Born	February 24, 1986 (1986-02-24) (age 23), Zabrze, Poland
Height Weight	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
NHL team	Colorado Avalanche
NHL Draft	21st overall, 2004 Colorado Avalanche
Pro career	2005 – present

Wojtek Wolski [pronounced Voy-tek Vol-skee] (born February 24, 1986 in Zabrze, Poland) is a Polish-born Canadian ice hockey left winger, currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL. He currently leads the league in all-time shootout goals percentage.^[1]

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Awards 3 Brampton Battalion franchise records 4 Career statistics 5 Personal 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Playing career

Wolski was drafted in the first round, 21st overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. It was originally believed that he would be the 10th-15th pick, but some teams passed on him because he was charged with assault causing bodily harm by Toronto police shortly before the draft. Wolski allegedly beat and hospitalized another young man his age after Wolski was asked to leave a birthday party. The case was dismissed when it was learned that Wolski was defending his girlfriend, who had been pushed off a porch.

Prior to being drafted, he attended St. Michael's College School and played for the Buzzers hockey team in 2001–02. Before making the Avalanche roster he recorded 14 franchise records as a member of the OHL's Brampton Battalion, and earned the award for Ontario Hockey League's Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2006. Wolski was the OHL Player of the Month an unprecedented four months in a row (December, January, February, March) he was also an Alternate captain for Ontario's Under-17 team at the 2003 Canada Winter Games. Wolski suited up for Team Canada in the 2004 Canada/Russia Series and was voted Player of the Game (Team Cherry) for 2004 CHL Top Prospects Game.

Wolski made his Avalanche debut in the 2006 playoffs and marked a sensational debut with 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists). In his first full professional season, Wolski played in the NHL YoungStars Game on January 23, 2007, a part of the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game festivities held in Dallas. He recorded 2 points (2 assists) for the Western Conference.^[2]

In the 2008-09 season, Wojtek makes his presence felt in the league with his ability to score in the shootout,Only to be beaten my Mike Smith,and Evgeni Nabokov At season's end, he would score 10 times out of 12 attempts, leading the league in all-time shootout goals percentage.^[1] His 14 goals and 28 assists would be good enough to finish third on the Avs with 42 points, behind Milan Hejduk and Ryan Smyth.

[edit] Awards

• 2002–03 OHL All-Rookie Team
• 2003–04 OHL First-Team All-Star
• 2003–04 OHL Top Draft Prospect Award
• 2005–06 OHL Second All-Star Team
• 2005–06 OHL Red Tilson Trophy
• 2005–06 OHL William Hanley Trophy
• 2005–06 CHL Canada Post Cup
• 2006–07 NHL YoungStars Game

[edit] Brampton Battalion franchise records

• Most career points: 328
• Most career goals: 130
• Most career assists: 198
• Most points in a season: 128
• Most assists in a season: 81
• Most career power play assists: 83
• Most career power play points: 141
• Most career short-handed goals: 9
• Most career game winning goals: 18
• Most points in a game: 7
• Most goals in a game: 4 (shared)
• Most career playoff games.

[edit] Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001–02	St. Michael's Buzzers	OPJHL		33	16	33	49	40		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Brampton Battalion	OHL		64	25	32	57	24		11	5	0	5	6
2003–04	Brampton Battalion	OHL		66	29	41	70	30		12	5	3	8	8
2004–05	Brampton Battalion	OHL		67	29	44	73	41		6	2	5	7	6
2005–06	Brampton Battalion	OHL		57	47	81	128	46		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		9	2	4	6	4		8	1	3	4	2
2006–07	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		76	22	28	50	14		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		77	18	30	48	14		7	2	3	5	2
2008–09	Colorado Avalanche	NHL		78	14	28	42	28		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				240	56	90	146	60		15	3	6	9	4

[edit] Personal

Wojtek Wolski left Poland with his parents and older brother in 1989. Two years later, by way of Germany, they finally landed in Toronto. Wojtek learned how to skate at a local outdoor skating rink in Etobicoke, using his brothers skates which were a few sizes too big. In order to make them fit he would wear three pairs of socks and stuff the front of the boot with newspapers. The first NHL game he attended as a young boy was the Colorado Avalanche versus the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. He followed the Avalanche as his favorite team ever since then, and grew to idolize future teammate Joe Sakic before coincidentally being drafted by Colorado himself.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wojtek Wolski's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

• New Brampton Battalion records (2006)
• Wojtek Wolski Minor Hockey Clip Mix

Preceded by Jonas Johansson

Colorado Avalanche first round draft pick 2004

Succeeded by Chris Stewart