Wes Walz

Last updated
Wes Walz
Born (1970-05-17) May 17, 1970 (age 54)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Right
Played for Boston Bruins
Philadelphia Flyers
Calgary Flames
Detroit Red Wings
EV Zug
HC Lugano
Minnesota Wild
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 57th overall, 1989
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1990–2007
Coaching career 2008–2017

Wes Walz (born May 15, 1970) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre and coach. During his career, he was captain of the Minnesota Wild. He also played for the Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames, and Detroit Red Wings. Walz had 260 points (109 goals, 151 assists), 343 penalty minutes, and earned 40 career multi-point games.

Contents

Playing career

Walz was drafted 57th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1989 NHL entry draft. At the time, he was playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL), a team for which he played two seasons, playing 119 games and scoring 83 goals and 161 assists for 244 points. For the next seven seasons, Walz played in the secondary American Hockey League (AHL). He averaged over one point per game in the AHL and was named MVP of the 1996 AHL All-Star Game. Walz scored his first NHL goal on February 20, 1990, in Boston's 5-3 win at Calgary. He scored a career-high 38 points in 53 games for the Calgary Flames in 1993–94, but in 1996, he left North America to play in Switzerland's National League A (NLA). [1]

After four seasons in Switzerland, Walz returned to the NHL, signing a contract with expansion franchise Minnesota Wild. During training camp for the Wild, Wild Head Coach Jacques Lemaire dubbed Walz his designated checker, placing him on the checking line. This was a turning point in Walz's career. In his first season back, Walz played all 82 regular season games, scoring 18 goals, 7 of which were shorthanded. When the Wild made the playoffs in 2003, Walz played a significant role in helping the team get to the Western Conference Finals, scoring 7 goals and 6 assists in 18 games.[ citation needed ]

On December 1, 2007, the Wild held a press conference during which Walz announced his retirement. [2] Walz retired as the franchise's leader in all-time games played at that time.

Coaching career

In June 2008, Walz signed a three-year contract to become an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning, under Head Coach Barry Melrose. [3] Though Melrose was fired only 16 games into his tenure with the Lightning, [4] Walz was retained as a member of the coaching staff under new Head Coach Rick Tocchet. During his tenure in Tampa Bay, Tocchet asked Walz to personally tutor first overall draft pick Steven Stamkos. [5] In an interview, Stamkos told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "It was pretty special that he took the time to work with me and make me a better player, and I'm thankful for it." [6] [7]

In February 2010, Lightning general manager Brian Lawton informed Walz he was being replaced by Jim Johnson, then Head Coach of the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. In turn, Lawton offered Walz the opportunity to take Johnson's place as Head Coach of the Admirals. When Walz declined due to family reasons, Lawton dismissed him from the organization. [8] Later, it was revealed Lawton made the change without consulting Tocchet. [9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1987–88 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 11120—————
1988–89 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL6329751043281566
1989–90 Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL565486140691913243733
1989–90 Boston Bruins NHL 21120—————
1990–91 Maine Mariners AHL 208122019200021
1990–91 Boston Bruins NHL5688163220000
1991–92 Maine Mariners AHL2113112438—————
1991–92 Hershey Bears AHL411328413761230
1991–92 Boston Bruins NHL1503312—————
1991–92 Philadelphia Flyers NHL21010—————
1992–93 Hershey Bears AHL78354580106—————
1993–94 Calgary Flames NHL531127381663032
1993–94 Saint John Flames AHL15661214—————
1994–95 Calgary Flames NHL39612181110000
1995–96 Adirondack Red Wings AHL3820355558—————
1995–96 Detroit Red Wings NHL20000—————
1996–97 EV Zug NLA 4124224667—————
1997–98 EV Zug NLA3818345232—————
1998–99 EV Zug NLA4222274975—————
1999–00 HC Lugano NLA137111814—————
1999–00 Long Beach Ice Dogs IHL 64378—————
2000–01 Minnesota Wild NHL8218123037—————
2001–02 Minnesota WildNHL6410203043—————
2002–03 Minnesota WildNHL801319326318761314
2003–04 Minnesota WildNHL5712132532—————
2005–06 Minnesota WildNHL8219183761—————
2006–07 Minnesota WildNHL62915243050114
2007–08 Minnesota WildNHL111346—————
NHL totals607109151260343321071720

Personal life

Since 2023, Walz has worked as a sports analyst on Fox Sports North for the Minnesota Wild. He and his wife Kerry-Anne [10] have five children: Kelvin, [11] Jaedyn, [11] Brehna, [11] Cheyne, [12] and Wrexyn. [12]

Walz volunteered as Head Coach with the Raptors of East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minnesota. There he coached his son, Kelvin, on the boys Varsity ice hockey team, and a few years later he coached his daughter, Jaedyn, on the girls Varsity hockey team. In 2017, after 3 years of coaching Walz resigns from East Ridge citing he wanted to spend more time with his family at home. [13]

Awards

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References

  1. ↑ "Wes Walz - Stats, Contract, Salary & More". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  2. ↑ Former Wild captain Walz retires
  3. ↑ Walz joins Tampa as Melrose's assistant
  4. ↑ Barry Melrose fired by Tampa Bay after 16 games
  5. ↑ Walz eager to coach again
  6. ↑ Stamkos talks Walzie
  7. ↑ "Wes Walz Minnesota Wild Hockey School". Minnesota Wild. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  8. ↑ Lightning fire Walz, add Jim Johnson to coaching staff
  9. ↑ Tampa Bay Lightning coach Rick Tocchet said he wasn't consulted about staff change
  10. ↑ Calling all Men, by Dave Hrbacek; published March 1, 2011; retrieved December 20, 2018
  11. 1 2 3 Former Wild star Wes Walz resigns as East Ridge hockey coach, by Blaze Fugina, in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press ; published April 6, 2017; retrieved December 20, 2018
  12. 1 2 Gilson, Chantelle Marie "Channy", at DignityMemorial; published November 29, 2017; retrieved December 20, 2018
  13. ↑ Service, Blaze Fugina | Forum News (2017-04-06). "Former Wild star Wes Walz resigns as East Ridge hockey coach". Twin Cities. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
Preceded by Minnesota Wild captain
December 2000
March/April 2006 		Succeeded by
Brad Bombardir
Brian Rolston
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