Dustin Friesen Explained

Played For:Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Chicago Wolves
ERC Ingolstadt
Position:Defenseman
Birth Date:1 March 1983
Birth Place:Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:200
Shoots:Left
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2009
Career End:2020

Dustin Friesen (born March 1, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Playing career

Friesen played five seasons of college hockey at the University of New Brunswick before turning professional in 2009. He spent time with the ECHL's Utah Grizzlies and Idaho Steelheads, both of the ECHL, and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.

On September 22, 2011, Friesen signed a two-way contract with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, before being optioned to the Missouri Mavericks, the Wolves' CHL affiliate. On October 7, 2011, Friesen was recalled by the Wolves from the Mavericks, before ever playing a game with the Mavericks. On December 3, 2011, Friesen was optioned by the Wolves to the Mavericks again. On December 6, 2011, Friesen was recalled by the Wolves from the Mavericks for a second time.

In the 2012–13 season, Friesen opted to pursue a European career, and signed a contract with German club, the Fischtown Pinguins of the 2nd Bundesliga. Dustin re-signed for a second season with the Pinguins after he was voted the Best Defenseman of the league for the season.

After two successful years in the DEL2, Friesen attracted the attention of the top level German league, and signed a one-year contract with DEL club, ERC Ingolstadt on June 10, 2014.[1]

Friesen enjoyed six years with Iserlohn, captaining the club in his final two seasons before leaving as a free agent following the interrupted 2019–20 season from to the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 3, 2019, Friesen was signed to extend his career in the DEL with a one-year contract agreed with the Iserlohn Roosters.[2]

With the on-going COVID pandemic complicating family considerations and having secured the opportunity to pursue a career in coaching near his hometown in Saskatchewan, Friesen before beginning his contract with Iserlohn, abruptly announced his retirement after 11 professional seasons on August 12, 2020.[3]

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2000–01Swift Current BroncosWHL61 3 8 11 3317 0 0 0 0
2001–02Swift Current BroncosWHL58 5 10 15 2912 0 1 1 11
2002–03Swift Current BroncosWHL67 7 16 23 404 2 0 2 7
2003–04Swift Current BroncosWHL72 11 21 32 395 1 1 2 2
2004–05University of New BrunswickUSports28 11 10 21 164 0 0 0 0
2005–06University of New BrunswickUSports28 4 7 11 88 0 3 3 6
2006–07University of New BrunswickUSports25 3 14 17 166 1 5 6 0
2007–08University of New BrunswickUSports28 3 21 24 265 4 1 5 4
2008–09University of New BrunswickUSports28 8 12 20 126 1 2 3 2
2009–10Utah GrizzliesECHL33 2 9 11 20
2009–10Idaho SteelheadsECHL30 3 15 18 415 1 12 13 6
2009–10Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL8 1 1 2 4
2010–11Idaho SteelheadsECHL35 2 15 17 129 1 2 3 4
2010–11Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL20 1 2 3 6
2011–12Chicago WolvesAHL19 1 2 3 4
2011–12Missouri MavericksCHL1 0 1 1 0
2012–13 2nd Bundesliga (ice hockey) season2012–13Fischtown Pinguins2.GBun47 12 20 32 267 1 3 4 10
2013–14Fischtown PinguinsDEL254 5 28 33 1617 0 10 10 2
2014–15ERC IngolstadtDEL52 4 22 26 2218 2 1 3 12
2015–16ERC IngolstadtDEL52 3 11 14 42 1 0 1 2
2016–17ERC IngolstadtDEL52 2 13 15 102 0 0 0 0
2017–18ERC IngolstadtDEL46 2 4 6 165 0 1 1 4
2018–19ERC IngolstadtDEL52 0 6 6 227 0 3 3 2
2019–20ERC IngolstadtDEL52 1 7 8 36
AHL totals4735814
DEL totals3061263751103435820

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dustin Friesen changes to Ingolstadt . . 2014-06-10 . 2014-06-10 . German . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407052049/http://erc-ingolstadt.de/html/index.php?nav=news . 2014-04-07 .
  2. Web site: Defense adds experience and quality . . April 3, 2019 . April 3, 2019.
  3. Web site: Roosters have to do without Dustin Friesen . . August 12, 2020 . August 12, 2020 . German.