Tomáš Jurčo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tomáš Jurčo
2019 Calder Cup Finals - Game 1 - Chicago Wolves at Charlotte Checkers - June 1, 2019 - Tomáš Jurčo (48039014107).jpg
Jurčo with the Charlotte Checkers in 2019
Born (1992-12-28) 28 December 1992 (age 31)
Košice, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Avangard Omsk
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Edmonton Oilers
Vegas Golden Knights
Barys Nur-Sultan
Kunlun Red Star
HC Davos
National team  Slovakia
NHL Draft 35th overall, 2011
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 2009–present

Tomáš Jurčo (born 28 December 1992) is a Slovak professional ice hockey right winger who is currently playing for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He began playing hockey in the HC Košice before moving to North America in 2009 to play for the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He spent three seasons with Saint John, helping them win the Memorial Cup as major junior champions of Canada in 2011. Jurčo was drafted in the second round, 35th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career[edit]

Junior[edit]

At the 2009 CHL Import Draft, Jurčo was selected fourth overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).[1] He joined the team that year and was nominated for the 2009–10 QMJHL Rookie of the Year award. His skill set involves a unique set of hands and a good sense of vision on the ice, and he was compared to his favourite player and fellow countryman, Marián Hossa. Jurčo's videos demonstrating his skills are popular among hockey fans on YouTube.[2] Jurčo was a key contributor in the Sea Dogs' Memorial Cup championship title in 2011, where Saint John defeated the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 3–1 in the Final.[3]

On 25 June 2011, the Detroit Red Wings drafted Jurčo in the second round, 35th overall, as the team's first pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.[4][5]

Jurčo with the Griffins.

Professional[edit]

On 7 August 2012, Jurčo signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings. He was then assigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, for the 2012–13 season. He recorded 14 goals and 14 assists in 74 games in his first professional season. Jurčo was among the team's leading scorers during the 2013 Calder Cup playoffs, recording eight goals and six assists to help lead the Griffins to the Calder Cup championship over the Syracuse Crunch.[6]

Jurčo began the 2013–14 season with the Griffins before being called up to the Detroit Red Wings. At the time of his first call-up, Jurčo led the Griffins in goals (11), assists (16), points (27) and power play goals (5).[7] On 15 December 2013, Jurčo made his NHL debut for the Red Wings in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[8] Two nights later, on 17 December, he scored his first career NHL goal against Jonas Hiller of the Anaheim Ducks.[9]

On 24 July 2015, Jurčo signed a two-year contract extension with the Red Wings.[10] On 17 November 2015, Jurčo was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins on a conditioning assignment. Before being assigned to Grand Rapids, Jurčo appeared in four games for the Red Wings that season, recording one assist.[11] On 20 November, Jurčo tied a franchise record with three power play goals, becoming just the third Griffin to accomplish the feat.[12] Jurčo was named the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the week ending 22 November. He posted a league-best seven points for the week, three goals, and four assists, and helped lead the Griffins to three consecutive wins, tallying assists on all three game-winning goals.[13] On 28 November, Jurčo was recalled by the Red Wings from his conditioning assignment. In five games for the Griffins, Jurčo recorded five goals and four assists and helped lead the Griffins in winning all five games he appeared in.[14]

On 24 February 2017, Jurčo was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. During his career with the Red Wings, he recorded 15 goals and 24 assists in 159 games.[15] He closed out the regular season with the Blackhawks in scoring just 1 goal in 13 games and was a healthy scratch through Chicago's first-round defeat to the Nashville Predators. As a restricted free agent, on 26 June 2017, Jurčo was re-signed to a one-year contract extension with the Blackhawks.[16]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Blackhawks, Jurčo remained a free agent over the summer and into the 2018–19 season. At the mid-point of the season, Jurčo belatedly signed a one-year AHL contract with the Springfield Thunderbirds, affiliate to the Florida Panthers on 3 January 2019.[17] Jurčo posted 10 points in 14 games with the Thunderbirds before he was dealt to the Charlotte Checkers in exchange for future considerations, correlating in the Florida Panthers acquisition of Cliff Pu, on 25 February 2019.[18] Jurčo made an immediate impact with the league-leading Checkers, contributing with 17 points in 19 regular season games. He helped Charlotte capture the Calder Cup with 18 points in 18 games, marking his second AHL championship.

On 1 July 2019, Jurčo was signed by former Red Wings general manager Ken Holland as a free agent with the Edmonton Oilers on a one-year $750,000 contract.[19] He began the 2019–20 season, on the Oilers opening night roster, registering two assists through 12 games before he was re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Suffering an injury, Jurčo was limited to just eight games with the Condors before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a free agent from the Oilers, Jurčo signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on 10 October 2020.[20]

On 3 November 2021, Jurčo belatedly signed a one-year contract with Barys Nur-Sultan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In his lone season with Barys in 2021–22, Jurčo was immediately inserted into the line-up and registered 11 points through 17 regular season games.

Leading into the following 2022–23 season, Jurčo again remained un-signed until opting to continue in the KHL by joining Chinese club, Kunlun Red Star on 24 November 2022.[21]

International play[edit]


Jurco at the 2016 IIHF World Championship.
Medal record
Representing  Slovakia
Ice hockey
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Beijing

Jurčo represented Slovakia at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, scoring one point in six games. He again represented Slovakia at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he was the leading scorer on the team, recording one goal and seven assists in five games.[22]

Jurčo was selected to play for the senior Slovakia team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he finished the tournament with one goal in four games.[23]

Jurčo represented Slovakia at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded one assist in five games. Jurčo represented Slovakia at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, where he recorded two goals and three assists in seven games.

