Brian Willsie is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on March 16, 1978, in London, Ontario, Canada. Willsie began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Guelph Storm in 1995. He played for the Storm for four seasons, during which he scored 139 goals and 139 assists in 247 games.
In 1996, Willsie was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the sixth round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche in the 1999-2000 season, playing in 14 games and scoring one goal. Willsie spent the next few seasons bouncing between the Avalanche and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hershey Bears.
In 2002, Willsie was traded to the Washington Capitals, where he played for the next four seasons. He had his best season in 2005-2006, when he scored 19 goals and 15 assists in 82 games. Willsie was known for his physical play and his ability to play on both the power play and penalty kill.
After his time with the Capitals, Willsie played for several other NHL teams, including the Los Angeles Kings, the Atlanta Thrashers, and the Carolina Hurricanes. He also played in the AHL for the Manchester Monarchs and the Toronto Marlies.
Willsie retired from professional hockey in 2014, after playing for the Belfast Giants in the United Kingdom. Over the course of his NHL career, he played in 381 games and scored 52 goals and 56 assists. He also played in 27 playoff games, scoring two goals and three assists.
Off the ice, Willsie was known for his charitable work. He was involved with the Washington Capitals' "Wish Upon a Par" program, which granted wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. He also participated in the NHL's "Hockey Fights Cancer" campaign.
In conclusion, Brian Willsie had a successful career as a professional ice hockey player, playing in the NHL for over a decade. He was known for his physical play and his ability to play on both special teams. Willsie also made a positive impact off the ice through his charitable work.
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