Brandon DeFazio

Brandon DeFazio (born September 13, 1988) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He most recently played for Schwenninger Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).

Brandon Defazio
Born (1988-09-13) September 13, 1988
Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2011–2023

Playing career

Prior to turning professional, DeFazio attended Clarkson University where he played four seasons of NCAA Division I men's ice hockey with the Clarkson Golden Knights men's ice hockey team. After graduating from his senior year with Clarkson, DeFazio joined the Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate teams, the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to end the 2010–11 season.

DeFazio was signed by Wilkes-Barre to a one-year AHL contract, and was also given a try-out and attended Pittsburgh's NHL training camp for the 2011–12 season.[1]

On July 2, 2012, DeFazio signed as a free agent to a one-year, two way contract with the New York Islanders.[2] A year later, though, DeFazio left the Islanders organization as a free agent and signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 12, 2013.[3]

In the 2014–15 season, DeFazio received his first NHL recall by the Canucks on November 9, 2014. He made his long-awaited NHL debut that night in a 2–1 shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks. DeFazio played in his second career game on November 11 against the Ottawa Senators, where he collected the first shot of his career while playing 5 minutes and 49 seconds.[4]

On July 6, 2015, having left the Canucks as a free agent, DeFazio returned to the Eastern Conference in signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins.[5]

In the off-season, DeFazio left the Bruins organization as a free agent an on July 25, 2016, he was signed to a one-year contract to continue in the AHL with the Texas Stars.[6] In the 2016–17 season, DeFazio compiled a career best 47 points in appearing in every regular season game with Texas.

After 6 seasons largely in the AHL, DeFazio as a free agent agreed to a one-year deal with Chinese club, HC Kunlun Red Star of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on June 6, 2017.[7]

DeFazio left Kunlun for the following 2018–19 season, signing a years contract with Lukko of the Finnish Liiga, before returning for a second stint with Kunlun for the 2019–20 season.

As a free agent during the COVID-19 pandemic, DeFazio was later signed to a contract with Czech Extraliga club, HC Kometa Brno, on November 17, 2020.[8] Scoreless in 6 games with Brno in the 2020–21 season, DeFazio left the ELH to be the final addition to German DEL club, ERC Ingolstadt, on December 5, 2020.[9]

On June 9, 2022, DeFazio signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with fellow German club, Schwenninger Wild Wings, for the 2022–23 season.[10] DeFazio featured in every regular season game with the Wild Wings, collecting 10 goals and 21 points. Unable to help Schwenninger advance to the post-season, it was announced DeFazio would leave the club at the conclusion of his contract on March 9, 2023.[11]

Post-Playing Career

DeFazio ended his 13-year professional career and became a scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 30, 2023, where he primarily scouts amateur junior players in his native Ontario. [12]

Personal life
DeFazio with ERC Ingolstadt in 2021.

His father, Dean DeFazio, also played professional hockey within the Penguins organization.[13] DeFazio was recognized for his work in the community, earning his AHL team's, man of the year award, multiple times. He is also currently married with one baby girl and a second child on the way.

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Milton Icehawks OPJHL 36 10 6 16 38 — — — — —
2005–06 Oakville Blades OPJHL 11 2 11 13 8 23 6 13 19 28
2006–07 Oakville Blades OPJHL 46 12 33 45 135 9 2 4 6 12
2007–08 Clarkson University ECAC 37 3 4 7 34 — — — — —
2008–09 Clarkson University ECAC 33 7 11 18 28 — — — — —
2009–10 Clarkson University ECAC 35 12 14 26 58 — — — — —
2010–11 Clarkson University ECAC 36 14 12 26 56 — — — — —
2010–11 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 10 4 5 9 7 14 4 2 6 8
2010–11 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2011–12 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 66 11 5 16 104 12 0 0 0 6
2012–13 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 69 11 14 25 139 — — — — —
2013–14 Utica Comets AHL 76 17 17 34 106 — — — — —
2014–15 Utica Comets AHL 75 21 22 43 92 21 2 5 7 12
2014–15 Vancouver Canucks NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2015–16 Providence Bruins AHL 71 22 21 43 38 3 0 0 0 4
2016–17 Texas Stars AHL 76 22 25 47 45 — — — — —
2017–18 Kunlun Red Star KHL 55 10 5 15 84 — — — — —
2018–19 Lukko Liiga 59 19 21 40 78 6 2 0 2 8
2019–20 Kunlun Red Star KHL 47 2 4 6 12 — — — — —
2020–21 HC Kometa Brno ELH 6 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2020–21 ERC Ingolstadt DEL 37 13 8 21 83 4 1 0 1 2
2021–22 ERC Ingolstadt DEL 55 21 17 38 51 2 1 0 1 2
2022–23 Schwenninger Wild Wings DEL 56 10 11 21 36 — — — — —
NHL totals 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —

References
  1. "Penguins reduce training camp roster". Pittsburgh Penguins. September 22, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  2. "DeFazio & McDonald agree to terms". New York Islanders. July 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  3. "Canucks sign Ferriero, DeFazio". Vancouver Canucks. July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  4. "Canucks recall F DeFazio from AHL's Utica Comets". The Sports Network. November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  5. "Bruins sign Jimmy Hayes, Brett Connolly and Brandon DeFazio". Boston Bruins. July 6, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
  6. "Texas Stars sign Brandon DeFazio to AHL contract". Texas Stars. July 25, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  7. "Canadian AHL forward DeFazio to continue his career with Kunlun". rsport.ru (in Russian). June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  8. "Comets reinforce the offense with Brandon DeFazio" (in Czech). HC Kometa Brno. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  9. "DeFazio completes ERC squad" (in German). ERC Ingolstadt. December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  10. "Schwenninger follows up on the transfer market" (in German). June 9, 2022. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  11. "Final talks bring first changes" (in German). Schwenninger Wild Wings. March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. "Penguins Announce Additions to Hockey Operations Department". Official Website of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
  13. "Son of former Pens forward Samuelsson knows his niche". Pittsburgh Live. December 25, 2011. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
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