James Wisniewski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James Wisniewski |
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Wisniewski with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013
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| Born | February 21, 1984 Canton, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Chicago Blackhawks Anaheim Ducks New York Islanders Montreal Canadiens Columbus Blue Jackets Carolina Hurricanes Admiral Vladivostok Kassel Huskies |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 156th overall, 2002 Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Playing career | 2004–2018 | ||
James Joseph Wisniewski (born February 21, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenseman, which is a player who helps protect their team's goal. James played for many teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), including the Chicago Blackhawks and Columbus Blue Jackets. He also played in Germany for the Kassel Huskies.
Contents
Playing Career: James Wisniewski's Hockey Journey
Starting Out: Junior Hockey and Early Draft Years
As a young player, James Wisniewski played in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. This is a big tournament for young hockey players. He played for the Detroit Compuware team.
James started his junior ice hockey career with the Plymouth Whalers in 2000. This team is part of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He got better every year. The Chicago Blackhawks picked him in the 2002 NHL Draft. He was the 156th player chosen overall.
In the 2003–04 season, James became the captain of the Whalers. He scored 17 goals that year, with 11 of them on power plays. He finished with 70 points, which was very good for a defenseman. For his great play, James won the 2004 Max Kaminsky Trophy. This award goes to the best defenseman in the OHL. He also won the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)'s Defenseman of the Year award.
After these awards, James signed a contract with the Blackhawks. He then moved up to play for their minor league team, the Norfolk Admirals, in the American Hockey League (AHL).
First NHL Games: Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks
James was called up to play for the Chicago Blackhawks early in the 2006–07 season. He stayed with the team, but he got a serious injury. On March 5, 2007, he tore a ligament in his knee during a game. This injury made him miss the rest of the season.
Moving Teams: Anaheim Ducks, Islanders, and Canadiens
On March 4, 2009, the Blackhawks traded James to the Anaheim Ducks. He went to the Ducks with another player, Petri Kontiola. The Blackhawks received Samuel Påhlsson and Logan Stephenson in return.
In the 2009–10 season, James became a key player on the Ducks' defense. He scored a career-high 30 points in 69 games. During a game against his old team, the Blackhawks, James hit his former teammate Brent Seabrook. He was suspended for eight games because of this hit.
On July 30, 2010, the Ducks traded James to the New York Islanders. He was traded for a draft pick. At the start of the 2010–11 season, James was suspended for two games. This was for making an inappropriate gesture during a game.
On December 28, 2010, James was traded again, this time to the Montreal Canadiens. He scored seven goals and had 23 assists in 43 games for the Canadiens. He also helped them in the playoffs.
Finding a Home: Years with the Columbus Blue Jackets
On June 29, 2011, James's rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He then signed a big six-year contract with them on July 1, 2011.
On September 26, 2011, James was suspended for eight regular season games. This was for a hit to the head of Minnesota Wild player Cal Clutterbuck. In an injury-shortened 2011–12 season, James played in 48 games. He scored six goals and had 21 assists.
James had more injury problems in the 2012–13 season. He played in 30 games and got 14 points. However, in the 2013–14 season, he had a fantastic year. He scored seven goals and a career-high 51 points in 75 games. This helped the Blue Jackets make the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Later Career: Hurricanes and Playing Abroad
On March 2, 2015, James was traded back to the Anaheim Ducks. This was his second time playing for the Ducks.
On June 27, 2015, James was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. In his very first game with the Hurricanes, he got another serious injury. He tore his left ACL after playing for only 47 seconds. This injury ended his season. The Hurricanes later bought out his contract, meaning they ended it early.
James then signed with Admiral Vladivostok in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for the 2016–17 season. He played 16 games there. After that, he went to Switzerland to play for HC Lugano in the Spengler Cup. He helped his team reach the final game.
On January 26, 2017, James signed a tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL. Later, on October 11, 2017, he moved back to Europe. He signed with the German team Kassel Huskies in the DEL2 league.
Personal Life: Beyond the Rink
James Wisniewski went to Canton High School in Canton, Michigan.
James is married to Nicole, and they have two daughters. He also started his own clothing line called WizWear. He said he wanted to support the USO of Illinois. This organization helps the families of soldiers who have died. Both of his grandfathers fought in World War II.
James Wisniewski is also the nephew of Billy Dea. Billy Dea was a former NHL player and coach.
Career Statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1999–2000 | Detroit Compuware Ambassadors | NAHL | 50 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 67 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2000–01 | Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 53 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 72 | 19 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 34 | ||
| 2001–02 | Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 62 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 100 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2002–03 | Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 52 | 18 | 34 | 52 | 60 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 14 | ||
| 2003–04 | Plymouth Whalers | OHL | 50 | 17 | 53 | 70 | 63 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 2004–05 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 66 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 110 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 61 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 67 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2005–06 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 19 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Norfolk Admirals | AHL | 10 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 50 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 68 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 31 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 17 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 2009–10 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 69 | 3 | 27 | 30 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | New York Islanders | NHL | 32 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 43 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 2011–12 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 48 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 30 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 75 | 7 | 44 | 51 | 61 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | ||
| 2014–15 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 56 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 13 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Admiral Vladivostok | KHL | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Chicago Wolves | AHL | 21 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Kassel Huskies | DEL2 | 33 | 9 | 35 | 44 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 552 | 53 | 221 | 274 | 459 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 27 | ||||
International Play: Representing the USA
 Wisniewski at the 2008 IIHF World Championship |
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| Medal record | ||
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| Representing United States |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 2004 Helsinki | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| Gold | 2002 Trnava | |
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | United States | WJC18 |  |
3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 2003 | United States | WJC | 4th | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |
| 2004 | United States | WJC | |
6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2008 | United States | WC | 6th | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
| 2018 | United States | OG | 7th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 16 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 16 | ||||
| Senior totals | 11 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | ||||
Awards and Achievements
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| OHL | ||
| First All-Rookie Team | 2001 | |
| CHL Top Prospects Game | 2002 | |
| First All-Star Team | 2004 | |
| Max Kaminsky Trophy | 2004 | |
| CHL First All-Star Team | 2004 | |
| CHL Defenseman of the Year | 2004 | |