Personal life[edit]

Jurčo is the younger brother of Petra Jurčová, a veteran of the Slovak women's ice hockey team.[24]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 HC Košice SVK U18 57 28 24 52 30 — — — — —
2008–09 HC Košice SVK U18 5 8 5 13 2 — — — — —
2008–09 HC Košice SVK U20 48 19 30 49 20 3 5 0 5 0
2009–10 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 64 26 25 51 24 21 7 10 17 8
2010–11 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 60 31 25 56 17 19 6 12 18 8
2011–12 Saint John Sea Dogs QMJHL 48 30 38 68 37 16 13 16 29 12
2012–13 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 74 14 14 28 22 24 8 6 14 21
2013–14 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 32 13 19 32 14 8 5 2 7 11
2013–14 Detroit Red Wings NHL 36 8 7 15 14 3 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 3 15 18 14 7 1 1 2 2
2015–16 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 5 5 4 9 4 — — — — —
2015–16 Detroit Red Wings NHL 44 4 2 6 16 — — — — —
2016–17 Detroit Red Wings NHL 16 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 2 1 1 2 6 — — — — —
2016–17 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 13 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 36 13 12 25 38 — — — — —
2017–18 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 29 6 4 10 12 — — — — —
2018–19 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 14 4 6 10 8 — — — — —
2018–19 Charlotte Checkers AHL 19 8 9 17 14 18 7 11 18 18
2019–20 Edmonton Oilers NHL 12 0 2 2 4 — — — — —
2019–20 Bakersfield Condors AHL 8 4 3 7 10 — — — — —
2020–21 Henderson Silver Knights AHL 22 4 7 11 21 4 1 1 2 2
2020–21 Vegas Golden Knights NHL 8 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Barys Nur–Sultan KHL 17 3 8 11 30 5 2 0 2 4
2022–23 Kunlun Red Star KHL 32 10 15 25 16 — — — — —
2023–24 HC Davos NL 17 6 3 9 6 — — — — —
2023–24 Avangard Omsk KHL 21 8 8 16 2 12 3 2 5 8
NHL totals 221 22 31 53 64 10 1 1 2 2
KHL totals 70 21 31 52 48 17 5 2 7 12

International[edit]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 Slovakia WJC18 7th 6 2 3 5 2
2011 Slovakia WJC 8th 6 1 0 1 0
2012 Slovakia WJC 6th 5 1 7 8 4
2014 Slovakia OG 11th 4 1 0 1 2
2015 Slovakia WC 9th 5 0 1 1 0
2016 Slovakia WC 9th 7 2 3 5 0
2018 Slovakia WC 9th 7 4 1 5 8
2021 Slovakia OGQ Q 3 0 1 1 6
2022 Slovakia OG 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 1 1 2 2
Junior totals 17 4 10 14 6
Senior totals 33 8 7 15 18

Awards and honours[edit]

Award Year
CHL
CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2011
Memorial Cup (Saint John Sea Dogs) 2011
AHL
Calder Cup (Grand Rapids Griffins) 2013
Calder Cup (Charlotte Checkers) 2019 [25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2009 CHL Import Draft". Canadian Hockey League. 2009. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  2. ^ Charron, C. (21 June 2011). "Tomas Jurco determined to be more than a YouTube star". thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  3. ^ Kennedy, R. (31 May 2011). "The Hot List: Jurco's stock rising". The Hockey News. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  4. ^ St. James, Helene (25 June 2011). "Red Wings make forward Tomas Jurco top draft pick". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  5. ^ Waddell, D. (27 June 2011). "Red Wings bulk up the roster". The Gazette. Montreal. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  6. ^ "Hungry for Success". Grand Rapids Griffins. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Red Wings Firsts: Tomas Jurco". Detroit Red Wings. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  8. ^ Roose, Bill (15 December 2013). "Abdelkader out; Jurco to make debut". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  9. ^ Roose, Bill (17 December 2013). "Rookie Tomas Jurco nets first career NHL goal in his second game". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  10. ^ St. James, Helene (24 July 2015). "Tomas Jurco, Red Wings agree to two-year contract". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  11. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (17 November 2015). "Jurco goes on conditioning assignment". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  12. ^ "California Dreamin'". Grand Rapids Griffins. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  13. ^ "Jurco Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week". Grand Rapids Griffins. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  14. ^ Kujawa, Kyle (28 November 2015). "Red Wings recall Tomas Jurco from conditioning stint". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Jurco from Detroit". Chicago Blackhawks. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Blackhawks agree terms with Forsberg and Jurco". Chicago Blackhawks. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  17. ^ "T-Birds sign F Tomas Jurco to AHL contract". Springfield Thunderbirds. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Hurricanes acquire Tomas Jurco". Carolina Hurricanes. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  19. ^ "Oilers sign five players to contracts". Edmonton Oilers. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Vegas Golden Knights announce roster transactions". Vegas Golden Knights. 10 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  21. ^ Kunlun Red Star (24 November 2022). "Kunlun sign Slovakian international Tomas Jurco". Twitter. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  22. ^ 2012 World Championship: Tomas Tatar, Slovakia hockeysfuture.com, 18 May 2012
  23. ^ Nelson, Andrea (18 February 2014). "Olympics come to an end for Tatar, Jurco". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  24. ^ "Jurčova sestra Petra: Takto sme sa s Tomášom hrali na NHL ako malí šraci!". cas.sk (in Slovak). 19 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  25. ^ "Check and Mate! Charlotte wins Calder Cup". American Hockey League. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tomáš_Jurčo&oldid=1216576367"