Patrick O'Sullivan

Patrick O'Sullivan (born February 1, 1985) is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Phoenix Coyotes.

Early life O'Sullivan was born in Toronto, Ontario, but grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His father, John O'Sullivan, a Toronto native, played for the minor-league Winston-Salem Thunderbirds of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.

O'Sullivan has spoken openly about being emotionally and physically abused for years by his father, as young as age 5, sometimes for no reason at all. The abuse continued up to the time he started playing for the Mississauga Ice Dogs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Some notable acts were mainly verbal and physical abuse when Patrick had an off-game. O'Sullivan's father whipped him with a heavy leather jump rope and sometimes an electrical cord, as well as kicking, punching, and choking him, and burning cigarettes on him. There were also reports of John threatening and intimidating him. O'Sullivan was also sometimes locked out of the house in his pajamas during winter. O'Sullivan later detailed the abuse in a book, Breaking Away: A Harrowing True Story of Resilience, Courage and Triumph. He would play 19 games for the Oilers during the remainder of the season, scoring two goals and four assists.

On June 29, 2010, O'Sullivan (along with Ethan Moreau and Robert Nilsson) was placed on waivers by Edmonton. After clearing waivers the following day, on June 30, he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Jim Vandermeer. His contract was then immediately bought-out by the Coyotes, resulting in his free agency. On September 17, 2010, O'Sullivan signed a two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes to become the first native of North Carolina to play for the Hurricanes. After being a healthy scratch ten times, O'Sullivan was placed on waivers by the Hurricanes and acquired by the Minnesota Wild.

On August 4, 2011, O'Sullivan signed a one-year, two-way contract with Phoenix. Unable to earn a regular position, scoring 4 points in 23 games to begin the 2011–12 season, O'Sullivan was reassigned to the Coyotes' AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. On March 2, 2012, the Coyotes loaned O'Sullivan to the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL in exchange for Brett Sterling.

On September 26, 2012, O'Sullivan signed his first European contract, agreeing to a one-year deal with HIFK of the Finnish SM-liiga. He scored one goal in eight games for HIFK before he was released one month into the 2012–13 season.

Records Edmonton Oilers franchise record for worst +/- regular season (2009–10) minus 35 Mississauga IceDogs franchise record for most regular season assists: (2004–05) – 59 Mississauga IceDogs franchise record for most regular season points: (2001–02) – 92 Houston Aeros franchise record for most regular season goals by a rookie: (2005–06) – 47 Houston Aeros franchise single season record for most goals: (2005–06) – 47 Houston Aeros franchise record for most regular season assists by a rookie: (2005–06) – 46 Houston Aeros franchise record for most regular season points by a rookie: (2005–06) – 93

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1999–2000 Strathroy Rockets GOJHL 54 25 30 55 44 — — — — — 2000–01 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 56 22 35 57 57 — — — — — 2000–01 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 8 8 10 18 12 — — — — — 2001–02 Mississauga IceDogs OHL 68 34 58 92 61 — — — — — 2001–02 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 1 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 2002–03 Mississauga IceDogs OHL 56 40 41 81 57 5 2 9 11 18 2003–04 Mississauga IceDogs OHL 53 43 39 82 32 24 12 11 23 16 2004–05 Mississauga IceDogs OHL 57 31 59 90 63 5 0 4 4 6 2005–06 Houston Aeros AHL 78 47 46 93 64 8 5 5 10 4 2006–07 Manchester Monarchs AHL 41 18 21 39 12 16 8 9 17 10 2006–07 Los Angeles Kings NHL 44 5 14 19 14 — — — — — 2007–08 Los Angeles Kings NHL 82 22 31 53 36 — — — — — 2008–09 Los Angeles Kings NHL 62 14 23 37 16 — — — — — 2008–09 Edmonton Oilers NHL 19 2 4 6 12 — — — — — 2009–10 Edmonton Oilers NHL 73 11 23 34 32 — — — — — 2010–11 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 10 1 0 1 2 — — — — — 2010–11 Minnesota Wild NHL 21 1 6 7 2 — — — — — 2010–11 Houston Aeros AHL 36 19 29 48 22 24 4 14 18 16 2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 23 2 2 4 2 — — — — — 2011–12 Portland Pirates AHL 26 10 20 30 16 — — — — — 2011–12 Peoria Rivermen AHL 17 5 8 13 36 — — — — — 2012–13 HIFK SM-l 8 1 3 4 4 — — — — — NHL totals 334 58 103 161 116 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2002 United States WJC18 8 7 8 15 37 2003 United States WJC 4th 7 1 2 3 10 2004 United States WJC 6 3 0 3 12 2005 United States WJC 4th 7 2 6 8 14 2006 United States WC 7th 3 1 0 1 0 2008 United States WC 6th 7 3 3 6 2 2009 United States WC 4th 9 4 3 7 6 Junior totals 28 13 16 29 73 Senior totals 19 8 6 14 8

Awards and honours Award Year OHL Jack Ferguson Award 2001 Emms Family Award 2002 CHL Rookie of the Year 2002 AHL All-Star Game 2006, 2007* All-Rookie Team 2006 Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award 2006