Bill Muckalt
Encyclopedia
Bill Muckalt is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player. Muckalt played in the National Hockey League
for the Vancouver Canucks
, New York Islanders
, Ottawa Senators
and Minnesota Wild
from 1998 until 2003.
(BCJHL) with the Merritt Centennials
and briefly with the Kelowna Spartans
before joining the college ranks with the University of Michigan
of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
(CCHA) in 1994. Muckalt played four years for the Wolverines and was named to the CCHA and NCAA
West First All-Star Teams in his senior year in 1998. The school won two NCAA titles
while Muckalt was a sophomore in 1996 and a senior in 1998. The 1996 championship team also featured future NHLers Brendan Morrison
, Jason Botterill
and goalie Marty Turco
.
Muckalt was selected in the ninth round (221st overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
by his hometown Vancouver Canucks
. After a full four-year career in the college ranks, he was ready to make a bid for a full-time roster spot in the NHL with the Canucks in 1998–99. He played his first NHL game with the Canucks on October 12, 1998, against the Los Angeles Kings
, notching his first NHL point, as well – an assist. Eight days later, Muckalt scored his first NHL goal on October 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes
. He played in 73 games during his rookie season, scoring 16 goals and 36 points, becoming a rising star in Vancouver.
Despite this early success in Vancouver, Muckalt was traded to the New York Islanders
along with Dave Scatchard
and goalie Kevin Weekes
in exchange for goalie Felix Potvin
and draft picks midway through the 1999–2000 season on December 19, 1999. Shortly after debuting with the Islanders, however, he was sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning
on January 13, 2000. After a full season with the Islanders in 2000–01, he was involved in a blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators
on June 23, 2001. On NHL draft day
, Muckalt was dealt to Ottawa along with up-and-coming defenceman Zdeno Chara
and the Islanders' first round pick in 2001 (which Ottawa would use to select Jason Spezza
), in exchange for star centre Alexei Yashin
.
Muckalt spent only one season with Ottawa, registering no goals and eight assists in 70 games, before signing as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild
on July 3, 2002. After failing to score a single goal during the previous season, Muckalt came roaring out of the gate in 2002–03, registering five goals and eight points in his first five games with Minnesota before dislocating his right shoulder
in a game against the Calgary Flames
on October 22, 2002. The injury was severe enough to end Muckalt's season and keep him sidelined for the majority of the next as well.
He would not play another regular season NHL game, though he did attempt a comeback with the American Hockey League
(AHL)'s Houston Aeros
, registering three assists in nine games in 2003–04
. In 2006, Muckalt signed as a free agent in Russia
with Vityaz Chekhov
, though he would ultimately never play with the team.
in 2006–07, moving up to head coach the following year. In 2009–10, Muckalt served as head coach of the Valencia Flyers
of the Western States Hockey League
, guiding the team to a 23–21–5 record and a fifth place finish in the WSHL Western Division. On March 28, 2010, he was named head coach of the New Mexico Mustangs
, a North American Hockey League
(NAHL) expansion team. Muckalt led the development of the franchise's coaching, recruiting and scouting systems. With 21 rookies on the roster, the Mustangs went 19-35-4 in their first year, winning 15 of their last 27 games. In the off-season, he accepted a position as an assistant coach with Michigan Tech
of the NCAA Division I Western Collegiate Hockey Association
.
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...
player. Muckalt played in 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...
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,...
, New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
from 1998 until 2003.
Playing career
Muckalt played Junior A in the British Columbia Junior Hockey LeagueBritish Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...
(BCJHL) with the Merritt Centennials
Merritt Centennials
The Merritt Centennials are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Merritt, British Columbia. They are members of the Interior Division of the British Columbia Hockey League . The franchise was established in Kamloops in 1961 and moved to White Rock in 1973 when the WCHL's Vancouver Nats moved to...
and briefly with the Kelowna Spartans
Kelowna Spartans
The Kelowna Spartans were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League.-History:...
before joining the college ranks with the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
(CCHA) in 1994. Muckalt played four years for the Wolverines and was named to the CCHA and NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
West First All-Star Teams in his senior year in 1998. The school won two NCAA titles
NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship tournament determines the top men's ice hockey team in NCAA Division I and Division III. The semi-finals and finals of the Division I Championship are branded as the Frozen Four, a passing nod to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship - known...
while Muckalt was a sophomore in 1996 and a senior in 1998. The 1996 championship team also featured future NHLers Brendan Morrison
Brendan Morrison
Brendan Morrison is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League...
, Jason Botterill
Jason Botterill
-International:-External links:...
and goalie Marty Turco
Marty Turco
Marty Turco is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He has played professionally with the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks. Because of his puckhandling prowess, Canadian hockey personality Don Cherry named Turco: "the smartest goalie in the...
.
Muckalt was selected in the ninth round (221st overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft
1994 NHL Entry Draft
The 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
by his hometown 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,...
. After a full four-year career in the college ranks, he was ready to make a bid for a full-time roster spot in the NHL with the Canucks in 1998–99. He played his first NHL game with the Canucks on October 12, 1998, against the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, notching his first NHL point, as well – an assist. Eight days later, Muckalt scored his first NHL goal on October 20 against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
. He played in 73 games during his rookie season, scoring 16 goals and 36 points, becoming a rising star in Vancouver.
