Micheal Ferland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Micheal Ferland |
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Ferland with the Calgary Flames in 2014
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| Born | April 20, 1992 Swan River, Manitoba, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Calgary Flames Carolina Hurricanes Vancouver Canucks |
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| NHL Draft | 133rd overall, 2010 Calgary Flames |
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| Playing career | 2012–2020 | ||
Micheal Ferland (born April 20, 1992) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Ferland played for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Carolina Hurricanes. The Flames chose him in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, as the 133rd player picked overall.
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Early Life and Hockey Dreams
Micheal Ferland was born on April 20, 1992, in Swan River, Manitoba. He grew up with an older sister and a younger brother. His mother, Dianne, worked hard to support her family. Micheal played hockey in local leagues from ages 8 to 15. He then caught the eye of the Brandon Wheat Kings, a top team for young players. He tried out and earned a spot on their team.
It was sometimes hard for Micheal's family to pay for his hockey gear. Charities like KidSport and the Manitoba Métis Federation helped out. His older sister, Samantha, also helped. When Micheal joined the midget Wheat Kings, the parents of his teammates from Swan River helped pay his fees.
Playing Career Highlights
Junior Hockey Journey
At 17, Ferland joined the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League (WHL). This is a major junior league for young players. In the 2009–10 WHL season, he scored 9 goals and had 28 points in 61 games. He also played in 15 playoff games for Brandon. The Calgary Flames then drafted him in 2010.
Ferland stayed with Brandon for two more seasons. He had 56 points in 2010–11 WHL season and then 96 points in 2011–12 WHL season. This placed him ninth in WHL scoring.
Micheal Ferland started his professional hockey journey in 2012. The Flames sent him to their minor league team, the Abbotsford Heat. He struggled at first and was sent to another team, the Utah Grizzlies. After a short time there, he returned to the Brandon Wheat Kings. He was later traded to the Saskatoon Blades. Even when things were tough, Ferland kept going. He helped the Blades win 18 games in a row.
Becoming a Professional Player
Time with the Calgary Flames
The Flames helped Ferland as he moved into professional hockey. In the 2012–13 season, his coach, Bob Hartley, connected him with former NHL player Gino Odjick. This helped Ferland adjust to the professional game. Ferland worked hard and returned to Abbotsford for the 2013–14 AHL season much lighter and in better shape. He scored 18 points in 25 games before a knee injury ended his season.
Before his injury, the Flames had planned to call him up to play in Calgary. He was doing so well that they wanted to reward him. Ferland got healthy and impressed the Flames' coaches again. He showed both his scoring skills and his strong physical play. He started the 2014–15 NHL season with the Adirondack Flames, another minor league team.
Ferland was leading Adirondack in points when the Flames called him up to Calgary. He made his first NHL appearance on October 30, 2014. He got his first NHL point on November 22, 2014, helping on a goal for the Calgary Flames. On March 29, 2015, Ferland scored his first NHL goal. It was the winning goal in a 5–2 victory against the Nashville Predators.
In his first NHL season, Ferland had 2 goals and 5 points in 26 games. During the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, his strong physical play made him a fan favorite in Calgary. He played a big part in the sixth game of the series against the Vancouver Canucks. After the Canucks took an early lead, Ferland helped the Flames come back. He scored a goal and then an empty-net goal to seal a 7–4 victory. This win eliminated Vancouver from the playoffs. His great performance earned him a new two-year contract with the Flames.
Moving to the Carolina Hurricanes
On June 23, 2018, Ferland was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. He joined Dougie Hamilton and Adam Fox in the trade. In the 2018–19 NHL season, Ferland quickly fit in with the Hurricanes. He set a new personal best with 23 assists. His 17 goals and 40 points were his second-highest totals. He helped the Hurricanes reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.
Time with the Vancouver Canucks
After playing for the Hurricanes, Ferland signed a four-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 10, 2019. His first season with Vancouver was difficult due to concussion problems. He played only 14 games. He had to leave games three times because of these issues. After missing the entire 2020–21 NHL season due to ongoing concussion problems, Ferland said he did not think he would play professionally again.
Ferland's contract with the Canucks ended after the 2022–23 NHL season. He has not signed with any team since then. It is believed he has retired from professional hockey.
Coaching Career
On July 16, 2024, the Kenora Devils Cap Islanders announced that they hired Ferland. He joined them as a skills coach for the 2024-2025 season. Before this, Ferland was an assistant coach for the Brandon Wheat Kings U18 AAA team. He also coached Team Manitoba. His team won the national title at the 2023 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.
Personal Background
Micheal Ferland is Cree.
