Tyler Wotherspoon

Tyler Wotherspoon (born March 12, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He last played for Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was selected in the second round, 57th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Junior A native of Burnaby, British Columbia, Wotherspoon was selected by the Portland Winter Hawks in the second round of the 2008 Western Hockey League (WHL) bantam draft. He made his WHL debut as a 15-year-old in 2008–09, appearing in four games for Portland, then played four full seasons between 2009 and 2013. During his WHL career, he appeared in 239 total games, scoring 17 goals, and registering 65 assists. With the Winterhawks, Wotherspoon appeared in the WHL championship series in three consecutive years as Portland lost the final in 2011 and 2012 to the Kootenay Ice and Edmonton Oil Kings, respectively, before finally winning the Ed Chynoweth Cup championship in 2013 by defeating Edmonton. Wotherspoon was also named to the WHL's Western Conference second All-Star Team in 2012–13. Wotherspoon scored three points in five games at the 2013 Memorial Cup, however Portland lost the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) championship game, the Memorial Cup, to the Halifax Mooseheads, 6–4. During the season, Wotherspoon was also a member of the Canadian junior team, recording two points in six games at the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Professional

Selected by the Calgary Flames with their second-round pick (57th overall) during the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft, Flames Special Assistant to General Manager Craig Conroy described Wotherspoon as a player whose qualities often go unnoticed: "If you're a stay-at-home defenceman that can join the rush, make the good first pass, doesn't get beat one-on-one, very sound, it doesn’t stand out." He recorded his first point the following night with an assist on a Brian McGrattan goal in a contest against the Vancouver Canucks. Wotherspoon appeared in 14 games with the Flames, recording four assists, before suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery and ended his season. In the 2014–15 season, Wotherspoon was assigned to the Flames new AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Flames. Having played 61 games with Adirondack, scoring 2 goals and 24 points, he was recalled by Calgary on April 3, 2015. He made his NHL season debut in the season finale, a 5–1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. He made his playoff debut in the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, making four appearances in the first round win over the Vancouver Canucks, paired with David Schlemko. He made two more appearances in the second round where the Flames were defeated by the Anaheim Ducks.

Wotherspoon was assigned to the Flames' new AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, to start the 2015–16 season. He was recalled by Calgary in February 2016 and made his NHL season debut against the Vancouver Canucks. He appeared in 53 games with Stockton, scoring 2 goals and 10 points. In 11 games with Calgary, he registered just one assist. In the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs, Wotherspoon appeared in five games for Stockon, going scoreless. where he put up career highs in goals (7), assists (30) and points (37) in 67 games.

After five seasons within the Flames organization, Wotherspoon left as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the St. Louis Blues on July 1, 2018. He was assigned to the Blues' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, for the 2018–19 season. He played in 70 games with San Antonio, scoring 4 goals and 22 points. He was assigned to the Flyers' AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, after going unclaimed on waivers to start the 2019–20 season. He played in 54 games, scoring 4 goals and 22 points before the AHL suspended play on March 12, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He spent the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season with Lehigh Valley, playing in 24 games and registering six points, all assists.

On September 14, 2021, Wotherspoon signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the New Jersey Devils. After participating in training camp and preseason, he was released from the PTO contract and signed a one-year deal with the Devils' AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, on October 13, 2021. He would be assigned to Utica for the 2022–23 season and was named one of team's alternate captains. Wotherspoon was again assigned to Utica for the 2023–24 season, recording four goals and 18 assists in 65 games.

On July 1, 2024, Wotherspoon signed a one-year AHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate Laval Rocket.

On September 26, 2025, Wotherspoon signed a one-year contract with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League. He was released on December 21, 2025, after suffering a knee injury that required surgery and a lengthy recovery.

International play Internationally, Wotherspoon first represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada Pacific at the 2010 World U-17 Hockey Challenge finishing fifth overall at the conclusion of tournament play.

In December 2012, Wotherspoon was named to the Canadian national junior team ahead of the annual World Junior Championships, where his country ultimately failed to secure a podium finish after dropping the bronze medal game to Russia in overtime.

In January 2022, Wotherspoon was selected to play for the Canadian national senior team at the 2022 Winter Olympics held in Beijing, China.

Personal life Wotherspoon's younger brother, Parker, was a fourth round selection by the New York Islanders in the 2015 NHL entry draft and currently plays for the Boston Bruins.

Tyler and his wife, Mishaela, have two children: a daughter, Kolette, and a son, Karter. Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2008–09 Portland Winter Hawks WHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2009–10 Portland Winterhawks WHL 43 1 4 5 21 2 0 0 0 0 2010–11 Portland Winterhawks WHL 64 2 10 12 73 20 3 1 4 10 2011–12 Portland Winterhawks WHL 67 7 21 28 42 22 1 6 7 6 2012–13 Portland Winterhawks WHL 61 7 30 37 30 21 2 8 10 20 2013–14 Abbotsford Heat AHL 48 1 8 9 12 — — — — — 2013–14 Calgary Flames NHL 14 0 4 4 4 — — — — — 2014–15 Adirondack Flames AHL 61 2 22 24 20 — — — — — 2014–15 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 53 2 8 10 16 — — — — — 2015–16 Calgary Flames NHL 11 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2016–17 Stockton Heat AHL 56 6 12 18 24 5 0 0 0 2 2016–17 Calgary Flames NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2017–18 Stockton Heat AHL 67 7 30 37 46 — — — — — 2018–19 San Antonio Rampage AHL 70 4 18 22 28 — — — — — 2019–20 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 54 4 18 22 26 — — — — — 2020–21 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 24 0 6 6 18 — — — — — 2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 53 3 17 20 22 5 0 0 0 0 2022–23 Utica Comets AHL 65 4 17 21 22 6 0 2 2 6 2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 65 4 18 22 20 — — — — — 2024–25 Laval Rocket AHL 72 2 16 18 10 7 0 0 0 2 2025–26 Barys Astana KHL 9 0 0 0 0 — — — — — NHL totals 30 0 5 5 4 6 0 0 0 0

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2010 Canada Pacific U17 5th 5 0 0 0 4 2013 Canada WJC 4th 6 1 1 2 0 2022 Canada OG 6th 5 0 2 2 2 Junior totals 11 1 1 2 4 Senior totals 5 0 2 2 2

Awards and honours Award Year Ref CHL CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2011 WHL Ed Chynoweth Cup champion 2013 West Second All-Star Team 2013