Wacey Rabbit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wacey Rabbit
Born	(1986-11-16) November 16, 1986 (age 38) Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Providence Bruins Milwaukee Admirals KHL Medveščak San Antonio Rampage Lørenskog IK Nippon Paper Cranes HC Pustertal Wölfe HC Dukla Jihlava ASC Corona Brașov
NHL Draft	154th overall, 2005 Boston Bruins
Playing career	2006–2021

Wacey Rabbit, born on November 16, 1986, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a centre, which is a key position in the middle of the ice. Wacey spent many years playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) and other leagues around the world. After his playing career, he became an assistant coach for the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Wacey Rabbit's Hockey Journey

Wacey Rabbit started his hockey journey playing "major junior" hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL). This is a top league for young players before they turn professional. During the 2004–05 WHL season, he played very well, scoring 67 points. Because of his great play, the Boston Bruins picked him in the 5th round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 154th player chosen overall.

Turning Professional and AHL Career

Wacey became a professional player in the 2006–07 AHL season. He joined the Providence Bruins, which was the Boston Bruins' team in the American Hockey League (AHL). However, he was later sent to a lower league called the ECHL.

In January, the Vancouver Giants asked the Boston Bruins to send Wacey back to junior hockey. They wanted him to help their team get stronger for the 2007 Memorial Cup. Wacey was then traded from the Saskatoon Blades to the Vancouver Giants.

Winning the Memorial Cup

Back in the WHL, Wacey helped the Vancouver Giants reach the WHL Finals. They played against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Wacey scored 20 points in 22 games, but his team lost in a close seven-game series.

However, in the 2007 Memorial Cup tournament, the Giants met the Tigers again in the final game. This time, Wacey and the Giants won the championship! This was a big win for the team and for Wacey.

Playing for Different Teams

After the Memorial Cup, Wacey returned to the Providence Bruins for the 2007–08 AHL season. He continued to improve his game. In the 2009 off-season, the Bruins did not offer him a new contract. So, he signed with the Milwaukee Admirals, another AHL team.

In the 2009–10 AHL season, Wacey played 76 games for the Admirals. He then decided to play hockey outside of North America.

Adventures in European and Asian Hockey

Wacey joined the Croatian team KHL Medveščak in Europe in 2010. He quickly earned a contract after a successful try-out. He also played for the San Antonio Rampage in the AHL during the 2011–12 AHL season. He helped them make it to the playoffs.

In 2012, Wacey returned to Europe, signing with Lørenskog IK in Norway. He played three great seasons there. Then, in 2015, he signed with the Nippon Paper Cranes in Japan, playing in the Asia League Ice Hockey.

After playing a season in Italy with HC Pustertal Wölfe, Wacey came back to North America in 2017. He joined the Jacksonville Icemen in the ECHL. However, he soon returned to Europe to play for HC Dukla Jihlava in the Czech Republic. He later rejoined the Jacksonville Icemen in 2018.

Retirement from Playing

After playing professional hockey for 15 seasons, Wacey Rabbit announced his retirement on August 26, 2021.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Wacey Rabbit became a coach. He first worked as an assistant coach for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. This team plays in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). On June 27, 2022, Wacey joined the coaching staff of the Saskatoon Blades as an assistant coach.

Personal Life

Wacey Rabbit is of First Nations descent. He was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in the nearby Kainai Nation in southern Alberta.

Awards and Honours