Patrick O'Sullivan (ice hockey)

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Center
shoots = Left
nickname = Sully
height_ft = 5
height_in = 11
weight_lb = 190
team = Los Angeles Kings
league = NHL
nationality = USA
nationality_2 = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1985|2|1|mf=y
birth_place = Toronto, ON, CAN
draft = 56th overall
draft_year = 2003
draft_team = Minnesota Wild


career_start = 2005

Patrick O'Sullivan (born February 1 1985, Toronto, Ontario) is an American ice hockey forward for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.

His father, John O'Sullivan, a Toronto native, played for the minor-league Winston-Salem Thunderbirds of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. O'Sullivan was born in Canada but grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Playing career

Amateur years

Off the ice, he was well known for the abuse he took from his father John O'Sullivan from the time he was nine years old. The abuse continued up to the time he started playing for the Mississauga Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League. Some notable acts were mainly verbal and physical abuse when Patrick had an off-game. There were also reports of John threatening and intimidating him. The abuse escalated at an OHL game where John was screaming, swearing and pounding on the glass. The abuse reached a point where Patrick pressed charges against his father and filed a restraining order against him.

Patrick was projected to be a first round draft pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft but due to the off-ice issues with his father, most teams saw him as a liability, despite having impressive on-ice statistics.

Professional career

He was drafted in the second round 56th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild. He played his first season for their AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, during the 2005–06 season. He had a great season, scoring 47 goals, with a total of 93 points, breaking all Houston Aeros' rookie records. However, the Aeros fell during the Division Finals to the Milwaukee Admirals.

During the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, he was traded by the Minnesota Wild along with their 17th overall pick (Trevor Lewis), obtained in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers for Dwayne Roloson, to the Los Angeles Kings for Pavol Demitra.

He began the 2006–07 NHL season with the Kings when he made his NHL debut on October 6, 2006, and became the first person from North Carolina to play in the NHL. On November 2, 2006, he was assigned to the Manchester Monarchs, the Kings' AHL affiliate. On January 25, 2007, he was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings from the Monarchs.

Awards

* 2001: Jack Ferguson Award (OHL Top Draft Pick)
* 2001–02: Emms Family Award (OHL Rookie of the Year)
* 2001–02: Rookie of the Year (CHL)
* 2004: Gold Medal (2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships)
* 2005–06: Played in the AHL All-Star Classic for Planet USA
* 2005–06: AHL All-Rookie Team
* 2005–06: Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award (AHL Rookie of the Year)
* 2006–07: Named to roster for Planet USA in the AHL All-Star Classic (did not participate)

Records

* Mississauga IceDogs franchise record for most regular season assists: (2001–02) - 59
* Mississauga IceDogs franchise record for most regular season points:(2001–02) - 92
* Houston Aeros franchise record for most regular season goals by a rookie: (2005–06) - 47
* Houston Aeros franchise single season record for most goals: (2005–06) - 47
* Houston Aeros franchise record for most regular season assists by a rookie: (2005–06) - 46
* Houston Aeros franchise record for most regular season points by a rookie: (2005–06) - 93

Career statistics

International play

Played for the United States in:
* 2003 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
* 2004 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
* 2005 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
* 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
* 2008 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships

International statistics

Links

* [http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/whoselifeisit/story.html The Fifth Estate: Patrick O'Sullivan Story] . 17 March 2004.
*
* [http://www.rinkratmag.com/sully.html RinkRat vs. Sully]