Christian Wolanin
Wolanin with the Belleville Senators in 2019
Born (1995-03-17) March 17, 1995
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Vancouver Canucks
Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)
Ottawa Senators
Los Angeles Kings
Buffalo Sabres
National team  United States
NHL Draft 107th overall, 2015
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2018present

Christian Wolanin (born March 17, 1995) is a Canadian-born American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Wolanin was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round, 107th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Wolanin began his hockey career with the Green Bay Gamblers and Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League (USHL). While with the Lumberjacks, Wolanin was named to the USHL Second All-Star Team.[1] After playing in the USHL, Wolanin committed to the University of North Dakota.[2]

While majoring in communications at North Dakota, Wolanin played in 32 games during his freshman season, and ranked third in the conference among rookie defensemen in scoring as UND won the national championship. He was named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team at the conclusion of the season.[2] In his sophomore season, Wolanin tied for fifth amongst NCHC defensemen in scoring but led all conference defensemen during the playoffs.[2] Wolanin helped the Fighting Hawks qualify for the 2017 Frozen Faceoff after he recorded the game-tying goal in game two of the NCHC Quarterfinals against the St. Cloud Huskies to send the game to overtime.[3]

After playing three seasons with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, Wolanin signed a two-year entry level contract with the Senators.[4] He made his NHL debut on March 22, 2018, in a 6–2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.[5][6] He scored his first NHL goal April 2, 2018 in a game against the Winnipeg Jets.[7]

Wolanin spent the beginning of the 2018–19 season with the Senators American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators, but was recalled to the NHL on October 25.[8] On January 23, 2019, Wolanin was added to the 2019 AHL All-Star Game roster.[9]

On July 4, 2019, Wolanin was signed to a two-year, $1.8 million contract extension with the final year on a one-way basis.[10] Wolanin was hampered by injuries throughout the duration of his two-year contract. While in his final season under contract in the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Wolanin was traded by the Senators to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Michael Amadio on March 29, 2021.[11]

Wolanin during the 2023 AHL All-Star Skills Competition.

Wolanin re-signed with the Kings on July 6, 2021, agreeing to a one-year, $750,000 contract extension.[12] After attending the Kings 2021 training camp, Wolanin remained on the roster to open the 2021–22 season. Before making an appearance, Wolanin was placed on waivers and subsequently claimed by the Buffalo Sabres on October 16, 2021.[13] Wolanin remained with the Sabres as added blueline depth insurance featuring in a lone contest, going scoreless in a 5–3 defeat to the Washington Capitals on November 8, 2021.[14] Wolanin's brief tenure with the Sabres ended on December 1, 2021, after he was re-claimed off waivers by the Kings and was immediately re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign.[15]

As a free agent in the following off-season, Wolanin was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 14, 2022.[16]

Personal life

Wolanin's father, Craig, played in 695 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996. As a result of his father's career, Wolanin lived in Quebec City, Denver, Tampa and Toronto before his family permanently settled in Rochester, Michigan.[6] He is a dual citizen of both Canada and the United States.[17] and chose to play for the U.S. national team for the first time at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.[18]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeague GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2012–13Green Bay GamblersUSHL 5408870 41012
2013–14Green Bay GamblersUSHL 2314530
2013–14Muskegon LumberjacksUSHL 325162144
2014–15Muskegon LumberjacksUSHL 56142741107 1235820
2015–16University of North DakotaNCHC 324111520
2016–17University of North DakotaNCHC 376162237
2017–18University of North DakotaNCHC 4012233550
2017–18Ottawa SenatorsNHL 101230
2018–19Belleville SenatorsAHL 407243124
2018–19Ottawa SenatorsNHL 3048126
2019–20Belleville SenatorsAHL 91017
2019–20Ottawa SenatorsNHL 30000
2020–21Ottawa SenatorsNHL 150336
2020–21Belleville SenatorsAHL 10000
2020–21Ontario ReignAHL 20332
2020–21Los Angeles KingsNHL 30002
2021–22Buffalo SabresNHL 10000
2021–22Ontario ReignAHL 371171822 51344
2021–22Los Angeles KingsNHL 81122
2022–23Abbotsford CanucksAHL 496495522 61452
2022–23Vancouver CanucksNHL 160334
NHL totals 866172320
Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2021 Latvia

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 United States WC 7th 6 0 0 0 0
2021 United States WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 1 5 6 0
Senior totals 16 1 5 6 0

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
USHL
All-USHL Second Team 2015 [1]
College
NCHC Academic All-Conference Team 2016, 2017 [2]

References

  1. 1 2 "League Names 2014-15 All-USHL Teams". ushl.com. May 28, 2015. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "CHRISTIAN WOLANIN". undsports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  3. Mick Hatten (March 11, 2017). "UND beats SCSU in OT, 6-5, to advance to Frozen Faceoff". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  4. "Senators sign Christian Wolanin to entry-level deal". sportsnet.ca. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  5. Fraser, Callum (March 22, 2018). "Oilers at Senators preview". NHL.com. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Warren, Ken (March 22, 2018). "Christian Wolanin races into NHL debut with Senators". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  7. Arila, John (April 2, 2018). "Senators defenseman Christian Wolanin scores first career NHL goal in loss to Jets". sportingnews.com. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  8. "Senators recall Christian Wolanin from AHL Belleville". sportsnet.ca. October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  9. "More All-Star roster changes announced". American Hockey League. January 23, 2019. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
  10. "Senators sign Christian Wolanin to a two-year contract". Ottawa Senators. July 4, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2019.
  11. "LA Kings acquire Christian Wolanin from Ottawa in exchange for Michael Amadio". Los Angeles Kings. March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  12. Associated Press (July 7, 2021). "LA Kings re-sign D Christian Wolanin to 1-year extension". apnews.com. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  13. "Sabres claim Wolanin off waivers from Kings". Buffalo Sabres. October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  14. "Ovechkin ties Hull for 4th all-time, Capitals defeat Sabres". ESPN. November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  15. "Kings claim Wolanin off waivers". The Sports Network. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  16. "Canucks agree to terms with Christian Wolanin". Vancouver Canucks. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  17. Medaglia, Craig (July 1, 2016). "Catching up with: Christian Wolanin". NHL.com. Retrieved March 24, 2018. I'll be missing the 4th of July because I'll be here for camp but I'm a dual citizen so I'll celebrate Canada Day with the guys
  18. Fox, Hughes, Wolanin Added To 2019 U.S. Men's National Team
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