Alexander Sulzer
Encyclopedia
Alexander Sulzer is a German
professional ice hockey
defenceman currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
, West Germany
, Sulzer went through the youth system
of the local ESV Kaufbeuren
(ESVK). He first received ice time with the men's team in the third-tier Oberliga
in 2000–01 as a sixteen-year-old. Two years later, in 2002–03, he split time between ESVK's team in the second-tier 2. Bundesliga
and the Hamburg Freezers
of the premiere Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) under Förderlizenz. In the subsequent off-season, Sulzer was selected by the Nashville Predators
in the third round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
, 92nd overall.
Following his draft, Sulzer remained in the higher-profile DEL, transferring to the DEG Metro Stars
. He spent four seasons with the Metro Stars, recording a DEL career-high 18 points (3 goals and 15 assists) over 48 games in 2005–06. He also helped the etam reach the playoff finals that year, recording 9 points over 13 post-season games.
On June 1, 2007, he signed a two-year contract with the Predators. Moving to North America, to begin playing within the Predators organization, he was assigned to the team's American Hockey League
(AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
, for the 2007–08 season
. He recorded 32 points over 61 games as a rookie in the AHL. The following season, he improved to 34 points over 48 games with Milwaukee, while also earning his first NHL call-up, appearing in two games for the Predators. Sulzer became a more regular addition to the Predators' lineup in 2009–10
, dressing for 20 NHL games, while also recording 30 points over 36 games in between call-ups.
Sulzer scored his first NHL goal on January 23, 2011 against Devan Dubnyk
of the Edmonton Oilers
. The following month, on February 25, he was traded to the Florida Panthers
in exchange for a conditional draft pick. Splitting the season between the Predators and Panthers, he recorded 5 points over 40 games.
During the off-season, Sulzer became an unrestricted free agent. On July 1, 2011, he signed as with the Vancouver Canucks
. He made the team out of training camp, but was a healthy scratch for the first three weeks of the season before dressing for his first game as a Canuck on October 26, 2011.
in the 2005
and 2006 World Championships
, and at the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
, as well as the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
Playing career
Born in KaufbeurenKaufbeuren
Kaufbeuren is an independent city in the Regierungsbezirk of Schwaben, southern Bavaria. The city is completely enclaved within the district of Ostallgäu.- Culture and Objects of Interest :* Townhall * Crescentiakloster...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, Sulzer went through the youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
of the local ESV Kaufbeuren
ESV Kaufbeuren
ESV Kaufbeuren is an ice hockey team in Kaufbeuren, Germany. They play in the Oberliga, the third level of ice hockey in Germany.The club was founded in 1946. In 2007, they were relegated to the Oberliga....
(ESVK). He first received ice time with the men's team in the third-tier Oberliga
Oberliga (Ice Hockey)
The Oberliga is currently the third tier of ice hockey in Germany. In the 2007-08 season, the Oberliga is split in a northern and a southern group.-1948-58:...
in 2000–01 as a sixteen-year-old. Two years later, in 2002–03, he split time between ESVK's team in the second-tier 2. Bundesliga
2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey)
The 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga is the second tier of Ice hockey in Germany. It is organised by the DEB, the German Ice Hockey Federation. In the 2007-08 season, it features 14 teams.- History of the 2nd Ice Hockey Bundesliga :...
and the Hamburg Freezers
Hamburg Freezers
The Hamburg Freezers are a member of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga that play their games in Hamburg, Germany. Originally known as the Munich Barons from 1999 until 2002, team owner Philip Anschutz relocated the franchise to Hamburg for financial reasons on 3 June 2002, and renamed the team the...
of the premiere Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) under Förderlizenz. In the subsequent off-season, Sulzer was selected by the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the third round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft
2003 NHL Entry Draft
The 2003 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee on June 21, 2003.Marc-Andre Fleury was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins, only the third goalie in NHL history selected as the first overall draft choice...
, 92nd overall.
Following his draft, Sulzer remained in the higher-profile DEL, transferring to the DEG Metro Stars
DEG Metro Stars
The DEG Metro Stars is a German professional ice hockey team in Düsseldorf. It was Germany's most successful hockey club for a long time and had many international players...
