Stu Bickel Explained

Stu Bickel
Position:Defense/Right wing
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:207
Birth Date:October 2, 1986
Birth Place:Chanhassen, Minnesota, U.S.
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2008
Career End:2018
Module:
Embed:yes
Current Title:Assistant coach
Current Team:Coachella Valley Firebirds
Current Conference:AHL
Alma Mater:University of Minnesota
Coach Years1:2018–2020
Coach Team1:Minnesota (assistant)
Coach Years2:2020–2021
Coach Team2:Minnesota Magicians
Coach Years3:2021
Coach Team3:St. Thomas (assistant)
Coach Years4:2021–present
Coach Team4:Coachella Valley Firebirds (assistant)

Stuart Richard Bickel (born October 2, 1986) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild.

Playing career

On July 2, 2008, the Anaheim Ducks signed Bickel, an undrafted free agent, to a three-year contract.[1] In the 2010–11 season, on November 23, 2010, Bickel was traded by the Ducks to the New York Rangers in exchange for fellow defenseman, Nigel Williams.[2] After starting the 2011–12 season with the AHL Connecticut Whale, Bickel was called up to the Rangers on December 18, 2011.[3] He made his NHL debut on December 20, 2011, in a game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center, recording an assist in the game for his first NHL point.[4]

The Rangers re-signed Bickel to a two-year contract on July 1, 2012.[5] He started the delayed 2012–13 season with the Rangers after the NHL lockout, but after 16 games he was placed on waivers and assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Whale and Wolf Pack for the remainder of his two-year contract.

On July 1, 2014, Bickel signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.[6] Bickel was assigned initially to AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild to begin the 2014–15 season, however, he made his return to the NHL for the first time since 2012, appearing in nine games with Minnesota with one assist.

As an unsigned free agent over the off-season, Bickel accepted an invitation to the St. Louis Blues training camp on a professional try-out. After he was unable to earn a contract with the Blues, and their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, Bickel signed a professional try-out with the San Diego Gulls on October 9, 2015.

Bickel, in his tenth and final professional season, made four appearances with the San Diego Gulls in the 2017–18 AHL season.

Coaching career

Having ended his professional career, for the 2018–19 season, Bickel accepted an assistant coaching role for the University of Minnesota hockey team. In 2020, Bickel left the U of M and became the head coach of the North American Hockey League's Minnesota Magicians, based out of Richfield, Minnesota, for the 2020–21 season.[7] After one season with the Magicians, he initially joined the St. Thomas (Minnesota) Tommies men's ice hockey team as an assistant coach[8] before joining the 2021–22 staff of the American Hockey League's Springfield Thunderbirds as an assistant coach.[9]

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2004–05Green Bay GamblersUSHL1300020
2005–06Green Bay GamblersUSHL1400025
2005–06Southern Minnesota ExpressNAHL38812201151314536
2006–07Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL5721113215803329
2007–08University of MinnesotaWCHA4516792
2008–09Iowa ChopsAHL2101151
2009–10Bakersfield CondorsECHL241121350902214
2009–10San Antonio RampageAHL3622438
2010–11Syracuse CrunchAHL603314
2010–11Elmira JackalsECHL10000
2010–11Hartford Wolf Pack/CT WhaleAHL5427913560116
2011–12Connecticut WhaleAHL2713480
2011–12New York RangersNHL510991081800016
2012–13New York RangersNHL1600049
2012–13Connecticut WhaleAHL1001118
2013–14Hartford Wolf PackAHL2417885
2014–15Iowa WildAHL43381193
2014–15Minnesota WildNHL901146
2015–16San Diego GullsAHL5916721060006
2016–17San Diego GullsAHL2624614830112
2017–18San Diego GullsAHL400047
AHL totals3101242549191502214
NHL totals76010102031800016

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anaheim Ducks ink Gopher defenseman Stu Bickel . bleacherreport.com . 2008-07-02 . 2008-07-03.
  2. News: Ducks, Rangers make swap minor league defensemen . . 2010-11-23 . 2010-11-23.
  3. Web site: Rangers call up defenseman Bickel. New York Rangers. December 18, 2011. 2011-12-21.
  4. Web site: Bickel Becomes 478th ECHL Player to Reach NHL. ECHL. December 21, 2011. 2011-12-21.
  5. Web site: Rangers Re-Sign Defenseman Bickel For 2 Years. CBS New York. 1 July 2012. July 2012.
  6. Web site: Wild inks three more on FA opening day . . 2014-07-01 . 2014-07-01.
  7. Web site: Magicians Name Bucchino President and General Manager. Hire former NHLer, Stu Bickel as Head Coach . Minnesota Magicians . June 16, 2020.
  8. Web site: Bickel Accepts NCAA Coaching Position with St. Thomas . OurSports Central . June 24, 2021.
  9. Web site: Thunderbirds Name Stu Bickel Assistant Coach . OurSports Central . August 17, 2021.