Andy Welinski
Image: NHL

Andy Welinski

Hometown:

Duluth Minnesota

Team:

Anaheim Ducks

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1993-04-27
Position:

D

Eligible for draft:

2011
Shoots:

Right
Drafted:

2011
Height:

6-0
Acquired:

3rd round (83rd overall), 2011
Weight:

188 lbs.
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History

2008-09: Andy Welinski was a defenseman for Minnesota’ s Duluth East high school as a sophomore.

2009-10: Welinski skated in 25 games for Duluth East as a junior as the Greyhounds captured the Section 7 AA championship and advanced to the state tournament. Welinski scored 5 goals with 19 assists and was +9 with 18 PMs. Welinski was selected for the Minnesota Advanced 17s and participated in the USA Hockey National Player Development Camp. He committed to attending the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2012-13.

2010-11: Welinski left Duluth East to play in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers. In 51 games, he scored 6 goals and added 8 assists for 14 points. In 11 playoff games, Welinski scored 2 goals as the Gamblers lost in the Clark Cup final. Welinski has verbally committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

2011-12: Welinski was named the USHL’s Defensemen of the Year in his second season with the Clark Cup champion Green Bay Gamblers. He led Green Bay defenseman in scoring with 15 goals and 22 assists in 54 games and shared the team plus/minus lead (plus-35) with forwards Sam Herr and Nolan Laporte. The Gamblers rolled through the USHL regular season, winning 47 of 60 games, and defeated Waterloo three games to two in the Clark Cup Finals. Welinski was plus-eight with 2 goals and 2 assists and had 8 penalty minutes in 12 playoff games.

2012-13: Welinski returned to his hometown and played in all 38 games for Minnesota-Duluth as a freshman in a rare losing season for the Bulldogs. He was the leading scorer amongst defensemen with 4 goals and 14 assists and was -14 with 24 penalty minutes. Three of his four goals were scored on the power play. Minnesota-Duluth finished ninth in the WCHA and was swept by Wisconsin in the first round of the WCHA tournament. The Bulldogs failed to win 20 games for the first time since 2007-08.

2013-14: Welinski provided offensive support and some toughness on the blue line for Minnesota-Duluth in his sophomore season. He scored 5 goals with 13 assists and was -5 with 51 penalty minutes in 36 games. The Bulldogs tied Western Michigan for fourth place in the inaugural season of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and were swept by the Broncos in  a best-of-three NCHC quarterfinal series. 

2014-15: Welinski was the leading scorer amongst defensemen for Minnesota-Duluth in his junior season. Skating in all 40 games for the Bulldogs, he scored 9 goals with 21 assists and was +2 with 24 penalty minutes. Minnesota-Duluth finished fifth in the National College Hockey Conference, winning 20 games in the regular season. The Bulldogs were swept by fourth-place Denver in the NCHC quarterfinals and defeated Minnesota in the NCAA Northeast Regional before falling to Boston University, 3-2, in the regional final.

Talent Analysis

Welinski hardly struck you in the face with his numbers during his draft year, but coaches, scouts, teammates, and opponents all raved about his potential. He has since validated that praise. He is a fluid skater with a hard, dangerous shot and a bit of a nasty edge to his defensive game. He is a plays a large role with the defense corps at Minnesota-Duluth and should continue to refine his technical and tactical game while with the Bulldogs.  

Future

Welinski is in his senior season at Minnesota-Duluth in 2015-16. A team leader for the Bulldogs, he is a key part of the offensive attack and a physical presence in his own zone and along the walls. In his final season of college hockey, Welinski must be signed by the Ducks by August 15th or he would become an unrestricted free agent. Long-term he projects as a sound two-way defenseman at the NHL level.

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