Calagary Flame's Todd Bertuzzi and His Hockey Career

Todd Bertuzzi is a big name in hockey, and that can be expected from a player that has been in the NHL for over ten years. Todd Bertuzzi was born in Sudbury, Ontario in Canada on February 2, 1975, making him thirty-four years old. Bertuzzi is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 231 pounds. Todd Bertuzzi's hockey career first began in the 1990-1991 season when he played for the Sudbury Wolf Cubs in the OMHA (Ontario Minor Hockey Association) league, which is the largest hockey league in the entire world. From there, Todd Bertuzzi moved on to the OHL (Ontario Hockey League), which is one of the three leagues that make up the CHL (Canadian Hockey League), where he played for the Guelph Storm. Bertuzzi was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1993, 23rd overall, but remained in the OHL with the Guelph Storm until 1995. In 1995, he was selected to play in the OHL Second All Star Team.

Todd Bertuzzi made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders in the 1995-1996 season. The following season, he was sent back down to an IHL (International Hockey League), the Utah Grizzlies. The IHL no longer exists, but while it did, was supposed to serve as an alternate feeder league to the NHL, much like the AHL (American Hockey League). After one season with the Utah Grizzlies, Todd Bertuzzi was moved back to the New York Islanders for the 1996-1997 season, and played there the following season as well. In the 1998-1999 season, Todd Bertuzzi went to play for the Vancouver Canucks, the team he stayed with the longest. He played with the Vancouver Canucks from 1998 to 2006, although he did not play during the 2004-2005 NHL lockout. While Todd Bertuzzi played with the Canucks, he was awarded the Most Exciting Player award in 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Bertuzzi also holds the Canuck's record for the longest point streak (15). While he was with the Vancouver Canucks, he was selected to play in the All Star Game in 2003 and 2004.

After a very long time with the Canucks, Todd Bertuzzi went on to play with the Florida Panthers during the 2006-2007 season. During this season, he was having back problems and had to undergo surgery which meant that he had to sit out for twelve to sixteen weeks. He only played seven games with the Panthers and was traded before the deadline to the Detroit Red Wings, where he finished out the rest of the season. For the 2007-2008 season, Todd Bertuzzi headed over the Anaheim Ducks and played with them one season. In this past season, he played with the Calgary Flames, but had to undergo knee surgery in March and was sidelined.

In 1998, Bertuzzi represented Canada when he played for them in the World Championship. Two years later, in 2000, he again played in the World Championship for Canada, but again failed to win a medal. He played for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics, but again failed to bring home any kind of medal.

ref-www.nhl.com