Blake Wheeler

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team= Boston Bruins
former_teams =
league = NHL
position = Right Wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 4
weight_lb = 219
nickname = "Whoops"
nationality = USA
birth_date = Birth date and age|1986|8|31|mf=y
birth_place = Plymouth, MN, USA
draft = 5th overall
draft_year = 2004

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image_size = 150px
draft_team = Boston Bruins
career_start = 2008

Blake Wheeler (born August 31, 1986 in Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S.) is an American ice hockey right wing playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the first round, 5th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Wheeler attended Wayzata Senior High School for his freshman year, transferring soon after to Breck School. There, during his junior year, Wheeler had his breakout season, putting up prolific numbers (45 goals and 55 assists). During that 2003–2004 season, Wheeler led the state in scoring. He led his team to a State Hockey Championship that season, and scored a hat trick in the final game.

Wheeler opted to forego his senior year to play in the United States Hockey League with the Green Bay Gamblers. After playing one season with the Gamblers, Wheeler entered the University of Minnesota. In 2005–06, his freshman year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, he played in 39 games and recorded 23 points, and was a teammate of future Boston Bruins forward Phil Kessel. Wheeler is praised for his deceptive speed with his large body frame, and his ability to stick handle at such high speeds.

In the 2007 WCHA Final Five tournament Wheeler had a hat trick in a 4–2 win in the semifinal game against the University of Wisconsin-Madison. [http://wcco.com/sports/local_story_075230122.html WCHA Final Five: Gophers Win, Wheeler Hat Trick] . "WCCO-TV". Accessed on July 29, 2007.] In the championship game Wheeler scored the winning goal in a 3–2 overtime win against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. The play was featured on ESPN's SportsCenter and quickly gained notoriety for its similarity to the game-winning goal in the 1979 NCAA Championship Game, scored by Minnesota's Neal Broten, also against North Dakota. [http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=38855&SPID=3322&DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=829335 Blake Wheeler Goal Makes ESPN's Top 10 Plays] . "GopherSports.com". Accessed on July 29, 2007.] Wheeler was named the tournament MVP. [http://wcco.com/sports/local_story_077100640.html Gophers Defeat N.D. In OT, 3-2] . "WCCO-TV". Accessed on July 29, 2007.]

Early in the 2007–2008 season following injuries to Ryan Stoa and Mike Howe, Wheeler became an alternate captain.

Four years after he was drafted, Wheeler had yet to come to a contract agreement with the Coyotes. Given the option, Wheeler elected to become an unrestricted free agent after being offered the maximum entry-level contract. [ [http://coyotes.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=364733 Former Coyotes draft pick Blake Wheeler elects for free agency] . Phoenix Coyotes. May 29, 2008.]

On July 1, 2008, Wheeler signed an entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. [ [http://bruins.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=367312 Boston Bruins Sign Forward Blake Wheeler] . Bruins.nhl.com. July 1, 2008.]

On October 7, 2008, The Boston Bruins made their final cuts for the 2008-09 season and Blake Wheeler remained with the NHL club. On October 9, 2008, Wheeler scored his very first NHL goal, in his first-ever NHL regular season game, against goaltender Peter Budaj of the Colorado Avalanche in his NHL debut. [http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2008020006]

References

External links

*
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK8Q2BJ_CPQ&mode=related&search= Wheeler's 2007 Final Five game winning goal] at YouTube