Dylan Sikura (born June 1, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently under with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round, 178th overall, in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Before turning professional, Sikura played college ice hockey with Northeastern University, where he was named to the AHCA East First-Team All-American and the Hockey East First All-Star team.
| Dylan Sikura | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Sikura in 2018 | |||
| Born |
June 1, 1995 Aurora, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 166 lb (75 kg; 11 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| KHL team Former teams |
Traktor Chelyabinsk Chicago Blackhawks Vegas Golden Knights Colorado Avalanche Skellefteå AIK | ||
| NHL draft |
178th overall, 2014 Chicago Blackhawks | ||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||
Playing career
editSikura played for the Aurora Tigers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League for three years before committing to play for Northeastern University in February 2014.[1] That June, Sikura was drafted 178th overall in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.[2]
Sikura played hockey for four years at Northeastern University. In the 2016–17 season Sikura was named to the Hockey East Second Team All-Star and named a Hobey Baker Award candidate.[3] In his last year with the Huskies, Sikura and the Huskies won the program's first Beanpot championship in 30 years, defeating Boston University by a score of 5–2. Sikura recorded a pair of assists during the championship game.[4] At the conclusion of the season, Sikura was again named a Hobey Baker candidate, and named to the First Team All-Star and Hockey East All-Tournament Team.[5] He was also named an AHCA East First-Team All-American along with teammates Adam Gaudette and Jeremy Davies.[6] He finished his career with Northeastern with 146 points, placing him 14th in the program's all-time scoring list.[7]
On March 25, 2018, Sikura signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.[8] He made his NHL debut on March 29, 2018, in a game against the Winnipeg Jets.[9][10] He recorded his first two NHL points in his debut, with assists on Erik Gustafsson's goal and Alex DeBrincat's goal.[11][12]
After attending the Blackhawks training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, Sikura was reassigned to the Blackhawks American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.[13] On December 12, Sikura was called up the NHL for the first time that season after recording 18 points in 26 games, leading the team in goals and points.[14] After playing in 11 games with the Blackhawks and collecting three points, Sikura was reassigned to the IceHogs.[15] On February 11, Sikura was again called up from Rockford and played his first game back the next day against the Boston Bruins.[16] After nearly two months in the NHL, Sikura was reassigned to the IceHogs on April 2 to help the team qualify for the 2019 Calder Cup playoffs.[17]
On June 28, 2019, the Blackhawks re-signed Sikura to a two-year contract extension.[18] After beginning the season with the IceHogs, Sikura was recalled to the NHL on December 8. Upon his recall, Sikura was leading the team with nine goals and 16 points in 22 games.[19] On January 5, 2020, Sikura recorded his first career NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings to clinch a 4–2 win.[20]
On September 28, 2020, Sikura was traded by the Blackhawks to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Brandon Pirri.[21]
On July 29, 2021, having left the Golden Knights organization, Sikura was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche.[22] After attending the 2021 Avalanche training camp, Sikura was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, to begin the 2021–22 season. In a first-line offensive role with the Eagles, Sikura established career highs to finish sixth in league scoring with 33 goals and 40 assists for 73 points in just 60 regular season games. He made 5 appearances through a recall to the Avalanche, registering 1 assist. In the playoffs with the Eagles, Sikura was limited by injury to 6 post-season games, collecting 4 points. Sikura remained a part of the Avalanche black aces squad through the remainder of the playoffs, as the club went on to claim the Stanley Cup.
As a free agent from the Avalanche at the conclusion of his contract, Sikura opted to return to his original club by re-joining the Chicago Blackhawks on a one-year, two-way contract on July 14, 2022.[23] In his return to the Blackhawks, Sikura rejoined former AHL club the Rockford IceHogs for the 2022–23 season, and collected 12 goals and 32 points through 52 games. On March 2, 2023, the Blackhawks traded Sikura to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for prospect Max Golod.[24]
After 6 professional seasons in North America, Sikura left the Ducks as a free agent and embarked on a career abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract with Swedish club, Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on September 7, 2023.[25] In his lone season with Skellefteå, Sikura quickly adapted to the European play-style and registered 10 goals and 26 points through 49 regular season games. He posted 9 points in 13 playoff games to help Skellefteå claim the Swedish Championship.
As a free agent, Sikura left Sweden and was signed to a one-year contract with Russian club, Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, on June 7, 2024.[26]
International play
editSikura represented Team Canada at the 2017 Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland.[27] He played in four games and recorded one point to help Canada win the tournament.[28]
Sikura was named to Team Canada's pre-Olympic roster for the 2018 Winter Olympics[29] but failed to make the final roster.[30]
Personal life
editSikura's brother Tyler is currently playing hockey in the AHL for the Cleveland Monsters.[31] Sikura is half Slovakian.[32] His grandfather escaped Czechoslovakia and arrived in Nova Scotia in the 1950s.[33] He ran a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm, Hill 'n' Dale Farms, which was later taken over by Sikura's uncle and father after his grandfather's death.[33][34]
Sikura is also half Japanese.[35]
Sikura got married in August of 2023 to a woman who had previously been linked to former mayor of Toronto Rob Ford.
