Neil Wilkinson

Neil Wilkinson (born August 15, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was selected by the Minnesota North Stars in the second round (30th overall) of the 1986 NHL entry draft. He played in the National Hockey League between 1989 and 1999.

Playing career He played for the Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1980s and 1990s. Wilkinson retired from professional hockey after the 1998-99 NHL season.

Retirement Wilkinson remained retired for four seasons before making a brief return to the Central Hockey League in 2003 with the Tulsa Oilers and the ECHL's Fresno Falcons in 2004.

Wilkinson was inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall Of Fame on April 15, 2011. Due to his aggressive style of play and body checks he was given the nickname Big Daddy

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1985–86 Selkirk Steelers MJHL 42 14 35 49 91 — — — — — 1986–87 Michigan State University CCHA 19 3 4 7 18 — — — — — 1987–88 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 55 11 21 32 157 5 1 0 1 2 1987–88 Medicine Hat Tigers M-Cup — — — — — 1 0 0 0 0 1988–89 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 39 5 15 20 96 — — — — — 1989–90 Minnesota North Stars NHL 36 0 5 5 100 7 0 2 2 11 1989–90 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 20 6 7 13 62 — — — — — 1990–91 Minnesota North Stars NHL 50 2 9 11 117 22 3 3 6 12 1990–91 Kalamazoo Wings IHL 10 0 3 3 38 — — — — — 1991–92 San Jose Sharks NHL 60 4 15 19 107 — — — — — 1992–93 San Jose Sharks NHL 59 1 7 8 96 — — — — — 1993–94 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 72 3 9 12 116 4 0 0 0 0 1994–95 Winnipeg Jets NHL 40 1 4 5 75 — — — — — 1995–96 Winnipeg Jets NHL 21 1 4 5 33 — — — — — 1995–96 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 41 2 10 12 87 15 0 1 1 14 1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 23 0 0 0 36 5 0 0 0 4 1996–97 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1997–98 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 34 2 4 6 24 — — — — — 1998–99 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 24 0 0 0 22 — — — — — 2002–03 Tulsa Oilers CHL 13 1 6 7 8 — — — — — 2003–04 Jacksonville Barracudas WHA2 28 1 11 12 66 — — — — — 2003–04 Fresno Falcons ECHL 20 1 5 6 8 — — — — — NHL totals 460 16 67 83 813 53 3 6 9 41