Joel Rechlicz
Encyclopedia
Joel Rechlicz is an American
professional ice hockey
player currently signed in the Washington Capitals
organization and is currently playing for the Hershey Bears
of the American Hockey League
. Rechlicz is well known for playing the enforcer role and because of that he has earned himself the nickname "Wrecker" from many fans. He is billed as a tough as nails type of player. By signing a 3 year entry level contract with the Islanders in May 2008, Rechlicz becomes the first player from the reestablished International Hockey League (IHL) to earn his way to the top hockey league in the world.
and Indiana Ice
of the USHL in 05-06. He got his first taste of major junior hockey with a brief call up to the Gatineau Olympiques
of the QMJHL.
Rechlicz played major junior hockey for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
(QMJHL) at age 19. He then finished the season with the Sagueneens and after the completion of the junior season, Rechlicz made his professional debut with the Chicago Hounds
of the UHL. He played two games with the Chicago Hounds
in 06-07 and then began the 07-08 season with the Kalamazoo Wings
of the newly created International Hockey League. Although he received little ice time during his 25-game stint with Kalamazoo, Rechlicz received a call-up from the Albany River Rats
of the American Hockey League. Before the 08-09 season, Rechlicz signed a 3 year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders
. On March 5, 2009, Rechlicz made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders, recording an assist in the game. That same year Rechlicz played 17 games in the NHL from going to the ECHL
to the NHL in a very short amount of time. During the 2009-2010 season, Rechlicz made the Islanders out of training camp and started the year in the NHL shortly after he was assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
for more playing time.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Utah Grizzlies
Albany River Rats
Kalamazoo Wings
Chicago Hounds
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
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 currently signed in the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
organization and is currently playing for the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. Rechlicz is well known for playing the enforcer role and because of that he has earned himself the nickname "Wrecker" from many fans. He is billed as a tough as nails type of player. By signing a 3 year entry level contract with the Islanders in May 2008, Rechlicz becomes the first player from the reestablished International Hockey League (IHL) to earn his way to the top hockey league in the world.
Playing career
Before embarking on junior hockey, Joel played high school hockey for Brookfield, WI. From there, at the age of 16, he went on to play for the St. Paul Lakers in the Minnesota Junior Hockey League. From there the climb up the hockey ladder started. He played short stints in the Western States Hockey League and the North American Hockey League, for the Santa Fe Roadrunners. He then moved onto the Northern Michigan Black Bears of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League for a season and a half. He had brief stops with the Des Moines BuccaneersDes Moines Buccaneers
The Des Moines Buccaneers are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team of the United States Hockey League . The team played in the West Division starting in the 2009 - 2010 season....
and Indiana Ice
Indiana Ice
The Indiana Ice is a Tier I ice hockey team formed in 2004 when it was purchased from the former Danville, Illinois, USA, team, the Danville Wings. It plays the majority of its home games at the Pepsi Coliseum, located on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana. Some of its home...
of the USHL in 05-06. He got his first taste of major junior hockey with a brief call up to the Gatineau Olympiques
Gatineau Olympiques
The Gatineau Olympiques are a major junior ice hockey team playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League out of Gatineau, Quebec. The Olympiques play out of the Robert Guertin Centre. The club, then known as the Hull Festivals, was granted membership in the QMJHL in 1973. The Olympiques have...
of the QMJHL.
Rechlicz played major junior hockey for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Chicoutimi Saguenéens
The Chicoutimi Saguenéens are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Chicoutimi, Quebec . The team plays its home games at the Centre Georges-Vézina.-History:...
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL) at age 19. He then finished the season with the Sagueneens and after the completion of the junior season, Rechlicz made his professional debut with the Chicago Hounds
Chicago Hounds
The Chicago Hounds were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League for the 2006-07 UHL season. They played their home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Hounds franchise was officially a relocation of the Richmond RiverDogs franchise, which played in...
of the UHL. He played two games with the Chicago Hounds
Chicago Hounds
The Chicago Hounds were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League for the 2006-07 UHL season. They played their home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Hounds franchise was officially a relocation of the Richmond RiverDogs franchise, which played in...
in 06-07 and then began the 07-08 season with the Kalamazoo Wings
Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
of the newly created International Hockey League. Although he received little ice time during his 25-game stint with Kalamazoo, Rechlicz received a call-up from the Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
of the American Hockey League. Before the 08-09 season, Rechlicz signed a 3 year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. On March 5, 2009, Rechlicz made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders, recording an assist in the game. That same year Rechlicz played 17 games in the NHL from going to the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
to the NHL in a very short amount of time. During the 2009-2010 season, Rechlicz made the Islanders out of training camp and started the year in the NHL shortly after he was assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. It has been the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who also own the franchise, since its inception, and use the same team colors as the parent Islanders do. The team is based in...
for more playing time.
Transactions
- May 6, 2008 - Signed by the New York IslandersNew York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as a free agent to a three year entry level deal worth 1.575 million
- July 13, 2010 - Joel Rechlicz had an agreement with the Islanders for a mutual release of his contract for reasons unknown and was put on Unconditional waivers by the Islanders, his last year of his NHL contract was terminated and he became an unrestricated free agent after he cleared waivers on July 14, 2010.
- July 29, 2010 - Joel Rechlicz signs a contract with the calder cup champions the Hershey BearsHershey BearsThe Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
the top affiliate of the Washington CapitalsWashington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.
Former Teams
New York IslandersNew York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. It has been the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who also own the franchise, since its inception, and use the same team colors as the parent Islanders do. The team is based in...
Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
Kalamazoo Wings
Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
Chicago Hounds
Chicago Hounds
The Chicago Hounds were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League for the 2006-07 UHL season. They played their home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Hounds franchise was officially a relocation of the Richmond RiverDogs franchise, which played in...