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2011–12 | Aurora Tigers | OJHL | 44 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | Aurora Tigers | OJHL | 46 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Aurora Tigers | OJHL | 41 | 17 | 47 | 64 | 16 | 21 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 28 | ||
| 2014–15 | Northeastern University | HE | 25 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Northeastern University | HE | 39 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Northeastern University | HE | 38 | 21 | 36 | 57 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Northeastern University | HE | 38 | 22 | 32 | 54 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 46 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 33 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 45 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Henderson Silver Knights | AHL | 30 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Colorado Eagles | AHL | 60 | 33 | 40 | 73 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 52 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 17 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2023–24 | Skellefteå AIK | SHL | 49 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 10 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 58 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Canada | SC | 
|
4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Senior totals | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
Awards and honours
edit| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| Hockey East Second All-Star Team | 2017 | [3] |
| Hockey East First All-Star Team | 2018 | [5] |
| Hockey East All-Tournament Team | 2018 | |
| AHCA East First-Team All-American | 2018 | [6] |
| SHL | ||
| Le Mat Trophy | 2024 | [36] |
References
edit- ^ "SIKURA COMMITS TO NORTHEASTERN". ojhl.pointstreaksites.com. February 7, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Blackhawks select nine in 2014 NHL Draft". NHL.com. June 28, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ a b "Dylan Sikura - 2017-18 Men's Ice Hockey". gonu.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- ^ "Northeastern wins first Beanpot title in 30 years". nbcsports.com. February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ a b "Blackhawks agree to terms with Dylan Sikura". NHL.com. March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- ^ a b "Gaudette, Sikura, Davies give Northeastern three 2017-18 first-team All-Americans". uscho.com. April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
- ^ "Signing Sikura: Dylan Sikura's journey to the NHL". nuhuskies.com. Boston. March 20, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Blackhawks sign Dylan Sikura to entry-level deal". sportsnet.ca. March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- ^ Lazerus, Mark (March 29, 2018). "Dylan Sikura excited, nervous and curious to make his Blackhawks debut". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- ^ Roumeliotis, Charlie (March 29, 2018). "Jets at Blackhawks preview". NHL.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- ^ "Emergency goalie plays 14 minutes, makes 7 saves in Blackhawks win". Calgary Sun. March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- ^ "Chicago Blackhawks vs Winnipeg Jets gamecenter". NHL.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- ^ "RELEASE: Blackhawks announce roster moves". NHL.com. September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ Roumeliotis, Charlie (December 12, 2018). "Blackhawks call up top forward prospect Dylan Sikura amid roster moves". nbcsports.com. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- ^ "RELEASE: Blackhawks assign Martinsen, Sikura". NHL.com. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ @NHLBlackhawks (February 11, 2019). "ROSTER MOVE: Forward Dylan Sikura has been recalled from the @goicehogs. #Blackhawks" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Roumeliotis, Charlie (April 2, 2019). "Blackhawks reassign Dylan Sikura to help Rockford IceHogs in playoff push". nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ "RELEASE: Blackhawks agree to terms with Dylan Sikura, John Quenneville". Chicago Blackhawks. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ Greenfield, Jimmy (December 8, 2019). "Blackhawks call up Dylan Sikura from Rockford and send down Anton Wedin". msn.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
- ^ Baum, Carter (January 5, 2020). "RECAP: Blackhawks Top Red Wings, 4-2". nhl.com. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ^ "Golden Knights acquire forward Dylan Sikura". Vegas Golden Knights. September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ "Avalanche signs Matteau, Sikura". Colorado Avalanche. July 29, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
- ^ "Blackhawks sign Dylan Sikura to two-way contract". Chicago Blackhawks. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ "Ducks Acquire Right Wing Sikura in Trade with Chicago". NHL.com. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- ^ "Welcome, Dylan Sikura to SAIK" (in Swedish). Skellefteå AIK. September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ "Dylan Sikura in Traktor" (in Russian). Traktor Chelyabinsk. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ Cudmore, John (December 21, 2017). "McIntyre, Sikura named to Hockey Canada's Spengler Cup roster". yorkregion.com. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ "DYLAN SIKURA". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
- ^ Sadler, Emily (October 26, 2017). "Hockey Canada reveals roster ahead of pre-Olympic tournament". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ Skrbina, Paul (January 13, 2018). "Joel Quenneville on prospect Dylan Sikura: 'If he's good enough, there's a spot'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "TYLER SIKURA". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
- ^ Wheeler, Scott (September 18, 2017). "Blackhawks' Sikura brothers take different paths to childhood team". theathletic.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ a b Wykes, Tris (December 1, 2012). "Dartmouth's Sikura Has 'Got That Vision'". The Valley News. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Hockey East roundup: Four assists from Sikura spark Northeastern". uscho.com. October 16, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Draft Day: Dylan Sikura's Journey". nikkeivoice.ca. July 9, 2014.
- ^ "Skellefteå är Svenska Mästare 2023/24!" [Skellefteå are Swedish Champions 2023/24!] (in Swedish). shl.se. April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database