Ozzy Wiesblatt Explained

Ozzy Wiesblatt
Birth Date:9 March 2002
Birth Place:Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:183
Position:Right wing
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Nashville Predators
Prospect League:AHL
Prospect Team:Milwaukee Admirals
Draft:31st overall
Draft Year:2020
Draft Team:San Jose Sharks
Career Start:2021

Ozzy Wiesblatt (born March 9, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the first round, 31st overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life

Wiesblatt was born to parents Kimberly White and Art Wiesblatt, who are both deaf. As a result, he and his siblings all learned American sign language to communicate. Wiesblatt and his brothers Ocean, Orca, and Oasiz all play hockey.[1] They also have a younger sister, Oceania.[2]

Wiesblatt is Jewish.[3]

Playing career

Wiesblatt began his ice hockey career playing for the Calgary Bisons U15 AAA in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League before being drafted into the Western Hockey League (WHL). Prior to being drafted 25th overall, Wiesblatt recorded 38 goals and 35 assists in 32 games during the 2016–17 season.[4] In spite of being drafted, he remained in the Alberta Midget Hockey League with the Calgary Bisons U18 team but was selected for Team Alberta at the 2017 WHL Cup.[5] [6] He made his WHL debut during the 2017–18 season, during which he recorded his first career WHL goal.[7]

Wiesblatt officially joined the Raiders roster for the 2018–19 where he recorded 39 points and helped lead the team to the Ed Chynoweth Cup.[8] As a result, he shared the team's Rookie of the Year award with Kaiden Guhle.[9] This caught the attention of San Jose Sharks' general manager and director of scouting, who referred to Wiesblatt as a center rather than a winger.[10]

Wiesblatt entered his first year of draft eligibility ranking 19th overall North American skaters per the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's Midterm Rankings.[11] Although the season was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North America, he placed second on the team in scoring with 70 points in 64 games.[12] As a result, he was drafted in the first round, 31st overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.[13] He signed his contract on October 16, 2020.[14]

On March 18, 2024, Wiesblatt was reassigned by the Sharks from the San Jose Barracuda to the Milwaukee Admirals.[15] He played out the remainder of the season with the Admirals, posting 6 points through 16 regular season games and adding 9 points in 15 playoff contests.

He was traded by the Sharks to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Egor Afanasyev on June 23, 2024.[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2017–18Calgary Buffaloes U18AMHL332120412252242
2017–18Prince Albert RaidersWHL11010
2018–19Prince Albert RaidersWHL64152439202355102
2019–20Prince Albert RaidersWHL6425457036
2020–21San Jose BarracudaAHL62130
2020–21Prince Albert RaidersWHL237212829
2021–22Prince Albert RaidersWHL431031415530110
2022–23San Jose BarracudaAHL45691530
2023–24San Jose BarracudaAHL34381133
2023–24Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL16156221527912
AHL totals101122335851527912

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2018Canada BlackU175th51236
2019CanadaHG18501112
Junior totals1013418

Notes and References

  1. News: Korbin . Kelley . Deaf parents help build communication skills. . October 7, 2020 . Jewish Independent . November 9, 2007.
  2. News: Radford . Evan . Hockey mom's deafness pushed her boys to be better . October 7, 2020 . Toronto Star . July 23, 2018.
  3. Web site: All the Jewish players taking the NHL ice. October 26, 2023 . InterMountain Jewish News.
  4. Web site: Raiders Select 10 Players In 2017 WHL Bantam Draft . raiderhockey.com . October 7, 2020 . May 4, 2017.
  5. Web site: Five Raider prospects to play in WHL Cup . panow.com . October 7, 2020 . October 4, 2017.
  6. Web site: Raiders Well Represented At WHL Cup . raiderhockey.com . October 7, 2020 . October 4, 2017.
  7. Web site: It Was Probably Easily The Best Moment Of My Life . raiderhockey.com . October 7, 2020 . May 2, 2018.
  8. Web site: Medina . Alex . Crazy and Exciting Time . nhl.com . National Hockey League . October 7, 2020 . September 28, 2020.
  9. Web site: Raiders Hand Out 2018-19 Awards . raiderhockey.com . October 7, 2020 . March 18, 2019.
  10. Web site: White . Marcus . How Wiesblatt won over Sharks with blend of skill, spirit . nbcsports.com . NBC Sports . October 7, 2020 . October 7, 2020.
  11. Web site: January 13, 2020 Twenty-two Albertans listed in NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings . hockeyalberta.ca . October 7, 2020 . January 13, 2020.
  12. Web site: Punkari . Lucas . Wiesblatt keeping busy during long off season . paherald.sk.ca . October 7, 2020 . September 22, 2020.
  13. Web site: White . Marcus . Sharks select Ozzy Wiesblatt with No. 31 pick in NHL draft . nbcsports.com . NBC Sports . October 6, 2020 . October 6, 2020.
  14. Web site: Sharks Sign Center Ozzy Wiesblatt. National Hockey League. October 16, 2020. October 16, 2020.
  15. Web site: Wiesblatt Reassigned To Admirals. Milwaukee Admirals. March 18, 2024. March 19, 2024.
  16. Web site: Predators Acquire Ozzy Wiesblatt From San Jose. NHL.com. . June 23, 2024. June 23, 2024.