Despite this early success in Vancouver, Muckalt was traded to the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
along with Dave Scatchard
Dave Scatchard
Dave Scatchard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues...
and goalie Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes
Kevin Weekes is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who most recently played for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League . He is now a color commentator on Hockey Night in Canada, and a studio analyst for NHL on the Fly.- Player :Weekes' career began with the Owen...
in exchange for goalie Felix Potvin
Felix Potvin
Félix "The Cat" Potvin is a former National Hockey League goaltender.-QMJHL career:From 1988 through to 1991 Potvin played with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team...
and draft picks midway through the 1999–2000 season on December 19, 1999. Shortly after debuting with the Islanders, however, he was sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
on January 13, 2000. After a full season with the Islanders in 2000–01, he was involved in a blockbuster trade with the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on June 23, 2001. On NHL draft day
2001 NHL Entry Draft
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 23–24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:...
, Muckalt was dealt to Ottawa along with up-and-coming defenceman Zdeno Chara
Zdeno Chára
Zdeno Chára is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenseman. He is the captain of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and won the Norris Trophy while playing for them in 2008–09. At 6 ft 9 , he is the tallest player ever to play in the NHL...
and the Islanders' first round pick in 2001 (which Ottawa would use to select Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza
Jason Anthony Rocco Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
), in exchange for star centre Alexei Yashin
Alexei Yashin
Alexei Valeryevich Yashin is a Russian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a member of CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League...
.
Muckalt spent only one season with Ottawa, registering no goals and eight assists in 70 games, before signing as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
on July 3, 2002. After failing to score a single goal during the previous season, Muckalt came roaring out of the gate in 2002–03, registering five goals and eight points in his first five games with Minnesota before dislocating his right shoulder
Dislocated shoulder
A dislocated shoulder occurs when the humerus separates from the scapula at the glenohumeral joint. The shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any joint in the body and as a result is particularly susceptible to dislocation and subluxation. Approximately half of major joint...
in a game against the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
on October 22, 2002. The injury was severe enough to end Muckalt's season and keep him sidelined for the majority of the next as well.
He would not play another regular season NHL game, though he did attempt a comeback with the 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)'s Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
, registering three assists in nine games in 2003–04
2003–04 AHL season
The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer....
. In 2006, Muckalt signed as a free agent in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
with Vityaz Chekhov
Vityaz Chekhov
Hockey Club Vityaz is a professional ice hockey team based in Chekhov, Moscow, Russia. They are members of the Tarasov Division of the Kontinental Hockey League and are currently coached by former National Hockey League enforcer Andrei Nazarov...
, though he would ultimately never play with the team.
Coaching
Muckalt began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Eastern Michigan EaglesEastern Michigan Eagles
The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Eastern Michigan Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University. Altogether, they have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA Division I national championships in five different sports The Eastern Michigan...
in 2006–07, moving up to head coach the following year. In 2009–10, Muckalt served as head coach of the Valencia Flyers
Valencia Flyers
The Valencia Flyers are a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team based in Valencia, California. The team plays in the Western Division of the Western States Hockey League at the Ice Station Valencia...
of the Western States Hockey League
Western States Hockey League
The Western States Hockey League is a Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Junior 'A' ice hockey league that has teams located in the Southwest and Western United States.-History:...
, guiding the team to a 23–21–5 record and a fifth place finish in the WSHL Western Division. On March 28, 2010, he was named head coach of the New Mexico Mustangs
New Mexico Mustangs
The New Mexico Mustangs are a Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based out of Rio Rancho, New Mexico set to begin play for 2010-11. A member of the North American Hockey League and play in the South Division, the Mustangs will play their home games in the Santa Ana Star Center...
, a North American Hockey League
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
(NAHL) expansion team. Muckalt led the development of the franchise's coaching, recruiting and scouting systems. With 21 rookies on the roster, the Mustangs went 19-35-4 in their first year, winning 15 of their last 27 games. In the off-season, he accepted a position as an assistant coach with Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey
The Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Michigan Technological University. The Huskies are a member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association...
of the NCAA Division I Western Collegiate Hockey Association
Western Collegiate Hockey Association
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference....
.
Awards
- Named to the NCAA West First All-American Team in 1998.
- Named to the CCHACentral Collegiate Hockey AssociationThe Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
First All-Star Team in 1998.
Career statistics
| 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 | ||
| 1992–93 | Merritt Centennials Merritt Centennials The Merritt Centennials are a Junior "A" ice hockey team based in Merritt, British Columbia. They are members of the Interior Division of the British Columbia Hockey League . The franchise was established in Kamloops in 1961 and moved to White Rock in 1973 when the WCHL's Vancouver Nats moved to... |
BCJHL | 59 | 31 | 43 | 74 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Merritt Centennials | BCJHL | 57 | 70 | 61 | 131 | 119 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | University of Michigan Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey The Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Earning varsity status in 1922, the program is competing in its 90th season... |
NCAA | 39 | 19 | 18 | 37 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | University of Michigan | NCAA | 41 | 28 | 30 | 58 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | University of Michigan | NCAA | 36 | 26 | 38 | 64 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | University of Michigan | NCAA | 46 | 32 | 35 | 67 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | 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,... |
NHL 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... |
73 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 33 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | New York Islanders New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 12 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | New York Islanders | NHL | 60 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 70 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
NHL | 8 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
Houston Aeros Houston Aeros The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- 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... |
9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 256 | 40 | 57 | 97 | 204 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| NCAA totals | 162 | 114 | 121 | 225 | 239 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||