. He spent four seasons with the Metro Stars, recording a DEL career-high 18 points (3 goals and 15 assists) over 48 games in 2005–06. He also helped the etam reach the playoff finals that year, recording 9 points over 13 post-season games.
On June 1, 2007, he signed a two-year contract with the Predators. Moving to North America, to begin playing within the Predators organization, he was assigned to the team's American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
, for the 2007–08 season
2007–08 AHL season
The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:...
. He recorded 32 points over 61 games as a rookie in the AHL. The following season, he improved to 34 points over 48 games with Milwaukee, while also earning his first NHL call-up, appearing in two games for the Predators. Sulzer became a more regular addition to the Predators' lineup in 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, dressing for 20 NHL games, while also recording 30 points over 36 games in between call-ups.
Sulzer scored his first NHL goal on January 23, 2011 against Devan Dubnyk
Devan Dubnyk
Devan Dubnyk is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Oilers in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft....
of the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. The following month, on February 25, he was traded to the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
in exchange for a conditional draft pick. Splitting the season between the Predators and Panthers, he recorded 5 points over 40 games.
During the off-season, Sulzer became an unrestricted free agent. On July 1, 2011, he signed as with the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. He made the team out of training camp, but was a healthy scratch for the first three weeks of the season before dressing for his first game as a Canuck on October 26, 2011.
International play
Sulzer has played for the German national teamGermany men's national ice hockey team
The German men's national ice hockey team first participated in serious international competition at the 1911 European Hockey Championship. When Germany was split after World War II, a separate East German national ice hockey team existed until 1990...
in the 2005
2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2005 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held March 7 - May 15, 2005, in 7 cities in 6 countries: Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria ; Debrecen, Hungary ; Eindhoven, the Netherlands ; Zagreb, Croatia ; Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro ; Mexico City, Mexico...
and 2006 World Championships
2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships was the 70th such event hosted by the International Ice Hockey Federation. Teams representing 45 countries participated in four levels of competition. The competition also served as qualifications for the 2007 competition...
, and at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics
-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, as well as the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000–01 | ESV Kaufbeuren | 3.GBun Oberliga (Ice Hockey) The Oberliga is currently the third tier of ice hockey in Germany. In the 2007-08 season, the Oberliga is split in a northern and a southern group.-1948-58:... |
35 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 18 | |||||||
| 2001–02 | ESV Kaufbeuren | 3.GBun | 18 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | ESV Kaufbeuren | 2.GBun 2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey) The 2nd Eishockey-Bundesliga is the second tier of Ice hockey in Germany. It is organised by the DEB, the German Ice Hockey Federation. In the 2007-08 season, it features 14 teams.- History of the 2nd Ice Hockey Bundesliga :... |
26 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 38 | ||
| 2002–03 | Hamburg Freezers Hamburg Freezers The Hamburg Freezers are a member of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga that play their games in Hamburg, Germany. Originally known as the Munich Barons from 1999 until 2002, team owner Philip Anschutz relocated the franchise to Hamburg for financial reasons on 3 June 2002, and renamed the team the... |
DEL | 18 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
| 2003–04 | DEG Metro Stars DEG Metro Stars The DEG Metro Stars is a German professional ice hockey team in Düsseldorf. It was Germany's most successful hockey club for a long time and had many international players... |
DEL | 46 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 56 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2004–05 | DEG Metro Stars | DEL | 42 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | DEG Metro Stars | DEL | 48 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 82 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 22 | ||
| 2006–07 | DEG Metro Stars | DEL | 44 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 82 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 20 | ||
| 2007–08 | Milwaukee Admirals Milwaukee Admirals The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
61 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 48 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Nashville Predators Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Milwaukee Admirals | AHL | 36 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 20 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Nashville Predators | NHL | 31 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Florida Panthers Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the... |
NHL | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| DEL totals | 198 | 16 | 34 | 50 | 306 | 31 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 62 | ||||
| NHL totals | 62 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||