Wes Walz is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 15 seasons. He was born on May 15, 1970, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and began his hockey career playing for the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 1986.
Walz was known for his speed, tenacity, and defensive skills on the ice. He was a versatile player who could play both center and wing positions and was often used on penalty-killing units. He was also a reliable faceoff man, winning over 50% of his draws throughout his career.
After playing in the WHL for three seasons, Walz was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the third round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Bruins during the 1990-91 season but spent most of his time in the minor leagues before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993.
Walz played for the Flyers for two seasons before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 1995. He played for the Flames for two seasons before being traded again, this time to the Minnesota Wild in 2000.
It was with the Wild that Walz had the most success in his NHL career. He played for the team for nine seasons and was a key player on the team's inaugural roster in 2000-01. He was named an alternate captain in 2002 and was known for his leadership both on and off the ice.
During his time with the Wild, Walz helped the team reach the playoffs four times and was a key player in the team's run to the Western Conference Finals in 2003. He retired from the NHL in 2008 after playing in over 700 games and scoring 109 goals and 167 assists.
After retiring from playing, Walz became a coach and worked as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008 to 2010. He then returned to the Wild organization and worked as an assistant coach for the team's AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros, from 2010 to 2011.
In 2011, Walz was named the head coach of the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL. He coached the team for two seasons before stepping down in 2013 to spend more time with his family.
Overall, Wes Walz had a successful career in the NHL and was known for his hard work, dedication, and leadership on and off the ice. He continues to be involved in hockey as a coach and mentor to young players.
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