Adam Berkhoel Explained

Adam Berkhoel
Birth Date:16 May 1981
Birth Place:Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:190
Position:Goaltender
Catches:Left
Played For:Atlanta Thrashers
Draft:240th overall
Draft Year:2000
Draft Team:Chicago Blackhawks
Career Start:2004
Career End:2010

Adam James Berkhoel (born May 16, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers. He was drafted 240th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Playing career

Prior to his professional career, Berkhoel attended Stillwater High School before he backstopped the University of Denver to the 2004 NCAA title, with a memorable 1–0 shutout of the University of Maine in the Championship game, including stopping a six-on-three skaters advantage for Maine in the final 90 seconds of the contest. The opposing goaltender in that game was Jimmy Howard. Howard and Berkhoel would later become teammates in Grand Rapids in 2007–08.

Berkhoel was originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2000 but was eventually traded to the Atlanta Thrashers for future considerations. He played his first set of NHL games once the Thrashers ran into goaltending troubles in the 2005–06 season where he went 2–4–1 in seven full games while posting a .882 SV% and a 3.80 GAA along with one shutout. The Thrashers opted not to re-sign him, and Berkhoel signed with the Buffalo Sabres during the offseason preceding the 2006–07 season.

On July 16, 2007, Berkhoel was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Red Wings to play for their affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.[1] On August 15, 2008, Berkhoel signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins' AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. After the conclusion of his deal with the Penguins, Berkhoel announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Career statistics

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPWLT/OTMINGASOGAASV%GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
1999–2000 USHL season1999–00Twin City VulcansUSHL4925157284812952.72.92313763.24
2000–01University of DenverWCHA157617453813.06.884
2001–02University of DenverWCHA18124110264012.34.917
2002–03University of DenverWCHA26126414365532.30.908
2003–04University of DenverWCHA392411422259172.45.918
2004–05Gwinnett GladiatorsECHL24910514585922.43.91374101.53.938
2004–05Chicago WolvesAHL101059404.04.875
2005–06Chicago WolvesAHL113605263203.65.882
2005–06Atlanta ThrashersNHL92414733003.30.882
2005–06Gwinnett GladiatorsECHL1510419024112.73.90996303.27.882
2006–07Dayton BombersECHL4323173258410552.44.91022121013865902.56.914
2006–07Rochester AmericansAHL62303161703.22.899
2007–08Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL311014416978312.93.888
2008–09Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL281511216356942.53.9106323401202.12.937
2009–10Wheeling NailersECHL281211315908303.13.888
2009–10Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL74304032012.98.892
NHL totals92414733003.80.882

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-WCHA Third Team2001–02, 2003–04
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team2004[2]
Tournament MVP2004
ECHL
First All-Star Team2006–07
Goaltender of the Year2006–07

Notes and References

  1. Web site: One-on-One with Adam Berkhoel . . 2007-12-08 . 2007-12-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220162438/http://www.griffinshockey.com/news-stats/griffiti/index.html?article_id=920 . 2016-12-20 . dead .
  2. News: NCAA Frozen Four Records. NCAA.org. 2013-06-19.