Joel Rechlicz ( ; born June 14, 1987) is an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

former professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

player. Rechlicz is well known for playing the

enforcer Enforcer or enforcers may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Comics * Enforcer (comics), a Marvel Comics character * Enforcers (comics), a Marvel Comics team * New Enforcers, another Marvel Comics team Film and television * ''The Enforcer ...

role. By signing a three-year entry level contract with the

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...

in May 2008, Rechlicz became the first player from the relaunched International Hockey League, formerly known as the United Hockey League, to play a game in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

. He played for the

and the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL) ...

Playing career

Joel briefly played high school hockey for

Brookfield Central High School Brookfield Central High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in the city of Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States. It is a sister school to Brookfield East High School, also in Brookfield. The high school is administered by th ...

Brookfield, Wisconsin Brookfield is a city located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States in the Milwaukee metropolitan area. It had a population of 37,920 in the 2010 census. Brookfield is the third-largest city in Waukesha County. The city is adjacent to the ...

. At the age of 16, he began play for the St. Paul Lakers in the

Minnesota Junior Hockey League The Minnesota Junior Hockey League (MnJHL) was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior ice hockey league operated out of Minneapolis-Saint Paul. History Established in 1974, the MnJHL developed players 20 years old and younger for over 40 years ...

in the 2003–04 season. Rechlicz played three games in the

North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...

for the

Santa Fe Roadrunners Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring children gifts during the late evening and overnight ...

in 2004–05. He then moved onto the

Northern Michigan Black Bears The Soo Eagles are an American junior ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan that plays in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL). In 2012, the Eagles bought the North American Hockey League franchise rights of the Traverse ...

of the

Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) is a Canadian Junior ice hockey league and member of the Canadian Junior Hockey League and Northern Ontario Hockey Association. The winner of the NOJHL playoffs competes for the Dudley Hewitt Cup ...

for a season and a half. He had brief stops with the

Des Moines Buccaneers The Des Moines Buccaneers are a Tier I junior ice hockey team in the United States Hockey League (USHL). The team has played in the Western Conference since the 2009–10 season. History The Buccaneers began USHL play during the 1980–81 season ...

and

Indiana Ice The Indiana Ice was a Tier I junior ice hockey team and member club of the United States Hockey League (USHL) that was formed in 2004 when the Danville Wings were purchased and moved from their location in Danville, Illinois, to Indianapolis, I ...

of the

United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictly ...

in 2005–06. He then entered major junior hockey with a brief call up to the

Gatineau Olympiques The Gatineau Olympiques are a major junior ice hockey team based in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, that plays in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Puppie, ...

of the

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (french: Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec; abbreviated ''QMJHL'' in English, ''LHJMQ'' in French) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The l ...

(QMJHL) in 2006. Rechlicz played

major junior hockey Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...

for the

Chicoutimi Saguenéens The Chicoutimi Saguenéens are a junior ice hockey team which plays in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team is based out of Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada (now a part of the city of Saguenay) and owned by the City of Saguenay. Th ...

of the QMJHL. After the completion of the 2006–07 junior season, Rechlicz made his professional debut with the

Chicago Hounds The Chicago Hounds were a minor league, minor professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League (UHL) for the 2006–07 UHL season. They played their home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The new UHL team was approved ...

of the

United Hockey League The United Hockey League (UHL), originally known as the Colonial Hockey League from 1991 to 1997 and last known as the International Hockey League from 2007 to 2010, was a low-level minor professional ice hockey league, with teams in the Unite ...

(UHL). He played two games with the

in 2006–07 and then began the 2007–08 season with the

Kalamazoo Wings The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Western Conference, Central Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Event Center. They are the affiliate ...

of the International Hockey League (IHL), a rebranded UHL. Although he received little ice time during his 25-game stint with Kalamazoo, Rechlicz received a call-up from the

Albany River Rats The Albany River Rats were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center. History Before the formation of the franchise Without a viable indoor arena with a ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...

