Calvin Thürkauf Explained

Calvin Thürkauf
League:NL
Team:HC Lugano
Former Teams:Columbus Blue Jackets
EV Zug
Position:Center
Birth Date:1997 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Zug, Switzerland
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:212
Shoots:Left
Ntl Team:SUI
Draft:185th overall
Draft Team:Columbus Blue Jackets
Draft Year:2016
Career Start:2015

Calvin Thürkauf (born 27 June 1997) is a Swiss professional ice hockey forward who currently plays with HC Lugano in the National League (NL). Thurkauf was selected by the Blue Jackets in the seventh round (185th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Thürkauf as a youth played within the EV Zug junior ranks. In spending 5 seasons within Zug's development program, Thürkauf made his professional debut in the 2014–15 playoffs, appearing in one game on loan to SC Langenthal of the then second tier National League B (NLB).

With NHL aspirations, Thürkauf was selected 59th overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL). In his first major junior season in North America, Thürkauf displayed his offensive potential in contributing with 18 goals and 45 points in 61 games as a rookie. He was selected in his second year of eligibility in the seventh-round, 185th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

On 31 December 2016, Thürkauf was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets.[1] He placed second on team scoring in the 2016–17 season with the Rockets, establishing a career high 33 goals and 70 points in 60 regular season games.

In the final year of his entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets in the 2019–20 season, while playing with AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, Thürkauf received his first recall to the NHL on an emergency basis on 21 February 2020.[2] He made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets, appearing on the fourth-line, in a 4–3 shootout defeat to the Nashville Predators on 22 February 2020.[3] He was returned to the AHL with the Monsters the following day.

As an impending restricted free agent and with the following 2020–21 North American season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thürkauf was signed to a temporary contract with hometown Swiss club, EV Zug of the NL, on 24 August 2020.[4]

On May 10, 2021, Thürkauf left the Blue Jackets organization and joined HC Lugano on a three-year deal through the 2023–24 season.[5]

International play

Thürkauf has represented the Swiss national junior team at multiple tournaments. The first time he was selected to play for the national junior team, was during the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He later captained Switzerland at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Canada, posting 4 points in 4 games in a 7th-placed finish.

He represented Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a silver medal.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2012–13EV ZugElite. A4101220000
2013–14EV ZugElite. A8112620004
2014–15EV ZugElite. A38111021541211220
2014–15SC LangenthalNLB10004
2015–16Kelowna RocketsWHL61182745541826816
2016–17Kelowna RocketsWHL6033377087178132124
2017–18Cleveland MonstersAHL7511132440
2018–19Cleveland MonstersAHL2620224
2019–20Cleveland MonstersAHL539172637
2019–20Columbus Blue JacketsNHL30000
2020–21EV ZugNL2232526
2021–22HC LuganoNL501619356561344
2022–23HC LuganoNL521181961834712
2023–24HC LuganoNL522832603491786
NHL totals30000
NL totals1765861119186235141922

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2014SwitzerlandIH187th410138
2015SwitzerlandU184th712312
2016SwitzerlandWJC9th51122
2017SwitzerlandWJC7th422416
2022SwitzerlandOG8th50220
2022SwitzerlandWC5th62020
2023SwitzerlandWC5th21120
2024SwitzerlandWC101344
Junior totals20551068
Senior totals2346104

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blue Jackets sign Calvin Thurkauf to ELC . . 31 December 2016 . 31 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Blue Jackets add forward Calvin Thurkauf on emergency recall from Cleveland . . 21 February 2020 . 21 February 2020.
  3. Web site: Blue Jackets lose eight-round shootout, skid hits 8 . . 22 February 2020 . 22 February 2020.
  4. Web site: Calvin Thurkauf starts the season with Zug . . 24 August 2020 . 24 August 2020 . German.
  5. Web site: Three players sign with Lugano . . French . 10 May 2021 . 10 May 2021 .
  6. Web site: Silver it is - Czechia beats Switzerland in the World Championship final . swisshockeynews.ch . 26 May 2024 . 26 May 2024.