Tom Kühnhackl
Encyclopedia
Tom Kühnhackl is a German
ice hockey
right winger
who currently plays for the Niagara IceDogs
of the Ontario Hockey League
. He has also played professionally for the Augsburger Panther
of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the highest German hockey league. He was a top-ranked prospect for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
, ranked eighth among European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
and was selected 110th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
. Kühnhackl was selected by the Spitfires twenty-fourth overall in the 2009 CHL Import Draft and moved to North American for the 2010–11 season
.
program for three seasons beginning in 2007 alongside Tobias Rieder who currently is also playing in the OHL. He made his professional debut during the 2008–09 season, playing 42 games with Landshut's professional team in the 2nd Bundesliga
, the second-highest level in Germany. He debuted in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga during the 2009–10 season, playing four games with the Augsburger Panther
scoring 4 goals for a total of 12 points.
Kühnhackl was selected twenty-fourth overall in the 2009 CHL Import Draft by the Windsor Spitfires
of the Ontario Hockey League
. He intended to join the team for the 2009–10 OHL season
, but a series of injuries kept him in Germany. In May, 2010 he signed a contract with the Spitfires to join the team for the 2010–11 OHL season
.
Ranked as the eighth best European skater of the 2010 draft class by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
, Kühnhackl was selected 110th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
. Kühnhackl was happy to be drafted by Pittsburgh, as he listed the Penguins as his favorite team.
He has also represented Germany internationally, playing in the 2008 and 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge
, the 2009 and 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, and the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World U20 Championships.
On March 22, 2011 he signed a thee-year entry level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins worth $1.83 million.
Kühnhackl finished the 2010–11 season with 39 goals and 29 assists for 68 points in 63 games with Windsor. He played four games with the Spitfires to start the 2011–12 season, recording one goal and three assists, before he was traded, along with Windsor's second round choice in the 2013 CHL Import Draft, on November 2, 2011 to the Niagara IceDogs
in exchange for Phillip De Giuseppe, Jaroslav Pavelka, Niagara’s 2nd round picks in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and Niagara’s 1st round pick in the 2013 CHL Import Draft.
On November 4, 2011, Kühnhackl delivered an elbow to the head of Kitchener Rangers
defencemen Ryan Murphy
and was assessed a five-minute major for charging and game misconduct. In a website video, the Ontario Hockey League noted that Kühnhackl made contact with the opponent's head and hit a vulnerable, unsuspecting player. The OHL also considered the speed and distance travelled when making its decision and noted that Murphy was injured on the play. On November 8, OHL President David Branch announced Kühnhackl would be suspended for 20 games as a result of the hit.
, Bavaria
and first began to play hockey at the age of two. His father, Erich
, played in the top German leagues from 1968 until 1989 and appeared in five Winter Olympics for West Germany
. Tom is a life-long fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins
; the team that drafted him in 2010 NHL Entry Draft
.
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...
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...
right winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
who currently plays for the Niagara IceDogs
Niagara IceDogs
The Niagara IceDogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was originally known as the Mississauga IceDogs and founded in 1996. The team was relocated to St. Catharines and played its inaugural season in the Niagara...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. He has also played professionally for the Augsburger Panther
Augsburger Panther
The Augsburger Panther are a professional ice hockey team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The team is based in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany. They play their home games at the Curt Frenzel Stadion....
of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the highest German hockey league. He was a top-ranked prospect for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
, ranked eighth among European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
and was selected 110th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. Kühnhackl was selected by the Spitfires twenty-fourth overall in the 2009 CHL Import Draft and moved to North American for the 2010–11 season
2010–11 OHL season
The 2010–11 OHL season is the 31st season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 23, 2010 and ended on March 20, 2011....
.
Playing career
Kühnhackl played youth hockey for the Landshut CannibalsLandshut Cannibals
The Landshut Cannibals are a professional ice hockey team based in Landshut, Bavaria. Currently they are members of the 2nd Bundesliga. The team was founded in 1948 as Eislaufverein Landshut , but since 2002 the professional team is organised as “Landshut Cannibals”. The EVL is still responsible...
program for three seasons beginning in 2007 alongside Tobias Rieder who currently is also playing in the OHL. He made his professional debut during the 2008–09 season, playing 42 games with Landshut's professional team in the 2nd 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 :...
, the second-highest level in Germany. He debuted in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga during the 2009–10 season, playing four games with the Augsburger Panther
Augsburger Panther
The Augsburger Panther are a professional ice hockey team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The team is based in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany. They play their home games at the Curt Frenzel Stadion....
scoring 4 goals for a total of 12 points.
Kühnhackl was selected twenty-fourth overall in the 2009 CHL Import Draft by the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. He intended to join the team for the 2009–10 OHL season
2009–10 OHL season
The 2009–10 OHL season was the 30th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2009 and ended on March 14, 2010....
, but a series of injuries kept him in Germany. In May, 2010 he signed a contract with the Spitfires to join the team for the 2010–11 OHL season
2010–11 OHL season
The 2010–11 OHL season is the 31st season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 23, 2010 and ended on March 20, 2011....
.
