Mark Bultje
Encyclopedia
Mark Bultje is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
player.
at ECHL
level. After 15 games for the Panthers, he moved to ECHL rivals the Huntsville Blast
. Bultje was a solid player and in 27 appearances for the two organisations, he managed 13 points and clocked 29 penalty minutes. After taking a season away from the professional game, Bultje would sign for the Jacksonville Bullets
for the 1995/96 season, a team icing in the short-lived Sunshine Hockey League
. After the SHL and all its teams folded at the end of the 1996 season, Bultje chose to remain in Florida, signing for the newly relocated Louisville Ice Hawks, now called the Jacksonville Lizard Kings
.
In the Lizard Kings' first season in the ECHL
, Bultje found himself struggling for a first team place and managed just 16 appearances all year. His next foray into professional ice hockey would be for the 1998/99 term, when he chose to sign for the UHL Mohawk Valley Prowlers
. It would be one of Bultje's most productive seasons, and in 39 games he managed 42 points. Despite this production, a mid-season move would ensue for Bultje and he transferred to the Winston-Salem IceHawks
, for whom he made just under 20 regular season appearances as well as assisting with the play off campaign.
Bultje would make a significant move for the 1999/00 season, and chose to ply his trade in Europe, signing for the London Knights
of the ISL
, the highest standard of league then present in the U.K.
. Bultje put in a strong showing in his first season abroad, helping the Knights into the play-offs in the process. Bultje chose to remain in England the following season, signing for the Bracknell Bees
, again at ISL level. After another impressive season, Bultje would be picked up by the Manchester Storm
, once the best supported ice hockey organisation in Europe.
Bultje again produced, scoring almost a point a game throughout the season. Despite this, the 2002/03 season would prove to be a chaotic one for the hard-working forward. It would be split between three organisations; the Amsterdam Tigers, playing in the Dutch League, the Hull Thunder
, then of the British National League
and a second spell at the ill-fated Manchester Storm
organisation before they folded due to off ice financial problems.
Even though the previous Manchester franchise had collapsed, Bultje chose to remain in the city, and signed for the Manchester Phoenix
, an organisation which was established after the demise of the previous club. Bultje played for the Phoenix in their debut season, 2003/04. It was also the debut of the newly organised Elite Ice Hockey League
, set up to replace the collapsing ISL
.
After just 18 appearances for the Phoenix however, Bultje chose to return to Amsterdam, signing for the Bulldogs. Here he would finish the 2003/04 season before choosing to remain in the city and re-sign for the Amsterdam Tigers, for whom he would play for throughout the duration of the 2004/05 season.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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.
Career
Bultje began his career in 1993, playing for the now defunct Erie PanthersErie Panthers
The Erie Panthers were a professional hockey team, and one of the founding members in the East Coast Hockey League. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1996, they were one of the most prolific teams in the ECHL. The Panthers were known for their ability to score goals quickly and often, as...
at ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
level. After 15 games for the Panthers, he moved to ECHL rivals the Huntsville Blast
Huntsville Blast
The Huntsville Blast was a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the East Coast Hockey League . The Blast played at the Von Braun Center Arena in Huntsville, Alabama for the 1993–94 ECHL season. Previously the franchise played as the Roanoke Valley Rampage in Vinton, Virginia...
. Bultje was a solid player and in 27 appearances for the two organisations, he managed 13 points and clocked 29 penalty minutes. After taking a season away from the professional game, Bultje would sign for the Jacksonville Bullets
Jacksonville Bullets
The Jacksonville Bullets were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They played in the Sunshine Hockey League, later renamed the Southern Hockey League, from 1992–1996...
for the 1995/96 season, a team icing in the short-lived Sunshine Hockey League
Sunshine Hockey League
The Sunshine Hockey League was a low-minors professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 to 1995. The league was based in Florida and consisted of five teams in its inaugural 1992-93 season....
. After the SHL and all its teams folded at the end of the 1996 season, Bultje chose to remain in Florida, signing for the newly relocated Louisville Ice Hawks, now called the Jacksonville Lizard Kings
Jacksonville Lizard Kings
Jacksonville Lizard Kings were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. Formerly known as the Louisville Icehawks, they played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1995–2000...
