Austin Block Explained

Team:Free agent
Former Teams:HIFK
Karlskrona HK
HC ’05 Banská Bystrica
Bakersfield Condors
Orlando Solar Bears
Cincinnati Cyclones
Worcester Railers
Manchester Monarchs
Position:Center
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:185
Shoots:Right
Birth Date:10 October 1989
Birth Place:Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2013

Austin Block (born October 10, 1989) is an American professional ice hockey center and forward.[1] He is currently an unrestricted free agent, having last played for the Manchester Monarchs in the ECHL.

Early and personal life

Block was born in Denver, Colorado, but grew up in Thousand Oaks, California, and is Jewish.[2] [3] [4] His parents are Randy Block (who played football at Northern Arizona) and Shellie Jernigan.[5]

Playing career

Block played with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League for two seasons, where he had 100 points (42 goals, 58 assists) in 110 games, as he led the league in points (76) in 2008–09, as he was named the league’s top forward as NAHL Forward of the Year. He was also named to the NAHL All-West Division Team and NAHL First All-Star Team.[6]

He then played for the University of New Hampshire Wildcats men's hockey program. He played four seasons at UNH, playing 136 games and putting up 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points.

On July 22, 2013, HIFK of the Finnish Liiga announced they had signed Block after a two-week tryout in June 2013.[7] Block made his Liiga debut playing with HIFK during the 2013–14 Liiga season.[8] On September 20, 2013 Block was loaned from HIFK to Mestis club, HCK until he moved to Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan club Karlskrona HK.

In the following 2014–15 season, Block moved to the Slovak Extraliga with HC ’05 Banská Bystrica, appearing in 21 games for 15 points before returning to North American to play in the ECHL with the Bakersfield Condors.[9]

On July 31, 2015, Block signed a one-year contract to remain in the ECHL with the Manchester Monarchs.[10]

On February 12, 2016, the Orlando Solar Bears, ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, announced they had acquired Block from the Monarchs in exchange for future considerations.[11] He spent parts of two seasons with the Solar Bears.

Block was traded to the Cincinnati Cyclones on October 2, 2017, just prior to the 2017–18 season.[12] He made just two appearances with the Cyclones before suffering a season-ending injury.

As a free agent, Block continued his ECHL career by agreeing to contract with the Worcester Railers for the 2018–19 season on October 7, 2018.[13] He contributed with 7 assists through 25 games with the Railers, before he was traded to former club the Manchester Monarchs on December 30, 2018.

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2007–08Fairbanks Ice DogsNAHL5210142438914518
2008–09Fairbanks Ice DogsNAHL5832447696674112
2009–10University of New HampshireHE2512312
2010–11University of New HampshireHE3645918
2011–12University of New HampshireHE365101520
2012–13University of New HampshireHE391582344
2013–14HIFKLiiga210338
2013–14HCKMestis32240
2013–14Karlskrona HKAllsv81234
2014–15HC ’05 Banská BystricaSlovak2169158
2014–15Bakersfield CondorsECHL142684
2015–16Manchester MonarchsECHL40391227
2015–16Orlando Solar BearsECHL2325710
2016–17Orlando Solar BearsECHL5112233534
2017–18Cincinnati CyclonesECHL20004
2018–19Worcester RailersECHL2507714
Liiga totals210338

Awards and honors

AwardYear
NAHL
All-West Division Team2009
First All-Star Team2009
Forward of the Year2009
Most Points (76)2009
College
Hockey East Regular Season Champions2010

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Block returns to Solar Bears – The ECHL – Premier 'AA' Hockey League . February 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180228100642/https://www.echl.com/block-returns-to-solar-bears . February 28, 2018 . dead .
  2. https://www.toacorn.com/articles/area-ice-hockey-team-eyes-a-trip-to-state-playoffs/ Area ice hockey team eyes a trip to state playoffs | Thousand Oaks Acorn
  3. Web site: Austin Block – 2011–12.
  4. Professional Hockey Review: 2017–18; The NHL. . January–February 2018. 11. 125. 2.
  5. Web site: Austin Block – 2012–13.
  6. Web site: Austin Block. Elite Prospects.
  7. Web site: Austin Block remains with HIFK . . 2013-06-15 . 2013-06-23 . Finnish . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103135548/http://www.hifk.fi/uutiset/austin-block-ifkhon-braden-birch-jatkaa . January 3, 2014 . dead .
  8. Web site: 2013–14 HIFK player statistics . Eliteprospects.com . 2014-02-03 . 2014-02-03.
  9. Web site: Condors sign Austin Block . . Ryan Holt . 2015-02-14 . 2015-02-14.
  10. Web site: Monarchs sign center Austin Block . . 2015-07-31 . 2015-07-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150813000320/http://www.manchestermonarchs.com/news/monarchsnews/?article_id=658 . August 13, 2015 . dead . mdy-all .
  11. Web site: SOLAR BEARS ACQUIRE AUSTIN BLOCK FROM MONARCHS. Orlando Solar Bears. 2016-02-12. 2016-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20160507194137/http://orlandosolarbearshockey.com/news/021216-block.php. May 7, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  12. Web site: Cyclones announce training camp roster; acquire Block . . 2017-10-02 . 2017-10-02.
  13. Web site: ECHL transactions October 7 . . 2018-10-07 . 2018-10-08 .