Patrick Kaleta

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team=Buffalo Sabres
league = NHL
position = Right Wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 180
nickname = Klatsy [ [http://letsgosabres.com/team/profile.php?playerid=36 LetsGoSabres.com | Buffalo Sabres | Patrick Kaleta | 36 ] ] , Bricks
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1986|6|8
birth_place = Angola, NY, U.S.
draft = 176th overall
draft_year = 2004
draft_team = Buffalo Sabres


career_start = 2006
career_end =

Patrick Kałeta (born June 8, 1986, in Angola, New York) is a professional ice hockey right wing. He was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the sixth round, 176th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Kaleta spent his junior hockey career with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League where he compiled 147 points and 460 penalty minutes in four seasons. Kaleta signed his first professional contract in June 2006 with the Buffalo Sabres.

In the 2006 OHL playoffs, Kaleta scored 8 goals and added 10 assists as Peterborough reached the Memorial Cup, the four-team Canadian junior championship tournament.

After two years of playing for St. Francis High School's Prep hockey team in Athol Springs, a few minutes south of Buffalo, New York, Pat took the step to the next level. During his sophomore year at St. Francis, Kaleta wowed OHL scouts at the St. Andrew's MacPherson Tournament in Toronto. His career received a kickstart that season when the Peterborough Petes selected him with the 31st overall pick during the 2002 OHL Priority Selection draft. After being drafted, Kaleta returned to his home town of Angola, NY where he graduated from Lake Shore Senior High.

On February 21, 2007, Kaleta was called up from the Rochester Americans by his parent club, the Buffalo Sabres. In his first NHL game on February 22, 2007 against the Ottawa Senators, he earned his first NHL point -- an assist on a goal by Clarke MacArthur -- and his first NHL fight against Ottawa's Chris Phillips. Patrick Kaleta scored his first NHL goal [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=M7fEhD7gFwA YouTube - Pat Kaleta's First NHL Goal with goal announced ] ] on February 10 2008 against the Florida Panthers. As of February 29 2008, Kaleta has had 82 hits in 25 games he has played this season on the Buffalo Sabres.

Kaleta is just the third Buffalo-area resident to play for the hometown Sabres in the regular season. Buffalo's Peter Ciavaglia played in 5 games between 1991 and 1993. Scott Thomas played 39 games for the Sabres between 1992 and 1994. Also, Fort Erie's Randy Burridge played with the Sabres from 1995 to 1998.

tats

External links

*hockeydb|71826
* [http://letsgosabres.com/team/profile.php?playerid=36 LGS: Player Profile - Patrick Kaleta]
* [http://hockeyfights.com/players/2272 Hockeyfights.com - Patrick Kaleta]
* [http://www.letsgosabres.com/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10159 LGS: Buffalo's Kaleta learning, giving lessons on ice]
* [http://www.letsgosabres.com/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10413 LGS: Buffalo's Own; Kaleta relishes his hometown role with Sabres]

References