Wade Brookbank

Wade Brookbank
Born	(1977-09-29) September 29, 1977 Lanigan, Saskatchewan, Canada
Occupation(s)	Retired professional ice hockey player, scout
Years active	1996–2014 (playing career)
Known for	NHL player for Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes; professional scout for Chicago Blackhawks

Wade Brookbank (born September 29, 1977) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey athlete who competed in 127 NHL contests representing the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, Boston Bruins, and Carolina Hurricanes from 2003 until 2009. He is presently employed as a professional scout for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Playing career

Brookbank, who went undrafted, participated in various leagues throughout his career. His experience includes playing in the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) with the Anchorage Aces, the Central Hockey League (CHL) for the Oklahoma City Blazers, and the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Orlando Solar Bears. Additionally, he featured in the American Hockey League (AHL) playing for multiple teams such as the Grand Rapids Griffins, Providence Bruins, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Binghamton Senators, Milwaukee Admirals, Norfolk Admirals, and Manitoba Moose. His NHL tenure was primarily spent as a winger with the Predators, Canucks, Bruins, and Hurricanes.

During the 2000–01 season, Brookbank achieved two championship victories: securing the final IHL Turner Cup with the Orlando Solar Bears and capturing the CHL's Ray Miron President's Cup while with the Oklahoma City Blazers. Recognized for his role as an enforcer, he engaged in 43 fights throughout his NHL career, including 17 during his debut season. His inaugural NHL goal came on January 31, 2004, while playing for the Canucks against Washington Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig.

On February 7, 2009, Brookbank was part of a trade that sent him from the Hurricanes to the Tampa Bay Lightning alongside Josef Melichar and a draft choice, in return for Jussi Jokinen. He concluded that season playing for Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. Following free agency, he inked a one-year agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 31, 2009.

Brookbank extended his AHL career by signing a one-year contract with the Rockford IceHogs on July 21, 2010. After completing the 2013–14 season, he retired from professional play and moved into a scouting role with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Personal life

Wade Brookbank’s younger sibling, Sheldon Brookbank, also pursued a professional ice hockey career, most recently with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL. Their older brother Leigh is likewise part of their hockey lineage. Leigh (Yorkton Terriers), Wade (Melville Millionaires), and Sheldon (Humboldt Broncos) all played Junior "A" hockey within the SJHL. Their father Murray held an assistant coaching position for the Humboldt Broncos from 2004/05 through 2011/12. Additionally, Brookbank is related to former NHL player Geoff Sanderson.

In recognition of his impact, Brookbank was named among the top 15 players in Oklahoma City Blazers history in 2007.

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1996–97	Melville Millionaires	SJHL		60	1	10	11	412		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Melville Millionaires	SJHL		58	8	21	29	330		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Anchorage Aces	WCHL		7	0	0	0	46		4	0	0	0	20
1998–99	Anchorage Aces	WCHL		56	0	4	4	337		5	0	0	0	7
1999–00	Oklahoma City Blazers	CHL		68	3	9	12	354		7	1	1	2	29
2000–01	Oklahoma City Blazers	CHL		46	1	13	14	267		5	0	0	0	24
2000–01	Orlando Solar Bears	IHL		29	0	1	1	122		4	0	0	0	6
2001–02	Grand Rapids Griffins	AHL		73	1	6	7	337		3	0	1	1	14
2002–03	Binghamton Senators	AHL		8	0	0	0	28
2003–04 NHL season	Nashville Predators	NHL		9	0	0	0	38
2003–04 NHL season	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		20	2	0	2	95
2004–05 AHL season	Manitoba Moose	AHL		68	0	10	10	285		9	0	0	0	10
۲۰۰۵-۰۶ NHL فصل	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		32	1	2	81
۲۰۰۶-۰۷ NHL فصل	Boston Bruins	NHL		7	1	۰	15
۲۰۰۶-۰۷ AHL فصل	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		39	1	۰	116	5		۰	۰	6
۲۰۰۷-۰۸ AHL فصل	Albany River Rats	AHL		25	۰	2	28
۲۰۰۷-۰۸ NHL فصل	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		32	1	1	76
۲۰۰۸-۰۹ NHL فصل	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		27	1	۰	40
۲۰۰۸-۰۹ AHL فصل	Norfolk Admirals	AHL		24	٠	١	٤٦|
۲۰۰۹-۱۰ AHL فصل	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		68	3	4	168
۲۰۱۰-۱۱ AHL فصل	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		56	2	٠	143
۲۰۱۱-۱۲ AHL فصل	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		17	1	4	44
۲۰۱۲-۱۳ AHL فصل	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		28	٠	1	100
۲۰۱۳-۱۴ AHL فصل	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		27	٠	1	30
AHL totals				451	8	29	37	1389		21	٠	1	1	36
NHL totals				127	6	3	9	345		—	—	—	—	—

Transactions

• September 1, 2000 – Joined the Orlando Solar Bears as a free agent.
• July 27, 2001 – Signed a free agent contract with the Ottawa Senators.
• October 3, 2003 – Acquired by the Nashville Predators from the Ottawa Senators through the NHL Waiver Draft.
• December 17, 2003 – Exchanged to the Vancouver Canucks in return for future considerations.
• December 19, 2003 – Reclaimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators from the Vancouver Canucks.
• December 29, 2003 – Transferred to the Florida Panthers in exchange for future considerations.
• January 3, 2004 – Picked up off waivers by the Vancouver Canucks from the Florida Panthers.
• July 21, 2006 – Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Boston Bruins.
• December 19, 2006 – Traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for future considerations.
• July 3, 2007 – Inked an unrestricted free agent deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
• February 7, 2009 – Traded along with Josef Melichar and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Jussi Jokinen.
• July 31, 2009 – Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• July 21, 2010 – Joined the Rockford IceHogs as an unrestricted free agent.