Josh Gorges facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Josh Gorges |
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Gorges with the Buffalo Sabres in 2017
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| Born | August 14, 1984 Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | San Jose Sharks Montreal Canadiens Buffalo Sabres |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2005–2018 | ||
Joshua Daniel Gorges (born August 14, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenseman, which is a player who helps protect the team's goal. Josh Gorges played in the top ice hockey league, the National Hockey League (NHL), for teams like the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, and Buffalo Sabres. His family has German roots, as his grandparents moved to Canada from Germany.
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Josh Gorges' Early Hockey Career
Josh Gorges started playing hockey at a young age. When he was a kid, he played in a big youth hockey tournament called the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in 1998. His team was from his hometown of Kelowna, Canada.
Playing for the Kelowna Rockets
Gorges played major junior hockey for the Kelowna Rockets, which was his local team in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He played for them from 2000 to 2004. Even though he wasn't picked in the 2002 NHL Draft, he later signed with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent.
In 2003, Gorges was chosen to be the captain for Team WHL in a special series against Russia. He also played for Team Canada in the 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where his team won a silver medal. In 2004, Gorges was the captain when the Kelowna Rockets won the Memorial Cup, a very important championship for junior hockey teams.
Starting in Professional Hockey
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout (when NHL games were paused), Gorges played for the Cleveland Barons. This team was connected to the Sharks and played in the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his first appearance for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL during the 2005–06 season, playing in 49 games.
Time with the Montreal Canadiens
On February 25, 2007, Josh Gorges was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. This trade also involved a first-round draft pick for the Canadiens. On July 9, 2008, the Canadiens signed Gorges to a new contract that lasted for three years.
A Tough Moment on the Ice
On February 10, 2010, during a game against the Washington Capitals, Gorges was hit in the head by a very fast shot from an opposing player. He stayed on the ice for a few minutes and was bleeding. Team doctors helped him off the ice. The Canadiens still won the game in overtime. The next day, Gorges was back at practice and said he expected to play in the next game.
Praised for Leadership
Josh Gorges was highly praised for how well he played during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A famous hockey commentator, Don Cherry, even said that Gorges should be the captain of the Canadiens because he was such a strong leader.
On July 22, 2011, the Canadiens signed Gorges to another contract for one year. Then, on January 1, 2012, he signed a longer contract with the Canadiens that lasted for six years.
Moving to the Buffalo Sabres and Retirement
On July 1, 2014, Gorges was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. He had a special clause in his contract that allowed him to refuse a trade to certain teams. He used this clause to say no to being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are a big rival of the Canadiens.
After his contract with the Sabres ended in 2018, Gorges did not sign with another team. On January 14, 2019, he announced that he was retiring from his 13-season career in the NHL.
Life After Hockey
After retiring from playing, Josh Gorges became the Director of Player Development for the West Kelowna Warriors, a junior hockey team. He has also helped organize a baseball game in Kelowna to raise money for mental health awareness, working with other former NHL players.
Awards and Achievements
- 2002–03: WHL – West Second All-Star Team
- 2004: Memorial Cup – George Parsons Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player)
- 2003–04: WHL – West First All-Star Team
- 2004: Junior World Championships – Silver medal
- 2004–05: Cleveland Barons rookie of the year
- 2004–05: Cleveland Barons "Player of the Year" (shared with Doug Murray)
- 2011–12: Montreal Canadiens Jacques-Beauchamp-Molson individual team award (Unsung Hero)
Images for kids
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Gorges with the Buffalo Sabres in 2017
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Gorges with the Sharks in 2006.
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Gorges with the Canadiens in May 2010.
