Robbie Earl facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robbie Earl
Born	(1985-06-02) June 2, 1985 (age 40) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
team Former teams	Free Agent Toronto Maple Leafs Minnesota Wild EC Red Bull Salzburg Rapperswil-Jona Lakers EV Zug Färjestad BK EHC Biel SCL Tigers
NHL Draft	187th overall, 2004 Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career	2006–present

Robert Wayne Earl (born June 2, 1985) is an American ice hockey player. He plays as a forward. Robbie last played for the SCL Tigers in Switzerland's top league, the National League (NL). He is currently a free agent, meaning he can sign with any team. Robbie was born in Chicago, Illinois, but he grew up in Los Angeles, California.

Robbie Earl: Ice Hockey Star

Early Days and Youth Hockey

When Robbie was young, he played in the 1999 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. This is a famous tournament for young hockey players. He played with the Los Angeles Junior Kings team.

He then spent two years with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. This program helps train young, talented hockey players. In 2002–03, he was third on the Under-18 team with 33 points. He also scored 20 goals in 53 games. He helped his team finish fourth at the 2003 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Russia.

Robbie scored the winning goal in the 2002 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He was also fourth in scoring for the Under-17 team. He had 22 goals and 16 assists in 58 games during 2001–02.

College Hockey Journey

Robbie played college hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers. In his first year, he scored 27 points in 42 games. He led the Badgers in points that season. He was also named to the All-Rookie Team. He scored six power-play goals and three game-winning goals.

He scored his first "hat trick" (three goals in one game) in overtime against North Dakota. He won awards like National Player of the Week. In 2004, the Toronto Maple Leafs picked him in the NHL Entry Draft. He was the 187th player chosen overall.

The next year, Robbie scored even more points. He made the Second-Team All-WCHA. He led his team with 20 goals. He also tied for the team lead with five game-winning goals. He scored his second hat trick against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. He also had a long scoring streak, getting points in eight games in a row.

Robbie Earl playing for the Toronto Marlies.

In his third year at Wisconsin, Robbie scored a goal in the final game of the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. This helped the Badgers win the NCAA Men's Hockey Championship! He also scored twice in the semifinal game. Because of his great play, he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four tournament.

After winning the championship, Robbie decided to join the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had planned to stay for his senior year, but the chance to play pro hockey was too good to pass up.

Playing Pro Hockey

NHL Debut and Beyond

After college, Robbie joined the Toronto Marlies. This team is connected to the Maple Leafs. He played in their playoff games in 2006. The next year, he scored 12 goals and 18 assists in 67 games.

Robbie made his first NHL appearance with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008. He played against the Ottawa Senators and got one assist. In 2009, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He was sent to their minor league team, the Houston Aeros.

In the 2009–10 season, he was called up to the Minnesota Wild again. He scored his first NHL goal on November 15, 2009.

Playing in Europe

After playing for the Minnesota Wild for two seasons, Robbie decided to play hockey in Europe. He first tried out for a team in Russia. Then, he signed a one-year deal with EC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in 2011. He was a top scorer for Salzburg, with 22 goals and 50 points in 45 games.

Robbie then moved to Switzerland. He signed with the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers in 2012. He was their best offensive player. He later joined EV Zug and played there for two seasons. In 2015, he moved to Sweden to play for Färjestad BK.

In 2016, Robbie returned to Switzerland. He signed with EHC Biel. He played four seasons with Biel. In 2018, he signed a two-year contract with the SCL Tigers, where he played his last games.

Off the Ice

Robbie's grandparents are Tom and Pat McCusker. He also has two sisters, Brianne and Erin. He went to Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Before that, he attended Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California. He was studying consumer science in college before he left to play in the NHL.

Awards and Achievements

See also

• List of black NHL players