Wes O'Neill

Wes Samuel O'Neill (born March 3, 1986 in Windsor, Ontario) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman who previously played with the Colorado Avalanche organization of the National Hockey League.

Wes O'Neill
Born (1986-03-03) March 3, 1986
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Colorado Avalanche
NHL Draft 115th overall, 2004
New York Islanders
Playing career 2007–2013

Playing career

O'Neill was drafted 115th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders. Originally from the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL he was to play for Canada at the World U18 Championships in 2004. He then committed to play four years of collegiate hockey at Notre Dame culminating in a conference championship in 2007.

O'Neill signed as a free agent by the Colorado Avalanche on August 20, 2007.[1] He made his professional debut in the 2007–08 season with the Avalanche's affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. O'Neill spent the majority of the year with the Monsters before he was sent to the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL for their playoff run.

In the 2008–09 season, O'Neill received his first NHL recall on March 27, 2009.[2] He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche on the same day, in a 4-1 defeat to the Vancouver Canucks.[3] He was sent back down to the Lake Erie Monsters on April 4, 2009.[4]

O'Neill speaking with a referee following a penalty while with the K-Wings

Wes was assigned to Lake Erie and recorded a career-high 15 points in the 2009–10 season. Wes became the Monsters franchise leader in games played with 159 and appeared in a further two games for the Avalanche in a brief stint in January.

O'Neill was not retained by the Avalanche and was rendered a free agent at season's end. Unable to attract an NHL offer prior to the 2010–11 season, O'Neill accepted a try-out to the reigning AHL Champions, the Hershey Bears, training camp but failed to attain a contract.[5] With the season underway, Wes signed with Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL on a one-year contract on October 18, 2010.[6] As Captain of the K-Wings, O'Neill appeared in 13 games before he was signed on a professional try-out contract by AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, on November 19, 2010.[7][8]

After a second injury hit season with the Wings, O'Neill left as a free agent and signed a one-year contract with ECHL competitor the Toledo Walleye on September 4, 2012.[9] At the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, O'Neill opted to retire from hockey after 6 professional seasons.[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2000–01 Chatham Maroons GOHL 51691550 —————
2001–02 Chatham Maroons WOHL 519364540 —————
2002–03 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 502151779 —————
2003–04 Notre Dame CCHA 392101228 —————
2004–05 Notre Dame CCHA 386142052 —————
2005–06 Notre Dame CCHA 356192540 —————
2006–07 Notre Dame CCHA 423182140 —————
2007–08 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 5124650 —————
2007–08 Johnstown Chiefs ECHL 60112 60008
2008–09 Johnstown Chiefs ECHL 60110 —————
2008–09 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 5415634 —————
2008–09 Colorado Avalanche NHL 30004 —————
2009–10 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 541141541 —————
2009–10 Colorado Avalanche NHL 20002 —————
2010–11 Kalamazoo Wings ECHL 2321339 1905510
2010–11 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 3343721 —————
2011–12 Kalamazoo Wings ECHL 2902248 140338
2012–13 Toledo Walleye ECHL 6511213270 60006
2012–13 Providence Bruins AHL 21010 —————
2012–13 Houston Aeros AHL 50000 —————
AHL totals 19992635146 —————
NHL totals 50006 —————

International
Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
2004 Canada U18 71122
Junior totals 71122

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Canada WJC18 4th 7 1 1 2 2
Junior totals 7 1 1 2 2

Awards and honours
Award Year
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2007 [11]

References
  1. "Avalanche sign Wes O'Neill". Islesinfo.com. 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  2. "Avalanche recalls O'Neill". Colorado Avalanche. 2009-03-27. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  3. "Sedin brothers power Canucks past scuffling Avalanche". CBS Sports. 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  4. "Avs Recall MacKenzie, Return O'Neill". Yahoo! Sports. 2009-04-04. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  5. Leone, Tim (2010-10-05). "Hershey cuts". pennlive.com. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  6. "K-Wings add NHL experience to blueline". Kalamazoo Wings. 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  7. "K-Wings unveil 2010-11 Captains". Kalamazoo Wings. 2010-10-20. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  8. "Islanders recall Joensuu, Sound Tigers sign three to PTO's". Norwarkplus.com. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  9. "Toledo adds experience: Defenseman Wes O'Neill and David Walker join Walleye". Toledo Walleye. 2012-09-04. Archived from the original on 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  10. "Walleye will be strong on offense". Toledo Free Press. 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-10-11.
  11. "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
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