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Contents

Playing career

Junior

Machacek began his major junior career in 2005–06 with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He recorded 45 points in each of his first two seasons, playing an integral part in the Giants' 2006 President's Cup and 2007 Memorial Cup championships.

Machacek with the Vancouver Giants in 2007 Spencer Machacek 2.jpg
Machacek with the Vancouver Giants in 2007

Ranked 54th among North American skaters by the Central Scouting Service at the mid-season mark of his draft year, [1] Machacek was selected by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 3rd round, 67th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Machacek returned to the WHL and was named team captain of the Giants (replacing the departed Brett Festerling) at the start of the 2007–08 season. [2] Former teammate Milan Lucic had originally been chosen as Fersterling's successor, but made the Boston Bruins roster out of training camp. [3] As team captain, he recorded career highs with 33 goals and 78 points in 70 games and was named Player of the Month for February after going on a 27-point tear in 14 games. [4]

Professional

At the end of the first round of the 2008 WHL playoffs, he signed his first NHL contract with the Thrashers on March 28, 2008. [5] Reporting to the Thrashers' training camp for the 2008–09 season, he was assigned to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL) on September 27. [6] Late in the season, he was called up by the Thrashers and made his NHL debut on March 16, 2009, in a 5–1 win against the Washington Capitals recording 7 minutes and 21 seconds of playing time. Machacek played two games total for the Thrashers in his professional rookie season while recording 48 points in 77 games in the AHL.

During the inaugural 2011–12 season for the Winnipeg Jets, Machacek scored his first NHL goal on March 23, 2012, against Washington's Michal Neuvirth. He finished the season with the Jets posting a promising 9 points in 13 games.

In the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, whilst with affiliate the St. John's IceCaps, he was traded by the Jets to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Tomas Kubalik on March 10, 2013. [7]

In his first full season with Blue Jackets affiliate, the Springfield Falcons in the 2013–14 season, Machacek was again traded on February 6, 2014, to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Paul Thompson. [8]

On October 8, 2014, after an unsuccessful try-out with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Machacek opted to sign his first contract abroad with German club, Augsburger Panther of the DEL. [9]

After one season with Augsburg, Machacek opted to remain in the DEL for the 2015–16 season in signing with Eisbären Berlin on May 7. 2015. [10] After two seasons in Berlin, Machacek left as a free agent to sign a one-year deal with his third DEL club, Düsseldorfer EG, on May 7, 2017. [11] In the 2017–18 season, Machacek set new career DEL high of 13 goals for 28 points in 52 games with DEG.

On April 9, 2018, Machacek joined his fourth DEL club in five seasons by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Grizzlys Wolfsburg. [12]

Career statistics

Machacek with Grizzlys Wolfsburg (2022) 2022-03-18 Eisbaren Berlin gegen Grizzlys Wolfsburg (Deutsche Eishockey-Liga 2021-22) by Sandro Halank-120.jpg
Machacek with Grizzlys Wolfsburg (2022)
Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2004–05 Brooks Bandits AJHL 5916203641
2005–06 Vancouver Giants WHL 70232245531868148
2006–07 Vancouver GiantsWHL6321244532229112014
2007–08 Vancouver GiantsWHL7033457869105276
2008–09 Chicago Wolves AHL 7723254823
2008–09 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 20000
2009–10 Chicago WolvesAHL79202949681374118
2010–11 Chicago WolvesAHL6721325345
2010–11 Atlanta ThrashersNHL100000
2011–12 St. John's IceCaps AHL61183250481107712
2011–12 Winnipeg Jets NHL132797
2012–13 St. John's IceCapsAHL5711142545
2012–13 Springfield Falcons AHL1859141360110
2013–14 Springfield FalconsAHL349101924
2013–14 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL2210414151314518
2014–15 Augsburger Panther DEL 4382735100
2015–16 Eisbären Berlin DEL52821293870114
2016–17 Eisbären BerlinDEL51610164061236
2017–18 Düsseldorfer EG DEL5213152842
2018–19 Grizzlys Wolfsburg DEL4918133126
2019–20 Grizzlys WolfsburgDEL5215173226
2020–21 Grizzlys WolfsburgDEL361411251094042
2021–22 Grizzlys WolfsburgDEL541821396381129
2022–23 Grizzlys WolfsburgDEL5527285521146288
2023–24 Grizzlys WolfsburgDEL522316394040006
NHL totals252797
DEL totals496150178328406481261835

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
Player of the Week (November 5–11) 2007 [13]
Player of the Month (February) 2008 [4]
Chicago Wolves
Dan Snyder Man of the Year Award 2011

References

  1. "Central Scouting Services Midterm Rankings - January 2007" (PDF). National Hockey League. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
  2. "Giants give 'C' to Machacek". The Province . Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  3. "Close friends Lucic, Machacek ready for life on opposite teams". The Province . 2009-09-23. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  4. 1 2 "Giants star is Mr. February in WHL". The Province . Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  5. Custance, Craig (2008). "Thrashers sign forward Machacek". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  6. "Thrashers cut 7". Atlanta Thrashers. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
  7. "Blue Jackets acquire Spencer Machacek from Jets in exchange for Tomas Kubalik". Columbus Blue Jackets. 2013-03-10. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  8. "Penguins trade Thompson to Blue Jackets for Machacek". The Sports Network. 2014-02-06. Retrieved 2014-02-06.
  9. "Panther pick Machacek" (in German). Augsburger Panther. 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  10. "Eisbaeren Berlin pilot Dupont and Machacek in the capital" (in German). EishockeyNews.de. 2015-05-07. Retrieved 2015-05-27.
  11. "DEG strengthen offense with Spencer Machacek" (in German). Düsseldorfer EG. 2017-05-07. Archived from the original on 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
  12. "Grizzlys sign Spencer Machacek". Grizzlys Wolfsburg. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  13. "Giants captain gets WHL Player of the Week". The Province . Archived from the original on 2011-05-21. Retrieved 2008-09-19.