Cody McCormick
Cody McCormick | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 18, 1983 London, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey player, coach |
| Years active | 1999–2015 (player), 2018–2019 (coach) |
| Known for | Playing for Colorado Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild; head coach of Buffalo Beauts |
Cody McCormick (born April 18, 1983) is a retired Canadian ice hockey athlete and coach, whose heritage includes European and First Nations roots, specifically from the Oneida and Chippewa/Ojibway peoples. Originating from London, Ontario, he competed professionally for the Colorado Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres, and Minnesota Wild. McCormick also held the position of head coach for the Buffalo Beauts in the National Women's Hockey League between December 2018 and May 2019.
Ontario Hockey League
Selected 37th overall by the Belleville Bulls in the OHL, McCormick played left wing over four seasons spanning 1999 to 2003. Across his OHL tenure, he amassed 56 goals, including a career-high 36 goals during his final campaign.
National Hockey League
In the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, McCormick was chosen 144th overall by the Colorado Avalanche. During the 2002–03 season, he served as captain of the Bulls, tallying 36 goals and totaling 69 points. His performance earned him a spot on the OHL First All-Star Team and recognition as Best Checker.
Beginning his professional journey in 2003–04, McCormick divided his time between Colorado's NHL squad and their AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears. By the 2008–09 season, he secured a permanent NHL position with the Avalanche, participating in 55 games and contributing 12 points.
On August 1, 2009, McCormick inked a one-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres. During the 2009–10 season, he played primarily with their AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates, where he achieved personal bests of 17 goals and 29 points over 66 contests. Called up as an injury replacement during the playoffs, he made his Buffalo NHL debut on April 21, 2010, registering an assist. The Sabres re-signed him to a one-year, one-way contract on July 2, 2010. While with Buffalo, McCormick led the team in penalty minutes (142), often playing on the fourth line alongside Patrick Kaleta.
In the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, McCormick was placed on waivers and assigned to the AHL's Rochester Americans after going unclaimed. In March 2014, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild together with Matt Moulson in exchange for Torrey Mitchell and draft selections.
McCormick returned to Buffalo as a free agent on a three-year contract starting July 1, 2014. In January 2015, blood clots caused him to miss the remainder of that season as well as all of the following one. Despite ongoing medical treatment, complications ultimately led to his retirement at age 32.
Personal life
McCormick is married and has two daughters; during off-seasons, they reside in Buffalo, New York. His wife Alyssa Paiement is the daughter of former NHL player Wilf Paiement. He is from the Chippewa of the Thames First Nation located near London, Ontario. The Thames First Nations people are also known as Anishinaabeg and originate from lands around Deshkaan Ziibing near the Great Lakes region.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1999–2000 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 45 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 42 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 2000–01 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 66 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 135 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 23 | ||
| 2001–02 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 63 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 118 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 24 | ||
| 2002–03 | Belleville Bulls | OHL | 61 | 36 | 33 | 69 | 166 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 11 | ||
| 2003–04 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 44 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 32 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 40 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 45 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 13 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Albany River Rats | AHL | 42 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 64 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| 2007–08 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 40 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 2007–08 | Lake Erie Monsters | AHL | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 55 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Portland Pirates | AHL | 66 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 168 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ||
| 2009–10 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | ||
| 2010–11 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 81 | 8 | 12 | 142| | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2| | ||||
| 2011–12 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 50 | 1 | 3 | 56| | ||||||||
| 2012–13 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 10| | ||||||||
| 2012–13 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 25 | 6 | 5 | 42| | 3 | 1 | 0 | 26| | ||||
| [[2013–14 NHL season]|2013-14]] | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 29 | 1 | 4 | 45| | ||||||||
| 2013-14 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 14 | 1 | 1 | 7| | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14| | ||||
| [[2014-15 NHL season]|2014-15]] | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 33 | 1 | 3 | 40| | ||||||||
| (NHL totals) | 405 !
21 ! 44 ! 65 ! 550 ! 27 ! 2 ! 3 ! 5 ! 37 | |||||||||||||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| OHL | ||
| First All-Star Team | 2003 | |