Andy Bezeau
Encyclopedia
Andy Bezeau is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey
player who played 10 seasons in the minor leagues.
, Bezeau reported to the Bruins ECHL affiliate in Johnstown
. Despite scoring 11 goals and 21 points in 28 games, Bezeau was traded to the Richmond Renegades
for future considerations.
Bezeau moved to the Colonial Hockey League for the 1992-93 and 1993–94 and had back to back 18 goal, 240 PIM seasons. He returned to the ECHL for the end of the 1993-94 season as a member of the South Carolina Stingrays
. Bezeau only played 36 games with the Stingrays but recorded 20 points. Bezeau also totals 352 penalty minutes, which was the second highest total in the league. Trevor Buchanan, a former Hartford Whalers
draft pick, recorded 422 penalty minutes - 70 more than Bezeau - but also played in 29 more games than Bezeau.
After splitting the 1994-95 season with the Brantford Smoke and the Muskegon Fury, Bezeau spent his next four seasons in the IHL. Bezeau recorded a record 590 penalty minutes during the 1995-96 IHL season, 176 more than Las Vegas Thunder
forward Sasha Lakovic
.
Bezeau was involved with one of the IHL's strangest trades at the start of the 1996-97 season. Bezeau was upset with the Komets and demanded a trade, even going as far as attending training camp with the Michigan K-Wings while still officially being a member of the Komets' roster. Bezeau would officially be traded to the K-Wings for "future considerations", which ended up being two equipment dryers that used to be part of the Phoenix Roadrunners organization. Bezeau played one game with the K-Wings before the trade was officially voided by the league. Bezeau would later be traded to the Detroit Vipers
.
Bezeau started the 1999-2000 season as a training camp invite to the Tampa Bay Lightning
, but he was released and assigned to the Detroit Vipers. Bezeau was released from the Vipers in January 2000 and signed with the London Knights
of the Ice Hockey Superleague
.
Bezeau played one game with the Providence Bruins
and retired in 2001. He retired from the IHL with the 19th highest PIM total in league history despite only playing five seasons in the league. In his ten league career, Bezeau accumulated 3477 penalty minutes, which is 18th highest in minor league history.
Bezeau has also formed his own company, Express Hockey Inc., which also offers clinics on advanced skating techniques.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who played 10 seasons in the minor leagues.
Playing career
After being drafted by the Boston Bruins in the 11th round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft1990 NHL Entry Draft
The 1990 National Hockey League Entry Draft was the 28th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 16, 1990...
, Bezeau reported to the Bruins ECHL affiliate in Johnstown
Johnstown Chiefs
The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed...
. Despite scoring 11 goals and 21 points in 28 games, Bezeau was traded to the Richmond Renegades
Richmond Renegades
The Richmond Renegades was a SPHL ice hockey team in Richmond, Virginia. The team, owned by Allan B. Harvie Jr., the founder of the former ECHL Renegades franchise, began play in October 2006 at the Richmond Coliseum. The team's first head coach was John Brophy...
for future considerations.
Bezeau moved to the Colonial Hockey League for the 1992-93 and 1993–94 and had back to back 18 goal, 240 PIM seasons. He returned to the ECHL for the end of the 1993-94 season as a member of the South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina Stingrays
The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
. Bezeau only played 36 games with the Stingrays but recorded 20 points. Bezeau also totals 352 penalty minutes, which was the second highest total in the league. Trevor Buchanan, a former Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
draft pick, recorded 422 penalty minutes - 70 more than Bezeau - but also played in 29 more games than Bezeau.
After splitting the 1994-95 season with the Brantford Smoke and the Muskegon Fury, Bezeau spent his next four seasons in the IHL. Bezeau recorded a record 590 penalty minutes during the 1995-96 IHL season, 176 more than Las Vegas Thunder
Las Vegas Thunder
The Las Vegas Thunder were an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League. The team's home rink was at the Thomas & Mack Center. They began play in the 1993–1994 season, folding on April 18, 1999...
forward Sasha Lakovic
Sasha Lakovic
Sasha "The Basha, Pitbull" Lakovic is a retired professional ice hockey player who played for 17 different professional teams during his career...
.
Bezeau was involved with one of the IHL's strangest trades at the start of the 1996-97 season. Bezeau was upset with the Komets and demanded a trade, even going as far as attending training camp with the Michigan K-Wings while still officially being a member of the Komets' roster. Bezeau would officially be traded to the K-Wings for "future considerations", which ended up being two equipment dryers that used to be part of the Phoenix Roadrunners organization. Bezeau played one game with the K-Wings before the trade was officially voided by the league. Bezeau would later be traded to the Detroit Vipers
Detroit Vipers
The Detroit Vipers was an International Hockey League team. The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.-Beginning:...
.
Bezeau started the 1999-2000 season as a training camp invite to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
, but he was released and assigned to the Detroit Vipers. Bezeau was released from the Vipers in January 2000 and signed with the London Knights
London Knights (UK)
London Knights were an English ice hockey team based in London. They first played in the UK's Ice Hockey Superleague in September 1998 and finally folded in April 2003....
of the Ice Hockey Superleague
Ice Hockey Superleague
The Ice Hockey Superleague was a professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom between 1996 and 2003. Formed in 1995, it replaced the Premier Division of the British Hockey League, it was the highest level of ice hockey competition in the United Kingdom...
.
Bezeau played one game with the Providence Bruins
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...
and retired in 2001. He retired from the IHL with the 19th highest PIM total in league history despite only playing five seasons in the league. In his ten league career, Bezeau accumulated 3477 penalty minutes, which is 18th highest in minor league history.
Personal
Since his retirement in 2001, Bezeau has been involved in several hockey training schools. He is a certified power skating instructor with Skate Canada. In late 2008, Bezeau teamed up with Jamie Fox to form Ozone Hockey in the Canadian Maritimes. Ozone Hockey, Inc. is a "Calgary-based franchise in Saint John offering clinics on power skating, stick handling and checking as well as coach mentoring for interested minor hockey organizations and teams."Bezeau has also formed his own company, Express Hockey Inc., which also offers clinics on advanced skating techniques.
Awards
- 1992-93, Leader, Penalty Minutes (278 PIM, Brantford Smoke)
- 1994-95, Leader, Penalty Minutes (542 PIM, Brantford Smoke/Muskegon Fury)
- 1995-96, Leader, Penalty Minutes (590 PIM, Fort Wayne Komets)