(AHL). Before the 2008–09 season, Rechlicz signed a three-year entry-level contract with the

. On March 5, 2009, Rechlicz made his NHL debut with the Islanders, recording an assist in the game. Rechlicz went on to play 17 games in the NHL that season, with stops in the

ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The E ...

and AHL. During the 2009–10 season, Rechlicz made the Islanders roster out of training camp and started the year in the NHL. After six appearances, he was assigned to the

Bridgeport Sound Tigers The Bridgeport Islanders (previously known as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers) are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League (AHL). They are the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who own the f ...

for more playing time. On July 13, 2010, Rechlicz and the Islanders came to a mutual agreement to terminate of his contract for reasons unknown and was put on unconditional waivers. Rechlicz became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers on July 14, 2010. On July 29, 2010, Rechlicz signed a one-year AHL deal with the

Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a town located 14 miles east of the state capital of Harrisburg Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the c ...

and was signed to a one-year extension for the 2011–12 season on July 29, 2011. After signing with affiliate Hershey Bears, the

brought up Rechlicz midway through the season. After three games, Washington placed Joel Rechlicz on waivers and he was sent down to return to the Bears on February 4, 2012. On July 12, 2012, Rechlicz signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the

Phoenix Coyotes The Arizona Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Coyotes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and currently play at the Mull ...

. During the 2012–13 season, the Coyotes traded him back to the Washington Capitals in exchange for forward

Matt Clackson Matthew Clackson (born April 26, 1985) is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey right winger who played six seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) for five different teams. His father, Kim Clackson, played in the National Ho ...

on April 2, 2013. On June 26, 2013, he was given a one-year extension with the Capitals. An unrestricted free agent, Rechlicz signed a one-year, two-way contract with the

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Xcel Ener ...

on July 2, 2014. Rechlicz never appeared in a game for Minnesota, playing the duration of his contract with AHL affiliate, the

Iowa Wild The Iowa Wild are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, that began play for the 2013–14 season. The team plays at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, as the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. The team was f ...

. After signing a one-year AHL deal with the

Grand Rapids Griffins The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional ice hockey, hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and play home games at Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National H ...

, on October 5, 2015, Rechlicz was suspended three games by the AHL for a charging incident in a preseason game against the

Lake Erie Monsters The Cleveland Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The team began play in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters and since 2015 has served as the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hock ...

. Rechlicz continued his tenure in the AHL, signing as a free agent with the

Bakersfield Condors The Bakersfield Condors are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) based in Bakersfield, California. The team is owned by and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers. The Condors play their home g ...

on August 31, 2016.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Transactions

* May 6, 2008 – signed by the

as a free agent to a three-year entry level deal * July 13, 2010 – Rechlicz and Islanders agreed to a mutual termination of his contract. * July 29, 2010 – signed a contract with the Calder Cup champion

of the

, the top affiliate of the

. * January 30, 2012 – signed a one-year contract with the

. * July 11, 2012 – signed a one-year two-way contract with the

. * April 2, 2013 – traded to the

. * June 26, 2013 – signed a one- year contract extension with the

. * July 2, 2014 – signed a one-year two way contract with the

References

External links

* * *
"The 10 Least Consequential Athletes of the Decade"
by

Jon Bois Jon Bois (; born September 24, 1982) is an American sports writer, video producer, and YouTuber. He is the creative director at ''SB Nation'', a sports blogging network. Bois is known for his speculative fiction works on sports, such as ''17776 ...

, for

SB Nation ''SB Nation'' (an abbreviation for their full name ''SportsBlogs Nation'') is a sports blogging network owned by Vox Media. It was co-founded by Tyler Bleszinski, Markos Moulitsas, and Jerome Armstrong in 2005. The blog from which the network ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rechlicz, Joel 1987 births Living people Albany River Rats players American men's ice hockey right wingers Bakersfield Condors players Bridgeport Sound Tigers players Chicago Hounds (ice hockey team) players Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) players Des Moines Buccaneers players Gatineau Olympiques players Grand Rapids Griffins players Hershey Bears players Ice hockey players from Wisconsin Iowa Wild players Indiana Ice players Kalamazoo Wings (2007–2009) players New York Islanders players People from Brookfield, Wisconsin Sportspeople from Waukesha County, Wisconsin Portland Pirates players Undrafted National Hockey League players Utah Grizzlies (ECHL) players Washington Capitals players