Erik Burgdoerfer Explained

Position:Defence
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:210
Played For:Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators
Birth Date:11 December 1988
Birth Place:East Setauket, New York, U.S.
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2010
Career End:2020

Erik Lawrence Burgdoerfer[1] (born December 11, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres and the Ottawa Senators.

Playing career

Burgdoerfer attended Ward Melville High School for four years while playing for the New York Apple Core in the Eastern Hockey League.[1] While playing for the New York Apple Core, he was named to the All-EJHL Team.[1]

Collegiate

Burgdoerfer played college hockey for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of ECAC Hockey.[1]

In his freshman year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, he played in 23 games and recorded 2 points. He shared the honor of winning the Engineers Most Improved Player Award with Andrei Uryadov.[1]

In his senior year, the 2009–10 season, Burgdoerfer played in a career high 39 games and scored seven points. In January 2009, Burgdoerfer was suspended for three games due to harmful hits[2] but at the conclusion of the season, Burgdoerfer was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Academic team,[3] and was awarded the Engineers Best Defensive Player Award.[4]

Professional

Following his graduation, Burgdoerfer began his professional career in 2010 with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL. In January 2013, Burgdoerfer was named captain of the Condors.[5]

In October 2013, Burgdoerfer was signed by the American Hockey League's Oklahoma City Barons.[6]

Burgdoerfer was signed to a one-year contract by the AHL's Hershey Bears in August 2014.[7] The team re-signed him to a second one-year contract in May 2015.[8]

After two successful seasons in the AHL with the Bears, Burgdoerfer secured his first NHL contract in signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Buffalo Sabres on July 21, 2016.[9] After beginning the 2016–17 season with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, he was called up to Buffalo after a rash of injuries on the blueline and made his NHL debut on December 5, 2016, in a game against the Washington Capitals.[10]

On July 1, 2017, the first day of NHL free agency, Burgdoerfer signed a two-year, $1.3 million contract with the Ottawa Senators.[11] Burgdoerfer was called up to the NHL on February 26, 2018,[12] and he recorded his first NHL point on March 13, 2018, in a 7–4 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.[13]

Prior to the 2018–19 season, Burgdoerfer was named the second captain in Belleville Senators history.[14] After playing in 10 games, Burgdoerfer was recalled to the NHL on November 1. He was re-assigned to the AHL on November 9 after playing in one game.[15] Due to an injury to Mark Borowiecki, Burgdoerfer was recalled to the NHL on December 1 after playing in 16 games and scoring six points.[16] He was re-assigned to the AHL after playing in three games and recording no points.[17]

After two seasons within the Senators organization, Burgdoerfer left as a free agent and later returned to former club, the Hershey Bears, on a one-year AHL contract on July 11, 2019.[18]

Personal life

Burgdoerfer's twin brother Greg also plays hockey. He last played for the Bakersfield Condors.[19]

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2005–06New York Apple CoreEJHL456101660
2006–07R.P.I.ECAC2311232
2007–08R.P.I.ECAC3223547
2008–09R.P.I.ECAC35325106
2009–10R.P.I.ECAC3916751
2009–10Bakersfield CondorsECHL300010
2010–11Bakersfield CondorsECHL68214165041012
2011–12Bakersfield CondorsECHL605111691
2012–13Bakersfield CondorsECHL714172167
2013–14Bakersfield CondorsECHL67111122701615618
2013–14Oklahoma City BaronsAHL30114
2014–15South Carolina StingraysECHL30002
2014–15Hershey BearsAHL5816758100112
2015–16Hershey BearsAHL7461420592104418
2016–17Rochester AmericansAHL521161744
2016–17Buffalo SabresNHL20000
2017–18Belleville SenatorsAHL665121757
2017–18Ottawa SenatorsNHL20110
2018–19Belleville SenatorsAHL645131844
2018–19Ottawa SenatorsNHL40002
2019–20Hershey BearsAHL5427963
NHL totals80112

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
College
All-Academic Team2010
Engineers Best Defensive Player Award2010
ECHL
ECHL All-Star Game2011[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Erik Burgdoerfer – 2009–10 Men's Hockey – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute . rpiathletics.com . December 29, 2018.
  2. News: Schott . Ken . Suspension upsets Burgdoerfer, RPI . December 29, 2018 . The Daily Gazette . January 23, 2009.
  3. Web site: 2009–10 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM COMPRISES 181 STUDENT-ATHLETES . ecachockey.com . December 29, 2018 .
  4. Web site: Engineers Hand Out Year-End Hardware . ecachockey.com . December 29, 2018 . April 23, 2010.
  5. Web site: Bakersfield Condors. D Erik Burgdoerfer named new Condors Captain. January 2, 2013. December 5, 2016.
  6. Web site: ECAC Hockey. Burgdoerfer Scores Deal with Oklahoma City. October 18, 2013. December 5, 2016.
  7. Web site: pennlive.com. Erik Burgdoerfer aims to follow Hershey Bears' ascent of Julien Brouillette, Steve Oleksy, Patrick Wellar. October 30, 2014. December 5, 2016.
  8. Web site: pennlive.com. Hershey Bears re-sign Erik Burgdoerfer to AHL deal for 2015–16. May 18, 2015. December 5, 2016.
  9. Web site: National Hockey League. Sabres sign defenseman Burgdoerfer. July 21, 2016. December 5, 2016.
  10. Web site: National Hockey League. After long pro journey, Burgdoerfer to make NHL debut. December 5, 2016. December 5, 2016.
  11. Web site: CBS Sports. Senators' Erik Burgdoerfer: Latches on with new club. July 1, 2017. July 1, 2017.
  12. Web site: Medaglia. Craig. Game Day 5: Sens @ Capitals. NHL.com. March 13, 2018. February 27, 2018.
  13. News: Brennan. Don. Senators finally give Condon some support in win over Lightning. March 13, 2018. Ottawa Sun. March 13, 2018.
  14. Web site: Burgdoerfer named second captain in Belleville Senators history . bellevillesens.com . December 29, 2018 . October 5, 2018.
  15. Web site: Tidcombe . Matt . Burgdoerfer reassigned to Belleville . bellevillesens.com . December 29, 2018 . November 9, 2018.
  16. Web site: Senators recall defenceman Erik Burgdoerfer from AHL Belleville . sportsnet.ca . December 29, 2018 . December 1, 2018.
  17. Web site: Tidcombe . Matt . Burgdoerfer, Elliott reassigned to Belleville . bellevillesens.com . December 29, 2018 . December 16, 2018.
  18. Web site: Erik Burgdoerfer returns to Bears on AHL contract . . July 11, 2019 . July 11, 2019.
  19. Web site: Grifftith . Mike . Condors bolster defense by re-signing Erik Burgdoerfer . bakersfield.com . December 29, 2018 . August 21, 2013.
  20. Web site: 2018 CCM/ECHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC GAME NOTES . echl.com . December 29, 2018 . January 15, 2018.