Born	October 4, 1989 (1989-10-04) (age 20), Calgary, AB, CAN
Height Weight	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NHL team (P) Cur. team	Carolina Hurricanes Albany River Rats (AHL)
Ntl. team	Canada
NHL Draft	14th overall, 2008 Carolina Hurricanes
Pro career	2008 – present

Zachary Boychuk (born October 4, 1989 in Calgary, Alberta) is a professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, 14th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He began his playing career as a Canadian junior ice hockey centre for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

[edit] Playing career

Boychuk began his major junior career in 2005–06 with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the WHL. After recording 51 points in 64 games in his rookie season, he improved to 31 goals and 91 points in 69 games the next season, third overall in the WHL.

In Boychuk's draft year, he finished with 33 goals and 72 points, good for WHL East Second All-Star honours.^[1] Leading the Hurricanes to the 2008 WHL Finals – he had 21 points in 18 playoff games – Lethbridge was, however, swept by eventual Memorial Cup winners, the Spokane Chiefs. Heading into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Boychuk was ranked eighth by the Central Scouting Service among North American skaters.^[2] He was chosen fourteenth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes.

After attending the Hurricanes' prospect camp in July, he went into surgery for his left wrist, which he had injured during the 2008 WHL playoffs.^[3] He was cleared to play during the 2008–09 NHL preseason and on October 4, 2008, the Hurricanes signed him to a three-year, entry level contract.^[4]

He made his NHL debut in Los Angeles against the Kings on October 17, 2008 becoming the first Hurricanes player since Eric Staal in 2003 to make his NHL debut in his draft year. He was returned to Lethbridge after appearing in two NHL games.^[5] Upon being sent down, Boychuk completed his fourth season of WHL hockey by registering 57 points (28g, 29a) in 43 regular-season games and leading the team with 13 points (7g, 6a) in 11 playoff contests.

He shared the Harry Ingarfield Memorial Award as Lethbridge’s team MVP and won the team’s plus/minus award.

He was an assistant captain for Team Canada in the 2009 U-20 World Junior Championship in Ottawa, his second WJC, and helped Canada win the gold medal for the second straight year.

He was reassigned by Carolina from Lethbridge (WHL) to the Albany River Rats on 4/10/09. At the beginning of the 2009–10 he attended the Carolina Hurricanes training camp. He made his AHL debut with Albany and recorded one assist for his first career professional point at WBS on April 10, 2009.

[edit] International play

Medal record
Competitor for Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold	2008 Czech Republic
Gold	2009 Canada

Prior to Boychuk's draft year in 2007–08, he competed in the 2007 Super Series, an under-20 eight-game series between Russia and Team Canada. The series marked the 35th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union. Boychuk contributed 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 games as Canada dominated and eventually won the series 7-0-1.

Boychuk would also compete for Team Canada in the 2008 World Junior Championships and 2009 World Junior Championships, helping Canada to a fourth and fifth straight gold medal in the Czech Republic and Canada.

[edit] Awards

• Won a World Junior gold medal with Team Canada in 2008 and 2009.
• Named to the WHL East Second All-Star Team in 2008.

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] See also

• List of WHL seasons

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Zach Boychuk's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

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