Justin Kurtz

Justin Kurtz (born January 14, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 27 games for the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks.

Playing career Kurtz was drafted 84th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1995 NHL entry draft, but never played an NHL game for the franchise. His NHL debut did not come until the 2001-02 season with the Vancouver Canucks, after spending three seasons with the Manitoba Moose. He played 27 regular season games, scoring 3 goals and 8 points in what turned out to be his only season in the NHL.

He spent another season with Manitoba before moving to Europe in 2003, playing in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for the Krefeld Pinguine in two years. In 2005, he moved to the 2nd Bundesliga with EHC Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams, who were aiming to regain a place in the DEL having been relegated the previous season. However, they were unsuccessful and Kurtz returned to North America with the Worcester Sharks.

In 2007, Kurtz moved to Italy, signing with HCJ Milano Vipers. After one year he left the club and moved to Nordsjælland Cobras of Denmark's Oddset Ligaen in 2008. Kurtz later enjoyed spells with Örebro HK in Sweden and Fischtown Pinguins of the German 2nd Bundesliga before joining the EHC Black Wings Linz of the Austrian Hockey League. He last played for the Dresdner Eislöwen of the 2nd Bundesliga before retiring from professional hockey in 2013.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1993–94 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 63 3 13 16 37 14 1 3 4 24 1994–95 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 65 8 34 42 75 18 2 2 4 26 1995–96 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 53 19 55 74 107 18 4 6 10 37 1996–97 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 59 24 44 68 85 6 3 2 5 4 1997–98 Las Vegas Thunder IHL 63 11 11 22 62 — — — — — 1997–98 Saint John Flames AHL 4 0 0 0 6 6 0 0 0 0 1998–99 Louisiana IceGators ECHL 6 1 4 5 6 — — — — — 1998–99 Manitoba Moose IHL 38 4 6 10 40 5 0 0 0 4 1999–00 Manitoba Moose IHL 66 3 15 18 94 2 0 0 0 0 2000–01 Manitoba Moose IHL 69 8 22 30 62 13 2 3 5 12 2001–02 Manitoba Moose AHL 52 10 29 39 64 7 0 4 4 4 2001–02 Vancouver Canucks NHL 27 3 5 8 14 — — — — — 2002–03 Manitoba Moose AHL 71 11 28 39 65 14 3 4 7 17 2003–04 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 48 7 15 22 70 — — — — — 2004–05 Krefeld Pinguine DEL 52 7 16 23 72 — — — — — 2005–06 EHC Wolfsburg 2.GBun 50 13 34 47 159 4 0 1 1 2 2006–07 Worcester Sharks AHL 55 3 7 10 46 3 1 2 3 4 2007–08 HC Milano ITL 36 9 16 25 56 9 1 7 8 10 2008–09 Nordsjælland Cobras DEN 39 7 26 33 112 4 1 1 2 12 2009–10 Örebro HK Swe.1 50 9 10 19 81 — — — — — 2010–11 Fischtown Pinguins 2.GBun 48 7 33 40 101 4 1 0 1 2 2011–12 EHC Black Wings Linz EBEL 33 0 6 6 89 — — — — — 2012–13 Dresdner Eislöwen 2.GBun 23 2 8 10 50 — — — — — NHL totals 27 3 5 8 14 — — — — —

Awards and honours Award Year WHL East Second All-Star Team 1996 East Second All-Star Team 1997