Adam Ružička

Adam Ružička (born May 11, 1999) is a Slovak professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Adam Ružička
Born (1999-05-11) May 11, 1999
Bratislava, Slovakia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team Calgary Flames
NHL Draft 109th overall, 2017
Calgary Flames
Playing career 2019–present

Playing career

Junior

The Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League selected Ružička in the second round of the 2016 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft. Also in 2016, HC Slovan Bratislava — then of the Kontinental Hockey League – selected Ružička with the 14th pick of the KHL Junior Draft.[1] Ružička elected to join the Sting in advance of the 2016–17 OHL season.

As a 17-year-old OHL rookie, Ružička finished fourth on the Sting in 2016–17 with 46 points (25 goals, 21 assists) in 61 games. Ružička's season earned him a spot on the end-of-season OHL Second All-Rookie Team and earned him some consideration as a prospect eligible for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[2] The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Ružička as the 37th-best North American skater eligible for the 2017 draft;[1] Bob McKenzie, of TSN, placed Ružička 77th on his draft board.[3]

The Calgary Flames selected Ružička in the fourth round, 109th overall, of the 2017 draft.[4] Ružička spent another full season with Sarnia in 2017–18, posting 36 goals and 72 points in 63 games, before being traded to the Sudbury Wolves during the 2018–19 season in exchange for three draft picks.[5]

Ružička finished strong with the Wolves, tallying 24 goals and 41 points in 30 games to conclude the regular season. He also contributed 10 points in eight playoff games with Sudbury. On Apr. 12, 2019, following the conclusion of the Wolves' season, Ružička signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flames.[6]

Professional

Ružička spent his entire first professional season with the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat, and posted 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 54 games.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Heat played the 2020–21 season in Calgary as part of a newly formed "Canadian Division." Stockton ultimately finished with an 11–17–2 record after losing 17 of its final 20 games. As a 21-year-old AHL sophomore, Ružička led the Heat with 11 goals and 21 points in 28 games. The Flames recalled Ružička from Stockton on Apr. 12, 2021, but returned him to the AHL five days later without playing any NHL games.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Sarnia Sting OHL 61 25 21 46 30 4 0 2 2 0
2017–18 Sarnia Sting OHL 63 36 36 72 40 12 0 3 3 6
2018–19 Sarnia Sting OHL 35 11 26 37 22 — — — — —
2018–19 Sudbury Wolves OHL 30 24 17 41 14 8 3 7 10 4
2019–20 Stockton Heat AHL 54 10 17 27 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Stockton Heat AHL 28 11 10 21 10 — — — — —
2020–21 Calgary Flames NHL 3 0 1 1 4 — — — — —
NHL totals 3 0 1 1 4 — — — — —

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Slovakia U17 8th 51012
2015 Slovakia IH18 8th 41122
2016 Slovakia U18 5th 52244
2016 Slovakia IH18 7th 42242
2017 Slovakia U18 6th 52356
2017 Slovakia WJC 8th 51012
2018 Slovakia WJC 7th 50222
2019 Slovakia WJC 8th 52134
Junior totals 3811112224

Awards and honours
Award Year Ref
OHL
OHL Second All-Rookie Team 2017 [2]

References
  1. "Adam Ruzicka - Elite Prospects". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  2. "Storm's Ryan Merkley named OHL Rookie of the Year". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. McKenzie, Bob. "McKenzie's 2017 Draft Ranking: Top 93 and honourable mentions". The Sports Network. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  4. Tiberi, Christian. "Flames select Adam Ruzicka with the 109th overall pick". FlamesNation.ca. Retrieved 30 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Import Forward Adam Ruzicka Heads to the Wolves in Exchange for Picks – Sarnia Sting". Sarnia Sting. 9 January 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. "FLAMES INK ADAM RUZICKA". Calgary Flames. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. "Stockton Heat Transactions". American Hockey League. Retrieved 30 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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