Daniel Welch

Daniel Welch (born February 23, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey player.

Playing career Welch was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the 8th round (245th overall) of the 2000 NHL entry draft. He joined the team in 2003 but spent his time playing in the American Hockey League for the Manchester Monarchs and in the ECHL for the Reading Royals. The Kings released him in 2005 and he moved to the United Kingdom and signed for the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League, but he departed after just seven games and signed for the Coventry Blaze of the same league.

In 2006, Welch moved to France and signed for Pingouins de Morzine-Avoriaz in the Ligue Magnus. In 2007 he had a brief spell in Switzerland's National League B with HC Neuchâtel Young Sprinters, where he played four games, before returning to North America with the ECHL's Texas Wildcatters. In 2008 he had a spell in Denmark with TOTEMPO HvIK before returning once more to the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads.

He then had brief spells in the Central Hockey League in 2009 with the Colorado Eagles and the Texas Brahmas before returning to the UK with the Edinburgh Capitals. On August 4, 2010, the Belfast Giants announced that they had signed Welch as a free agent.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1997–98 Hastings High School HSMN 1997–98 Rochester Jr. Americans GHL 4 0 1 1 24 — — — — — 1998–99 Hastings High School HSMN 1999–2000 University of Minnesota WCHA 36 6 8 14 31 — — — — — 2000–01 Omaha Lancers USHL 52 30 27 57 103 12 9 13 22 20 2001–02 Omaha Lancers USHL 7 4 2 6 8 — — — — — 2001–02 University of Minnesota WCHA 19 4 7 11 12 — — — — — 2002–03 University of Minnesota WCHA 18 5 5 10 12 — — — — — 2002–03 Manchester Monarchs AHL 42 3 9 12 22 3 0 0 0 0 2003–04 Manchester Monarchs AHL 31 6 6 12 18 1 0 0 0 0 2004–05 Manchester Monarchs AHL 59 3 10 13 49 1 0 0 0 0 2004–05 Reading Royals ECHL 11 8 7 15 8 1 0 1 1 2 2005–06 Nottingham Panthers EIHL 7 1 2 3 10 — — — — — 2005–06 Coventry Blaze EIHL 40 22 21 43 26 6 2 6 8 16 2006–07 Pingouins de Morzine–Avoriaz FRA 26 14 26 40 66 12 2 13 15 28 2007–08 HC Neuchâtel Young Sprinters SUI.2 4 2 1 3 4 — — — — — 2007–08 Texas Wildcatters ECHL 64 21 41 62 91 9 1 3 4 10 2008–09 Totempo HvIK DEN 38 12 22 34 84 — — — — — 2008–09 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 28 5 7 12 33 4 1 0 1 0 2009–10 Colorado Eagles CHL 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2009–10 Texas Brahmas CHL 7 2 3 5 12 — — — — — 2009–10 Edinburgh Capitals EIHL 44 16 24 40 69 2 0 0 0 4 2010–11 Belfast Giants EIHL 54 20 47 67 84 3 1 1 2 0 AHL totals 132 12 25 37 89 5 0 0 0 0 EIHL totals 145 59 94 153 189 11 3 7 10 20

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1999 United States WJC18 6 0 3 3 6 Junior totals 6 0 3 3 6