Gregory Nemisz (born June 5, 1990) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who appeared in 15 National Hockey League (NHL) games during a four-year professional career. He is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Greg Nemisz
Nemisz with the Abbotsford Heat in 2011
Born (1990-06-05) June 5, 1990 (age 33)
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Calgary Flames
NHL Draft 25th overall, 2008
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2010–2015

Nemisz was a first round selection, 25th overall, at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames and made his NHL debut with the Flames in 2011. Nemisz spent the majority of his career in the American Hockey League (AHL) with Calgary's affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, and then the Charlotte Checkers, affiliate of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes. Internationally, Nemisz was a member of Team Canada's silver medal winning squad at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He retired as a player in 2015 to become an assistant coach of the Oshawa Generals.

Playing career edit

Nemisz joined the OHL's Windsor Spitfires in 2006–07, recording 34 points in 62 games. He improved to 67 points in 68 games with the Spitfires the following year, earning the team award for dedication and determination.[1] His season led the Calgary Flames to select him with their first round selection, 25th overall, at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, who project him to become a power forward.[1] Nemisz set career highs with the Spitfires in 2008–09, scoring 36 goals and 77 points in 65 games, while adding 20 points in 20 games as he helped his team capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions. He then went on to score a goal and six assists in the 2009 Memorial Cup as the Spitfires defeated the Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets to win the national junior championship.[2]

He participated in training camp with the Flames, but was sent back to Windsor for the 2009–10 OHL season where he was expected to be a top player in the OHL.[3] His play earned him a spot on the Canadian junior team for the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships where he won a silver medal.[4] He finished the season in Windsor with 70 points in 51 games, helping the Spitfires to win their second consecutive OHL championship while also capturing the 2010 Memorial Cup.[5]

Nemisz turned professional in the 2010–11 season and was assigned to the Flames' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat. He had 14 goals and 32 points in Abbotsford when he was called up to the Flames in late March. He made his NHL debut on March 23, 2011, in a 6–3 loss to the San Jose Sharks.[5] He spent the majority of the 2011–12 season in Abbotsford and missed five weeks of play due to a shoulder injury. He earned several recalls to Calgary, playing both on the wing and at centre as the team's needs required.[6]

The Flames re-signed Nemisz to a one-year, two-way contract prior to the 2013–14 season,[7] and spent the first half of the season with Abbotsford before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes organization on December 30, 2013, in exchange for Kevin Westgarth.[8] Nemisz was assigned to Carolina's AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers where he remained to complete that season, and where he played in 2014–15. He recorded 14 points in 21 games for Charlotte before suffering a season-ending knee injury. It was his third major injury in three years.[9]

While recovering from the injury, Nemisz joined the OHL's Oshawa Generals as a volunteer video coach during the team's 2015 run to the Ontario Hockey League and 2015 Memorial Cup championships.[10][11] Nemisz ended his playing career following the season to take on a full-time role as an assistant coach with the Generals.[12]

Personal life edit

Greg Nemisz is now a firefighter.

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 Windsor Spitfires OHL 62 11 23 34 23
2007–08 Windsor Spitfires OHL 68 34 33 67 52 5 2 1 3 8
2008–09 Windsor Spitfires OHL 65 36 41 77 48 20 8 12 20 22
2009–10 Windsor Spitfires OHL 51 34 36 70 50 15 2 10 12 12
2010–11 Abbotsford Heat AHL 68 14 19 33 28
2010–11 Calgary Flames NHL 6 0 1 1 0
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 51 13 16 29 29 8 2 4 6 4
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 9 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Abbotsford Heat AHL 55 3 7 10 34
2013–14 Abbotsford Heat AHL 32 5 4 9 9
2013–14 Charlotte Checkers AHL 14 3 8 11 4
2014–15 Charlotte Checkers AHL 21 8 6 14 6
AHL totals 241 46 60 106 110 8 2 4 6 4
NHL totals 15 0 1 1 0
Medal record
Representing   Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championship
  2010 Canada

International edit

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Canada WJC18   7 2 1 3 6
2010 Canada WJC   6 1 0 1 0
Junior totals 13 3 1 4 6

Awards and honours edit

Award Year
Junior
OHL Second All-Star Team 2008–09 [13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Board, Mike (June 20, 2008). "Big Nemisz is Flames first round pick". Calgary Flames Hockey Club. Archived from the original on August 3, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  2. ^ Myers, Sean (May 26, 2009). "Flames pick enjoys big win". Calgary Herald. Retrieved December 15, 2009. [dead link]
  3. ^ Waddell, Dave (September 7, 2009). "Nemisz learned from first trip out west". Calgary Herald. Retrieved December 15, 2009. [dead link]
  4. ^ McFarlane, Steve (December 15, 2009). "Locals lock up Team Canada spots". Calgary Sun. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Sportak, Randy (March 24, 2011). "Callup collects big games". Calgary Sun. p. S2.
  6. ^ Gilbertson, Wes (March 16, 2012). "Nemisz looking like he belongs in big leagues". Calgary Sun. p. S2.
  7. ^ "Flames extend Greg Nemisz". Calgary Flames. July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  8. ^ "Hurricanes trade Westgarh to Flames". National Hockey League. December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  9. ^ Niedzielski, Nicholas (May 15, 2015). "Greg Nemisz Awaits Decision On Future". Charlotte Checkers Hockey Club. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Parker, Jim (May 6, 2015). "Oshawa's quest for OHL title has plenty of ties to Spitfires". Windsor Star. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  11. ^ McGran, Kevin (May 31, 2015). "Oshawa Generals win Memorial Cup in overtime". Toronto Star. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  12. ^ "Greg Nemisz added to Oshawa Generals coaching staff". Oshawa Generals Hockey Club. July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  13. ^ "OHL announces 2008–09 All-Star teams". Ontario Hockey League. April 30, 2009. Archived from the original on May 4, 2009. Retrieved December 15, 2009.

External links edit

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Calgary Flames first round draft pick
2008
Succeeded by