John Kurtz (born May 16, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He last played for the Belfast Giants in the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL).

John Kurtz
Kurtz with the Norfolk Admirals in 2014
Born (1989-05-16) May 16, 1989 (age 35)
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Norfolk Admirals
Utica Comets
Toronto Marlies
Syracuse Crunch
Belfast Giants
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2010–2018

Playing career

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Prior to turning professional, Kurtz played four seasons of major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League with the Windsor Spitfires and Sudbury Wolves. For his play during the 2009–10 OHL season, Kurtz was unanimously selected to receive the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy as the “OHL team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, with a passion and dedication to the game of hockey and his community”.[1]

Immediately following the conclusion of his final OHL season, Kurtz began his professional career with the Syracuse Crunch, joining the AHL team for their closing games of the 2009–10 AHL season.[2][3] Kurtz was later signed to a one-year entry-level contract with NHL affiliate, the Anaheim Ducks on April 10, 2013.[4]

After two seasons within the Ducks organization, Kurtz left as a free agent and later accepted an invitation to the Vancouver Canucks training camp on a professional try-out contract on September 11, 2015.[5] On February 23, 2016, Kurtz signed a professional tryout contract with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, where he played out the season with 4 points in 14 games.

Un-signed over the following summer, Kurtz belatedly signed a contract for the 2016–17 season, in agreeing to a return with the Norfolk Admirals, now of the ECHL on November 10, 2016.[6] He appeared in 26 games with 14 points before he was signed to a professional try-out deal in a second stint with the Syracuse Crunch. On March 18, 2017, Kurtz was signed by the Crunch to a standard playing contract for the remainder of the campaign.[7]

On 30 August 2017, Kurtz agreed to move to the Belfast Giants on a one-year deal.[8]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Burlington Cougars OPJHL 42 7 11 18 34
2006–07 Windsor Spitfires OHL 58 8 7 15 31
2007–08 Sudbury Wolves AHL 63 12 16 28 41
2008–09 Sudbury Wolves AHL 68 21 33 54 44 6 1 1 2 2
2009–10 Sudbury Wolves OHL 62 30 16 46 59 4 0 1 1 2
2009–10 Syracuse Crunch AHL 6 1 0 1 7
2010–11 Syracuse Crunch AHL 49 4 2 6 102
2010–11 Elmira Jackals ECHL 8 1 2 3 0
2011–12 Syracuse Crunch AHL 12 1 0 1 40
2011–12 Elmira Jackals ECHL 19 3 5 8 30
2012–13 Norfolk Admirals AHL 59 3 5 8 103
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 73 5 7 12 112 9 1 0 1 9
2014–15 Norfolk Admirals AHL 72 4 5 9 188
2015–16 Utica Comets AHL 25 2 0 2 38
2015–16 Toronto Marlies AHL 14 1 3 4 0
2016–17 Norfolk Admirals ECHL 26 4 10 14 25
2016–17 Syracuse Crunch AHL 17 5 1 6 31
2017–18 Belfast Giants EIHL 49 12 14 26 33 2 0 1 1 0
AHL totals 327 26 23 49 621 9 1 0 1 9

Awards and honours

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Award Year
OHL
Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy 2009–10 [9]

References

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  1. ^ "Wolves' John Kurtz is Recipient of the Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy". Ontario Hockey League. March 4, 2010. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  2. ^ "Kurtz Moves On". Canada.com. April 1, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  3. ^ "Week Twenty Eight: Crunchables". OurSportsCentral.com. April 1, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
  4. ^ "Ducks sign Kurtz to entry-level contract". Anaheim Ducks. April 10, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  5. ^ "Vancouver Canucks training camp roster" (PDF). Vancouver Canucks. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  6. ^ "Admirals welcom Kurtz return". Twitter. November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  7. ^ "Syracuse Crunch sign Kevin Lynch, John Kurtz to contracts". Syracuse Crunch. March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  8. ^ "Keefe Adds Kurtz to Giants 2017/18 Lineup". August 30, 2017.
  9. ^ "Wolves' John Kurtz Wins Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy". Ontario Hockey League. April 1, 2010. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2010.
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