Blake Wheeler
| Position | Right Wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| Nickname(s) | "Wheels" |
| Height Weight |
ft in
( m) 219 lb (100 kg) |
| NHL Team (P) Cur. Team |
Phoenix Coyotes Minnesota (WCHA) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | August 31 1986 , Plymouth, MN, U.S. |
| NHL Draft | 5th overall, 2004 Phoenix Coyotes |
| Pro Career | TBA – present |
Blake Wheeler (born August 31, 1986 in Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S.) is an American ice hockey right wing. He was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round, 5th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
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 Golden Gophers, he played in 39 games and recorded 23 points. 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.[1] 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.[2] Wheeler was named the tournament MVP.[3]
References
- ^ WCHA Final Five: Gophers Win, Wheeler Hat Trick. WCCO. Accessed on July 29, 2007.
- ^ Blake Wheeler Goal Makes ESPN's Top 10 Plays. GopherSports.com. Accessed on July 29, 2007.
- ^ Gophers Defeat N.D. In OT, 3-2. WCCO. Accessed on July 29, 2007.
External links
- Blake Wheeler's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- Wheeler's 2007 Final Five game winning goal at YouTube
Jets: Mann • Babych • Hawerchuk • Kyte • McBain •
Dollas • Stewart • Elynuik • Marchment • Selanne • Barnes • Tkachuk •
Ward • Bautin • Lindgren • Doan
Coyotes: Focht • Briere • DesRochers • Kelman • Safronov • Kolanos • Sjostrom • Koreis • Eager •
Wheeler • Hanzal • Mueller • Summers • Turris • Ross
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