.
In the Lizard Kings' first season in 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...
, Bultje found himself struggling for a first team place and managed just 16 appearances all year. His next foray into professional ice hockey would be for the 1998/99 term, when he chose to sign for the UHL Mohawk Valley Prowlers
Mohawk Valley Prowlers
The Mohawk Valley Prowlers were a UHL team which played from 1998 until January 2001 in Utica, New York. They were formerly the Dayton Ice Bandits...
. It would be one of Bultje's most productive seasons, and in 39 games he managed 42 points. Despite this production, a mid-season move would ensue for Bultje and he transferred to the Winston-Salem IceHawks
Winston-Salem IceHawks
The Winston-Salem IceHawks were a UHL from 1997-1999. They played in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They later became the Adirondack IceHawks....
, for whom he made just under 20 regular season appearances as well as assisting with the play off campaign.
Bultje would make a significant move for the 1999/00 season, and chose to ply his trade in Europe, signing for the London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
of the ISL
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...
, the highest standard of league then present in the U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Bultje put in a strong showing in his first season abroad, helping the Knights into the play-offs in the process. Bultje chose to remain in England the following season, signing for the Bracknell Bees
Bracknell Bees
The Bracknell Bees are an ice hockey team from Bracknell, Berkshire, UK.-Early years:The Bracknell Bees were formed in 1987, under the ownership of John Nike OBE. Bees began life in the Heineken League Division Two, under the leadership of former Durham Wasps and Nottingham Panthers forward, Jamie...
, again at ISL level. After another impressive season, Bultje would be picked up by the Manchester Storm
Manchester Storm
The Manchester Storm were an ice hockey team from Manchester, England. The team formed in 1995, playing their home games at the then newly built Nynex Arena . Storm won the British Hockey League Division One in their first season, watched by an average crowd of 6,342...
, once the best supported ice hockey organisation in Europe.
Bultje again produced, scoring almost a point a game throughout the season. Despite this, the 2002/03 season would prove to be a chaotic one for the hard-working forward. It would be split between three organisations; the Amsterdam Tigers, playing in the Dutch League, the Hull Thunder
Hull Thunder
The Hull Thunder were a British ice hockey club from Kingston upon Hull, England. Formed in 1999, they competed in the now defunct British National League playing their home games at Humberside Ice Arena ....
, then of the British National League
British National League
The British National League is a defunct second-level professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. Although no formal promotion and relegation existed during its period of existence, it was considered to have a standard below that of the Ice Hockey Superleague and above that of the...
and a second spell at the ill-fated Manchester Storm
Manchester Storm
The Manchester Storm were an ice hockey team from Manchester, England. The team formed in 1995, playing their home games at the then newly built Nynex Arena . Storm won the British Hockey League Division One in their first season, watched by an average crowd of 6,342...
organisation before they folded due to off ice financial problems.
Even though the previous Manchester franchise had collapsed, Bultje chose to remain in the city, and signed for the Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix
Manchester Phoenix are a professional ice hockey team from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The club was formed in 2003 as a result of the efforts of supporters group Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey to bring top-level ice hockey back to Manchester after Manchester Storm folded in...
, an organisation which was established after the demise of the previous club. Bultje played for the Phoenix in their debut season, 2003/04. It was also the debut of the newly organised Elite Ice Hockey League
Elite Ice Hockey League
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other...
, set up to replace the collapsing ISL
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...
.
After just 18 appearances for the Phoenix however, Bultje chose to return to Amsterdam, signing for the Bulldogs. Here he would finish the 2003/04 season before choosing to remain in the city and re-sign for the Amsterdam Tigers, for whom he would play for throughout the duration of the 2004/05 season.
After retirement
Bultje retired from the game in 2005 to pursue a career outside of professional sport, and he is currently employed as a real estate agent in his native Canada.External links
- Mark Bultje Personal Profile, Manchester Phoenix Official Website.
- "About Mark Bultje", MarkBultje.com