Ranked as the eighth best European skater of the 2010 draft class by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
, Kühnhackl was selected 110th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
. Kühnhackl was happy to be drafted by Pittsburgh, as he listed the Penguins as his favorite team.
He has also represented Germany internationally, playing in the 2008 and 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, originally known as the Quebec Esso Cup, is an international ice hockey tournament held annually in Canada. The tournament does not operate during years in which the Canada Winter Games are held. As such, the World Under-17 Challenge is held three out of every...
, the 2009 and 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships, and the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World U20 Championships.
On March 22, 2011 he signed a thee-year entry level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins worth $1.83 million.
Kühnhackl finished the 2010–11 season with 39 goals and 29 assists for 68 points in 63 games with Windsor. He played four games with the Spitfires to start the 2011–12 season, recording one goal and three assists, before he was traded, along with Windsor's second round choice in the 2013 CHL Import Draft, on November 2, 2011 to the Niagara IceDogs
Niagara IceDogs
The Niagara IceDogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was originally known as the Mississauga IceDogs and founded in 1996. The team was relocated to St. Catharines and played its inaugural season in the Niagara...
in exchange for Phillip De Giuseppe, Jaroslav Pavelka, Niagara’s 2nd round picks in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and Niagara’s 1st round pick in the 2013 CHL Import Draft.
On November 4, 2011, Kühnhackl delivered an elbow to the head of Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener Rangers
The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that have called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada their home since 1963. The Rangers are a publicly owned hockey team, governed by a 40-person Board of Directors made up of season ticket subscribers. The Rangers hosted...
defencemen Ryan Murphy
Ryan Murphy (ice hockey b. 1993)
Ryan Murphy is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL. He was selected 12th overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes.- Playing career :...
and was assessed a five-minute major for charging and game misconduct. In a website video, the Ontario Hockey League noted that Kühnhackl made contact with the opponent's head and hit a vulnerable, unsuspecting player. The OHL also considered the speed and distance travelled when making its decision and noted that Murphy was injured on the play. On November 8, OHL President David Branch announced Kühnhackl would be suspended for 20 games as a result of the hit.
Personal life
Kühnhackl was born and raised in LandshutLandshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
and first began to play hockey at the age of two. His father, Erich
Erich Kühnhackl
Erich Kühnhackl is a retired German ice hockey player born and raised in Czechoslovakia...
, played in the top German leagues from 1968 until 1989 and appeared in five Winter Olympics for West Germany
Germany 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...
. Tom is a life-long fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
; the team that drafted him in 2010 NHL Entry Draft
2010 NHL Entry Draft
The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of 11 American-trained players were selected in...
.
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 | ||
| 2008–09 | Landshut Cannibals Landshut Cannibals The Landshut Cannibals are a professional ice hockey team based in Landshut, Bavaria. Currently they are members of the 2nd Bundesliga. The team was founded in 1948 as Eislaufverein Landshut , but since 2002 the professional team is organised as “Landshut Cannibals”. The EVL is still responsible... |
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 :... |
42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2009–10 | Landshut Cannibals | 2.GBun | 38 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 Deutsche Eishockey Liga season -Regular season:GP = Games Played, W = Wins, OTW = Overtime win, SOW = Shootout win, OTL = Overtime loss, SOL = Shootout loss, L = LossColor code: = Direct Playoff qualification, = Playoff qualification round, = No playoffSource:... |
Augsburger Panther Augsburger Panther The Augsburger Panther are a professional ice hockey team in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The team is based in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany. They play their home games at the Curt Frenzel Stadion.... |
DEL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 OHL season The 2010–11 OHL season is the 31st season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 23, 2010 and ended on March 20, 2011.... |
Windsor Spitfires Windsor Spitfires The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
63 | 39 | 29 | 68 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| DEL totals | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| OHL totals | 63 | 39 | 29 | 68 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge The 2008 World U-17 Hockey Challenge was an ice hockey tournament held in London, Lucan, St. Thomas, Stratford, Strathroy, and Woodstock, Ontario, Canada between December 29, 2007 and January 4, 2008... |
Germany Germany men's national junior ice hockey team The German men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Germany. The team represents Germany at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World U20 Championship's IIHF World U20 Championship.... |
WHC17 IIHF World U18 Championships The IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World... |
5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2009 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge The 2009 World U-17 Hockey Challenge was an international ice hockey tournament held in Campbell River, Courtenay, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada between December 29, 2008 and January 4, 2009... |
Germany | WHC17 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2009 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships - Group B :-Relegation round:-Results:Note: The following matches from the preliminary round carry forward to the relegation round:*April 10, 2009: 5-2 *April 14, 2009: 8–3 -Final round:-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Fifth place game:... |
Germany | U18 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2010 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships The 2010 IIHF World U18 Championships was the 12th edition of the IIHF World U18 Championship. The tournament was held in Minsk and Babruysk, Belarus between April 13 and April 23, 2010. Tournament games were played at the Minsk Sports Palace in Minsk and the Babruysk Arena in Babruysk... |
Germany | U18 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 21 | 13 | 7 | 20 | 10 | |||