Drew Czerwonka

Hometown:

Glenavon Saskatoon

Currently Playing In:

CHL

Birthday:

1992-07-01

Position:

LW

Eligible for draft:

2010

Shoots:

Left

Drafted:

2010

Height:

6-2

Acquired:

6th round (166th overall), 2010

Weight:

189 lbs.

Probability of Success
  • C

History

2008-09: Czerwonka scored 16 goals in 55 games for the Kootenay Ice (WHL) as a 16-year-old. He also had two assists and was -10 with 83 PMs (including ten fights) as the Ice finished third in their division and reached the playoffs. Czerwonka was scoreless and -2 with 5 PMs in the Ice's four-game playoff series with Brandon.

2009-10: Czerwonka skated in 54 of 72 games for Kootenay in his second season in the WHL and was third on the team with 106 PMs, including 11 fights. He scored 4 goals with 9 assists and was -5 on an Ice team that finished second in its division before falling to Medicine Hat in a six-game first round playoff series. Czerwonka scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was -1 with 9 PMs in the playoffs. Not listed among the 210 North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings, he was selected by the Oilers in the sixth round (166th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft.

2010-11: Czerwonka emerged as a play-making, two-way energy forward in his third WHL season as Kootenay advanced to the Memorial Cup after winning the WHL playoff championship. In 68 regular season games he scored 13 goals with 30 assists and cut down on the penalty minutes (78); finishing +9 as the Ice finished third in their division. Czerwonka skated in 13 of 19 games during the playoffs, missing much of the first round series with a shoulder injury, and scored 2 goals with 3 assists with a -2 plus/minus and just 4 PMs. In five Memorial Cup games he scored 1 goal with 2 assists and was an even plus/minus with 6 PMs.
 

Talent Analysis

A physical player, Czerwonka isn't afraid to lay the big hit, work in the corners, and stand up for himself or his teammates. He has excellent leadership qualities and his combination of hard work and willingness to go to the dirty areas of the ice has seen him emerge as solid scorer at the WHL level, however it is highly unlikely he will bring much offense at the next level. He's the kind of hard working, jack of all trades, energy player that often fills the unsung hero role at the pro level.

Future

Currently playing his fourth full WHL season, Czerwonka is a good bet to turn pro next season but may need to start in the ECHL due to the depth ahead of him. He's a longshot for an NHL career, however if he makes it, he will be playing the role of bottom six energy player.

Chicago Blackhawks prospect awards dominated by AHL and junior players

by Brad Gardner
on

Jeremy Morin - Chicago Blackhawks

Photo: Jeremy Morin put together his best pro season in 2012-13 and could be on the verge of cracking the Blackhawks roster next season (courtesy of Warren Wimmer/Icon SMI)

The Chicago Blackhawks prospect pool had plenty of notable performances during the 2012-13 season, particularly at the AHL level, where the Rockford IceHogs went on another late-season run only to come up just short of the playoffs for the third straight season. Many of the club's CHL prospects also had standout seasons, with two Blackhawks prospects still competing for their respective clubs at the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Read more»

Erik Gustafsson leads Philadelphia Flyers HF prospect awards

by Chris Shafer
on

oliver_lauridsen_philadelphia_041313

Photo: Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Oliver Lauridsen had a solid showing in his 15-game call-up to the NHL this season. (courtesy of Jerome Davis/Icon SMI)

The prospect pool for the Philadelphia Flyers is consistently one of the more diminished gatherings of young talent every year, but they rarely miss on top-end talent when given the opportunity to acquire it. Because of their lack of picks and their aggressive style of team-building, it is far more important for the organization to consistently hit on their high draft picks as well as attract some of the better free agent prospects on the market every year.

Read more»

San Jose Sharks NCAA and European prospect pool features skilled forward prospects

by Craig Fischer
on

Sean Kuraly - Miami RedHawks

Photo: Sean Kuraly had an up-and-down freshman season for Miami, but the 6’2 center’s physical tools keep him among the Sharks top college prospects (courtesy of Tim G. Zechar/Icon SMI)

Built almost entirely out of the later rounds of the draft, the San Jose Sharks NCAA prospect pool features a good mix of size and a small handful of potential NHL regulars. Of the 10 Sharks prospects who played college hockey during the 2012-13 season, eight were selected in the fifth round or later.

Read more»

2013 Memorial Cup Preview: Impressive collection of talent competing for CHL’s top prize

by Jason Menard
on

Ty Rattie - Portland Winterhawks

Photo: Portland Winterhawks forward and St. Louis Blues prospect Ty Rattie has continued his scoring exploits in the 2012-13 post-season, helping the Winterhawks make the Memorial Cup Tournament after near misses the past two years (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

The puck drops for the 2013 MasterCard Memorial Cup starting Friday evening at 6 PM CST. The host city’s Saskatoon Blades take on the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights to kick off a tournament that features the CHL’s three top-ranked clubs (and the unranked hosts). In addition, several highly-ranked 2013 prospects plus many well-regarded NHL prospects will be taking part in this tournament.

Read more»

Calgary Flames prospects played large part in WHL playoffs, Frozen Four

by David Thicke
on

Ken Agostino - Yale Bulldogs

Photo: Yale winger Ken Agostino hoists the trophy after helping the Bulldogs to the first National Championship in school history (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)

The Calgary Flames prospects at the NHL level were unable to gain any post-season playing experience and the Abbotsford Heat failed to qualify for the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. At the lower levels this spring, only the CHL prospects were experiencing playoff hockey as the European and NCAA prospects had already finished up their seasons.

Read more»