Eric Wellwood

Eric Wellwood (born March 6, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current assistant coach for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. He played parts of three National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers. He is the younger brother of Kyle Wellwood.

Eric Wellwood
Born (1990-03-06) March 6, 1990
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Philadelphia Flyers
NHL Draft 172nd overall, 2009
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 2010–2013

Playing career

Wellwood was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round (172nd overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers on March 4, 2010, after playing four seasons of junior hockey with the Windsor Spitfires, with whom he helped win two straight Memorial Cup championships in 2009 and 2010.[1] Wellwood was called up from the Adirondack Phantoms on November 1, 2010, in the wake of Flyers forward Danny Briere's three-game suspension and made his NHL debut against the Carolina Hurricanes on a line with James van Riemsdyk and Mike Richards.[2] Wellwood recorded his first NHL point on November 6 against the New York Islanders, assisting on Andreas Nodl's game-winning goal at 14:35 of the third period.[3] During the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Flyers called up Wellwood and a few other players, but he did not dress for a game.[4] Wellwood scored his first NHL goal February 18, 2012, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, an unassisted goal against Marc-Andre Fleury.[5]

On April 7, 2013, during an AHL game, Wellwood was injured after his left skate accidentally cut the back of his right leg after falling awkwardly into the boards.[6] His achilles tendon was 70 percent severed and three additional tendons were completely severed.[7] Wellwood was expected to miss nine months.[7] Wellwood then retired after missing the entire 2013–14 season.[8]

Coaching career

While rehabbing from his April 2013 injury, he served as a volunteer coach with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 2013–14 season.[8] After retiring from playing, he was hired as an assistant coaching position with the OHL's Oshawa Generals from 2014 to 2016.[8] On May 20, 2016, Wellwood was named assistant coach for the OHL's Flint Firebirds[9] and was promoted to head coach on October 18, 2018, after the Firebirds had opened the season 0–9.[10] In the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2019–20 season, he led the Firebirds to their best record before the pandemic curtailed the season. The 2020–21 season was then cancelled and Wellwood chose to not renew his contract with the Firebirds in May 2021.[11]

In August 2021, he was hired as the head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers in the ECHL.[12]

In July 2023, Eric was hired as Assistant Coach of the AHL's Toronto Marlies.[13]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 Tecumseh Chiefs OJHL-B 34 10 10 20 33 — — — — —
2006–07 Windsor Spitfires OHL 23 2 5 7 0 — — — — —
2007–08 Windsor Spitfires OHL 68 9 7 16 12 5 0 0 0 2
2008–09 Windsor Spitfires OHL 61 16 18 34 12 20 10 11 21 12
2009–10 Windsor Spitfires OHL 65 31 37 68 36 19 4 6 10 6
2010–11 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 73 16 12 28 24 — — — — —
2010–11 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 3 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2011–12 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 33 9 12 21 8 — — — — —
2011–12 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 24 5 4 9 2 11 0 0 0 2
2012–13 Adirondack Phantoms AHL 58 9 8 17 10 — — — — —
2012–13 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 31 5 5 10 4 11 0 0 0 2

References
  1. "Flyers Sign Three Prospects". Philadelphia Flyers. 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
  2. "Flyers' Briere Receives 3-Game Suspension". CSNPhilly.com. 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  3. "Flyers hold off Isles 2-1 for sixth win in a row". NHL.com. 2010-11-06. Retrieved 2010-11-06.
  4. "Meltzer's Musings: Forward Prospects". hockeybuzz.com. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
  5. "Pittsburgh Penguins come out on top in wild collision with Philadelphia Flyers". National Post. February 18, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. Frank Seravalli (April 8, 2013). "Gruesome cut for Flyers' Eric Wellwood". Philly.com. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  7. Frank Seravalli (April 12, 2013). "Eric Wellwood expected to miss nine months". Philly.com. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  8. Parker, Jim (May 29, 2014). "Wellwood retires after career-ending injury". Windsor Star. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  9. "Ryan Oulahen appointed Flint Firebirds Head Coach, Eric Wellwood Associate Coach". Flint Firebirds. May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  10. "Eric Wellwood appointed Flint Firebirds Head Coach". Ontario Hockey League. October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  11. "Flint Firebirds seeking new coach after Eric Wellwood chooses not to renew contract". mlive.com. May 22, 2021.
  12. "ERIC WELLWOOD NAMED HEAD COACH". Newfoundland Growlers. August 20, 2021.
  13. "Toronto Marlies Name Michael Dyck And Eric Wellwood To Coaching Staff". Toronto Marlies. July 13, 2023.
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