- Michael Vernace
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Michael Vernace Born May 26, 1986
Toronto, ON, CANHeight 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) Position Defence Shoots Left NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teamsTampa Bay Lightning
Norfolk Admirals (AHL)
Colorado AvalancheNHL Draft 201st overall, 2004
San Jose SharksPlaying career 2006–present Michael Vernace (born May 26, 1986 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman who currently plays for the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League, under contract to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization of the NHL.
Contents
Playing career
Vernace grew up playing most of his minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, finishing his minor career with the 2001-02 Mississauga Reps Bantams. After that season, Vernace was a 9th round choice (163rd overall) in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection by the Brampton Battalion.
The following season, Vernace was assigned by the Battalion to the OHA Jr.A. Bramalea Blues.
Vernace was drafted 201st overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft from the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League. He attended Chaminade College School for his high school education.
On June 1, 2006, Vernace was traded by the Sharks to the Colorado Avalanche for a 6th round drafts pick and was signed to an entry level contract.[1] Vernace made his professional debut with the Arizona Sundogs of the CHL before joining the Avalanche's affiliate the Albany River Rats of the AHL in the 2006–07 season.
Vernace joined new Avalanche affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, for their inaugural season in the 2007–08 season, leading the Monsters in games played with 79. After spending the majority of the 2008–09 season with the Monsters, Vernace received his first NHL call-up on March 16, 2009.[2] He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild on March 17, 2009.[3]
After not being offered a contract with the Avalanche, Vernace a free agent, signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Thrashers on July 30, 2009.[4] On September 26, 2009, Vernace was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the beginning of the 2009–10 season.[5] After 47 games with the Wolves, Vernace was then re-assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs on March 10, 2010.[6] He recorded 4 assists in 18 post season games to help the Bulldogs reach the Western Conference finals.
On June 23, 2010, Vernace was traded by the Thrashers, along with Brett Sterling and a 7th round selection in 2010 NHL Entry Draft, back to the Sharks for future considerations in order to help the Thrashers facilitate an earlier trade of Dustin Byfuglien from the Chicago Blackhawks.[7]
Unable to come to terms with San Jose, Vernace signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 29, 2010, to a one year, two-way contract.[8]
Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2003–04 Bramalea Blues OPJHL 33 3 12 15 16 — — — — — 2003–04 Brampton Battalion OHL 2 1 1 2 0 11 2 3 5 8 2004–05 Brampton Battalion OHL 68 12 38 50 42 6 2 2 4 0 2005–06 Brampton Battalion OHL 68 10 62 72 54 11 1 5 6 6 2006–07 Arizona Sundogs CHL 24 3 11 14 20 — — — — — 2006–07 Albany River Rats AHL 30 1 11 12 35 — — — — — 2007–08 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 79 3 26 29 59 — — — — — 2008–09 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 65 3 14 17 52 — — — — — 2008–09 Colorado Avalanche NHL 12 0 0 0 8 — — — — — 2009–10 Chicago Wolves AHL 47 2 10 12 29 — — — — — 2009–10 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 15 0 1 1 23 18 0 4 4 8 2010–11 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 10 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2010–11 Norfolk Admirals AHL 68 7 21 28 60 6 0 2 2 8 NHL totals 22 0 1 1 10 — — — — — Awards and honours
Award Year Ontario Hockey League First All-Rookie Team 2004–05 References
- ^ "Avalanche acquires defensive prospect". Colorado Avalanche. 2006-06-01. http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=318757&page=NewsPage&service=page. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ^ "Avalanche recalls Vernace". Colorado Avalanche. 2009-03-16. http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=414135&page=NewsPage&service=page. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ^ "Defensemen make debuts in Avs' loss". Denver Post. 2009-03-17. http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_11938072. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
- ^ "Thrashers sign unrestricted free agents, Josh Gratton and Mike Vernace". Atlanta Thrashers. 2009-07-30. http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=457908. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ "Thrashers assign nine players from training camp roster". Atlanta Thrashers. 2009-09-26. http://thrashers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=499933. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ "Wolves get Stewart, Bulldogs add Vernace". The AHL. 2010-03-10. http://theahl.com/wolves-get-stewart-bulldogs-add-vernace-p141321. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
- ^ "Sharks playing a role in deal thats sending Dustin Byfuglien to Eastern Conference". Mercury News. 2010-06-23. http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2010/06/23/sharks-playing-a-role-in-deal-thats-sending-dustin-byfuglien-to-eastern-conference/. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
- ^ "Lightning sign trio of defencemen". TSN. 2010-07-29. http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=328867. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
External links
Categories:- 1986 births
- Living people
- Albany River Rats players
- Arizona Sundogs players
- Brampton Battalion alumni
- Chicago Wolves players
- Colorado Avalanche players
- Hamilton Bulldogs players
- Lake Erie Monsters players
- Norfolk Admirals players
- People from Toronto
- San Jose Sharks draft picks
- Tampa Bay Lightning players
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