Travis Gawryletz Explained

Travis Gawryletz
Birth Date:2 November 1985
Birth Place:Trail, British Columbia, Canada
Alma Mater:University of Minnesota Duluth
Employer:National Hockey League
Occupation:Ice hockey linesman
Years Active:2017–present

Travis Gawryletz (; born November 2, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current linesman for the National Hockey League. He made his officiating debut during the 2017–18 NHL season and he has worked 432 regular season games and 8 Stanley Cup playoff games. He wears uniform number 67.

Playing career

Shoots:Right
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:201
Played For:Lake Erie Monsters
HC Karlovy Vary
HC Sparta Praha
HC Pardubice
Székesfehérvár
Birth Date:November 2, 1985
Birth Place:Trail, British Columbia, Canada
Career Start:2008
Career End:2014
Draft:253rd overall
Draft Year:2004

Gawryletz played Junior hockey with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the British Columbia Hockey League and became the first Smoke Eater to be selected straight from the BCHL when he was drafted 253rd overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. He was then recruited to the University of Minnesota-Duluth to play collegiate hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Selected for his size by the Flyers, Gawryletz developed into a physical defensive defenceman among the Bulldogs d-corps and in his four-year career with Duluth, Travis appeared in 140 games with only 23 points.

Unsigned from the Flyers after completing his college career Gawryletz signed as a free agent with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL before attending the AHL's Rochester Americans training camp prior to his first professional season in 2008–09.[1] Gawryletz established himself within the Jackals with gritty defensive play and posted 16 points in 56 games to be named the Jackals top defenceman for the season.[2]

Gawryletz was again invited to the Amerks AHL training camp but re-signed with the Jackals to start the 2009–10 season.[3] Leading the Jackals and placing second in the ECHL in plus/minus after 16 games, he was loaned to make his AHL debut with the Lake Erie Monsters on November 27, 2010.[4] Gawryletz's solid contributions on the blueline meant he remained with the Monsters for the duration of their season, leading all defenceman and placing second on the team with a plus/minus of 11, before returning to Elmira for the ECHL playoffs.[5]

In mid-April, on the back of a successful season, Gawryletz signed a one-year contract to return to the Lake Erie Monsters for the 2010–11 season.[6]

Despite two successful seasons with the Monsters, Gawryletz did not garner NHL interest. He attended the Manchester Monarchs training camp, before signing a one-year contract with ECHL team, the Ontario Reign. After just two games with the Reign, Gawryletz signed in Europe with HC Karlovy Vary of the Czech Extraliga on October 19, 2011.[7]

Unable to help prevent Karlovy Vary stay out of a relegation battle at season's end, Gawryletz impressed and was signed to a one-year contract by powerhouse rivals, HC Sparta Praha on May 2, 2012.[8] In the 2012–13 season, Gawryletz appeared in 19 games with just three assists for Sparta before he was released to join his third Czech club, HC Pardubice, for the remainder of the season on November 28, 2012.[9]

On July 15, 2013, Gawryletz opted to join the Austrian Hockey League and signed a one-year contract with Hungarian participant Alba Volán Székesfehérvár.[10] After 18 games with Alba, Gawryletz opted to terminate his contract and return to North America on November 6, 2013. On January 7, 2014, Gawryletz signed a contract with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL but retired soon after.

Officiating career

Following his retirement as a player, Gawryletz worked as a linesman for the Western Hockey League for three seasons. He officiated his first AHL game in March 2017, and signed an NHL minor league contract that summer. He made his NHL debut on November 8, 2017, officiating a game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and San Jose Sharks alongside referees Brad Watson and Ian Walsh, and linesman Michel Cormier.[11] [12]

Prior to the start of the 2018-19 NHL season, Gawryletz was promoted to a full-time spot on the officiating roster.[13] His first playoff assignment was game one of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoff series between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers.[14] He also officiated in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.[15]

Personal life

Gawryletz currently lives in Kelowna, British Columbia with his wife and son. His older brother, Brandon, is also an NHL official.[16]

Career statistics

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02Beaver Valley NitehawksKIJHL4513173099
2001–02Trail Smoke EatersBCHL60110
2002–03Trail Smoke EatersBCHL564283242
2003–04Trail Smoke EatersBCHL519213051101346
2004–05University of Minnesota DuluthWCHA3541526
2005–06University of Minnesota DuluthWCHA3207712
2006–07University of Minnesota DuluthWCHA3705557
2007–08University of Minnesota DuluthWCHA3615630
2008–09Elmira JackalsECHL562141640110228
2009–10Elmira JackalsECHL16246250006
2009–10Lake Erie MonstersAHL512101235
2010–11Lake Erie MonstersAHL694141846
2011–12Ontario ReignECHL20000
2011–12HC Energie Karlovy VaryELH33481220
2012–13HC Sparta PrahaELH1903312
2012–13HC ČSOB Pojišťovna PardubiceELH27123850004
2013–14SAPA Fehérvár AV19AUT180006
2013–14Bakersfield CondorsECHL131124
ECHL totals 8751924461602214
AHL totals 1206243081
ELH totals 79513184050004

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 16 Jackals attend training camp. Elmira Jackals. 2008-10-03. 2010-05-23.
  2. Web site: Year end honors announced. Elmira Jackals. 2009-04-03. 2010-05-23.
  3. Web site: Amerks training camp roster here . letsgoamerks.com . 2009-09-23 . 2010-05-23.
  4. Web site: Jackals loan Gawryletz, add Pelletier. Elmira Jackals. 2009-11-27. 2010-05-23.
  5. News: Lake Erie defenseman Travis Gawryletz is passing his AHL test . The Plain Dealer. 2010-01-08 . 2010-05-23 . Dennis Manoloff.
  6. Web site: Gawryletz signs AHL contract . Trail Daily Times . 2010-05-13 . 2010-05-23.
  7. Web site: Karlovy Vary announce signings . Czech . . 2011-10-19 . 2012-01-22.
  8. Web site: Praha sign defender Gawryletz from Karlovy . . 2012-05-02 . 2012-05-02 . Czech.
  9. Web site: Defenseman Gawryletz end in Sparta . . 2012-11-28 . 2012-11-28 . Czech .
  10. Web site: Alba welcome Travis Gawryletz . . 2013-07-15 . 2013-07-15 . Hungarian . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140509001039/http://www.albavolanhockey.hu/index.php?pg=news_1_4642 . 2014-05-09 .
  11. Web site: Travis Gawryletz NHL Linesman NHL Officials Association . 2024-11-29 . NHLOA . en-US.
  12. Web site: San Jose Sharks - Tampa Bay Lightning - Nov 8, 2017 NHL.com . 2024-11-29 . www.nhl.com . en.
  13. Web site: NHL Officials Promoted . 2018-09-18. 2019-01-05. NHL Officials Association.
  14. Web site: Boston Bruins - Florida Panthers - Apr 17, 2023 NHL.com . 2024-11-29 . www.nhl.com . en.
  15. Web site: 2024-04-19 . NHL Referees and Linesmen for 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs . 2024-11-29 . Scouting The Refs . en-US.
  16. Web site: Travis Gawryletz - First NHL Game. 2017-11-08. NHL Officials Association.