Up close and personal with… Blake Wheeler

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/08/2011 (4241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The rookies will gather in Penticton, B.C., on Sept. 11 and the main camp opens Sept. 17.

The Winnipeg Jets are gearing up for their return to the NHL and opening night vs. the Montreal Canadiens Oct. 9 at the MTS Centre. During the next few weeks, we will provide you with an up-close look at some of the players who are expected to be in the team’s starting lineup when it hits the ice against the legendary Habs.

26 BLAKE WHEELER

RIGHT WING

NUMBER: 26

HEIGHT: 6-5

WEIGHT: 205

SHOOTS: Right

BORN: August 31, 1986 (Age 24)

BIRTHPLACE: Robbinsdale, Minn.

DRAFTED: Phoenix / 2004 NHL entry draft

ROUND: 1st (5th overall)

* Scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game

* Named to the 2009 NHL YoungStars game as a rookie and scored four goals in a 9-5 win over the

sophomores to earn MVP honours

* Played on a line with Phil Kessel while at the University of Minnesota

* Member of the American team that played in the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships

* Lists hanging out on the lake and playing golf as his favourite off-season pastimes

* His father James was a pitcher in the Detroit Tigers farm system

TRANSACTIONS: Drafted by the Coyotes, but became an unrestricted free agent in 2008 after failing to come to an agreement on a contract. Signed with Boston on July 1, 2008. On Feb. 18, 2011 he was traded to Atlanta along with Mark Stuart for Boris Valabik and Rich Peverley.

SEASON TEAM GP G A P +/- PIM PP SH GW S S%

2010-11 BRUINS

THRASHERS 81 18 26 44 10 46 0 0 2 179 10.1

NHL TOTALS 244 57 70 127 42 145 6 3 7 488 11.7