Bill Sweatt

William Joseph Sweatt (born September 21, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks before playing in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Sweatt played junior hockey with the United States National Development Program and college hockey with the Colorado College Tigers. Selected 38th overall in the 2007 NHL entry draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, he became a free agent after going unsigned by the club. In 2010, he signed with the Canucks. As a roller hockey player, Sweatt has competed internationally with Team USA, winning a gold medal at the 2006 World InLine Championships. His older brother Lee Sweatt is a former hockey player; the two played with each other with the Colorado College Tigers and the Manitoba Moose.

Early life Sweatt was born in Elburn, Illinois, a village west of Chicago. He played minor ice hockey with his older brother Lee, in Highland Park, Illinois. As a youth, he played in the 2002 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Chicago Young Americans team. His father was a former football player, while his mother was a hockey fan. Growing up, the family lived in the country and had a paved basement, where the brothers played roller hockey. Sweatt joined his brother Lee in the Canucks organization, who had been signed by the team three months prior.

Following the pre-season, the Canucks assigned both Sweatt brothers to their American Hockey League(AHL) affiliate the Manitoba Moose. Together, they became the first pair of brothers to play at the same time for the franchise. Moose head coach Claude Noel described Sweatt in his professional rookie season as a physical player who can forecheck quickly and make plays. as well as ninth among league rookies. During the off-season, Lee was left unsigned by the Canucks organization, splitting the brothers up. Despite signing with the Ottawa Senators, Lee announced his retirement shortly thereafter.

During the Canucks' 2011 training camp, Sweatt was injured during a prospects tournament in Penticton, British Columbia, causing him to miss the team's first two preseason games in September. After being assigned to the Chicago Wolves, the Canucks' new AHL affiliate, to start the season, he received his first NHL call-up on December 7, 2011. Making his NHL debut the following night against the Montreal Canadiens, he registered two shots on goal and one hit in six minutes and eighteen seconds of ice time; Vancouver won the game 4–3. On March 31, 2013, Sweatt and Nicklas Jensen were recalled from the Wolves by the Canucks.

On July 9, 2013, with his rights still owned by the Canucks, Sweatt signed his first European contract on a one-year contract in Sweden with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Sweatt played the next five seasons in the SHL, opting to end his eight-year professional career and return to North America, following the 2017–18 season with HV71.

International play

Sweatt was named Top Forward at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships in 2006, where the United States won gold. He also participated in the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships for the US, coming home with a bronze medal. While playing roller hockey, Sweatt won a gold medal at the 2006 World InLine Championships.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2005 United States U17 5th 5 2 2 4 8 2006 United States WJC18 6 5 2 7 4 2007 United States WJC 7 1 1 2 0 2008 United States WJC 4th 6 0 1 1 0 Junior totals 24 8 6 14 12