Justin Kurtz Explained

Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:188
Played For:Vancouver Canucks
Manitoba Moose
Worcester Sharks
Las Vegas Thunder
Krefeld Pinguine
HC Milano
Nordsjælland Cobras
Örebro HK
EHC Black Wings Linz
Dresdner Eislöwen
Birth Date:14 January 1977
Birth Place:Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Draft:84th overall
Draft Year:1995
Draft Team:Winnipeg Jets
Career Start:1997
Career End:2013

Justin Kurtz (born January 14, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 27 games for the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks.[1]

Playing career

Kurtz was drafted 84th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, but never played an NHL game for the franchise. His NHL debut did not come until the 2001-02 season with the Vancouver Canucks, after spending three seasons with the Manitoba Moose. He played 27 regular season games, scoring 3 goals and 8 points in what turned out to be his only season in the NHL.

He spent another season with Manitoba before moving to Europe in 2003, playing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the Krefeld Pinguine in two years. In 2005, he moved to the 2nd Bundesliga with EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams, who were aiming to regain a place in the DEL having been relegated the previous season. However, they were unsuccessful and Kurtz returned to North America with the Worcester Sharks.

In 2007, Kurtz moved to Italy, signing with HCJ Milano Vipers. After one year he left the club and moved to Nordsjælland Cobras of Denmark's Oddset Ligaen in 2008. Kurtz later enjoyed spells with Örebro HK in Sweden and Fischtown Pinguins of the German 2nd Bundesliga before joining the EHC Black Wings Linz of the Austrian Hockey League. He last played for the Dresdner Eislöwen of the 2nd Bundesliga before retiring from professional hockey in 2013.

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1993–94Brandon Wheat KingsWHL6331316371413424
1994–95Brandon Wheat KingsWHL6583442751822426
1995–96Brandon Wheat KingsWHL5319557410718461037
1996–97Brandon Wheat KingsWHL592444688563254
1997–98Las Vegas ThunderIHL6311112262
1997–98Saint John FlamesAHL4000660000
1998–99Louisiana IceGatorsECHL61456
1998–99Manitoba MooseIHL3846104050004
1999–00Manitoba MooseIHL66315189420000
2000–01Manitoba MooseIHL6982230621323512
2001–02Manitoba MooseAHL521029396470444
2001–02Vancouver CanucksNHL2735814
2002–03Manitoba MooseAHL71112839651434717
2003–04Krefeld PinguineDEL487152270
2004–05Krefeld PinguineDEL527162372
2005–06EHC Wolfsburg2.GBun5013344715940112
2006–07Worcester SharksAHL5537104631234
2007–08HC MilanoITL369162556917810
2008–09Nordsjælland CobrasDEN3972633112411212
2009–10Örebro HKSwe.1509101981
2010–11Fischtown Pinguins2.GBun487334010141012
2011–12EHC Black Wings LinzEBEL3306689
2012–13Dresdner Eislöwen2.GBun23281050
NHL totals2735814

Awards and honours

AwardYear
WHL
East Second All-Star Team 1996
East Second All-Star Team1997

Notes and References

  1. https://www.nhl.com/player/justin-kurtz-8462111