Jochen Hecht

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size=150px
team=Buffalo Sabres
former_teams =St. Louis Blues
Edmonton Oilers
Adler Mannheim
league = NHL
position = Centre
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 1
weight_lb = 199
nicknames = Smokin' Jochen, Jo' Jo' (pronounced: Yo Yo)
nationality = GER
birth_date = birth date and age|1977|6|21
birth_place = Mannheim, West Germany
draft = 49th overall
draft_year = 1995
draft_team = St. Louis Blues
career_start = 1994

Jochen Hecht (born June 21, 1977 in Mannheim, West Germany) is a forward and alternate captain for the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL. He is one of the few German-born players in the league.

Player History

The St. Louis Blues selected Hecht in the second round, 49th overall, of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft from Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey-Liga. Hecht played two full seasons for the Blues, compiling 32 goals and 46 assists before being dealt, along with Marty Reasoner and Jan Horacek, to the Edmonton Oilers for Doug Weight and Michel Riesen on July 1, 2001.

After appearing in a full season with the Oilers, Hecht was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 31st and 36th picks in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Hecht appeared in four games with team Germany at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. He scored a goal and an assist as Germany finished eighth. He had been named to the team for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy however he was injured in his last NHL game before the Olympic break and was unable to play.

2006–07 Season

Jochen Hecht had his most successful NHL season, in terms of points scored, in 2006–2007 with 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists).

2007–08 Season

Hecht was chosen as the Captain for the month of October 2007 and later during February 2008. He is the second German born player to captain an NHL team. Walt Tkaczuk was the first. The "C" will rotate each month. On October 16, 2007 Hecht agreed to a 4 year $14.1 million dollar contract, which will keep him in Buffalo until the 2011–2012 season.

Hecht scored his 300th career point on October 26, 2007 when he scored against Florida Panthers' goaltender Tomas Vokoun.

In the 2007–08 season he scored 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points in 73 games played.

Career statistics

External links

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* [http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8462077&service=page&tab=crs Jochen Hecht - Sabres.com]
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