Michael Vernace (born May 26, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Playing career

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Vernace grew up playing most of his minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League, finishing his minor career with the 2001–02 Mississauga Reps Bantams. After that season, Vernace was a 9th round choice (163rd overall) in the 2001 OHL Priority Selection by the Brampton Battalion. The following season, Vernace was assigned by the Battalion to the OHA Jr.A. Bramalea Blues. Vernace was drafted 201st overall by the San Jose Sharks in the

2004 NHL Entry Draft The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was the 42nd NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 26 and 27, 2004 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout, ...

from the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League. He attended Chaminade College School for his high school education. On June 1, 2006, Vernace was traded by the Sharks to the Colorado Avalanche for a 6th round drafts pick and was signed to an entry level contract. Vernace made his professional debut with the Arizona Sundogs of the CHL before joining the Avalanche's affiliate 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 AHL in the 2006–07 season. Vernace joined new Avalanche affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters, for their inaugural season in the 2007–08 season, leading the Monsters in games played with 79. After spending the majority of the 2008–09 season with the Monsters, Vernace received his first NHL call-up on March 16, 2009. He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche in a 3–2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild on March 17, 2009. After not being offered a contract with the Avalanche, Vernace a free agent, signed a one-year deal with the

Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 seaso ...

on July 30, 2009. On September 26, 2009, Vernace was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the beginning of the 2009–10 season. After 47 games with the Wolves, Vernace was then reassigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs on March 10, 2010. He recorded 4 assists in 18 post season games to help the Bulldogs reach the Western Conference finals. On June 23, 2010, Vernace was traded by the Thrashers, along with Brett Sterling and a 7th round selection in

2010 NHL Entry Draft The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial re ...

, back to the Sharks for future considerations in order to help the Thrashers facilitate an earlier trade of Dustin Byfuglien from the Chicago Blackhawks. Unable to come to terms with San Jose, Vernace signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 29, 2010, to a one-year, two-way contract. In the 2011–12 season, on December 2, 2011, Vernace was traded by the Lightning, along with James Wright, to the Florida Panthers for

Mike Kostka Michael Christopher Kostka (born November 28, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career After playing four seasons at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, he w ...

and Evan Oberg. Assigned to AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, his tenure was short lived when on February 25, 2012, Vernace was traded by the Panthers to the New York Rangers, along with a third round pick in the

2013 NHL Entry Draft The 2013 NHL Entry Draft was the 51st NHL Entry Draft. All seven rounds of the draft took place on June 30, 2013, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The top three selections were Nathan MacKinnon going to the Colorado Avalanche, Alek ...

, for

Wojtek Wolski Wojciech "Wojtek" Wolski (; born February 24, 1986) is a Polish-Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played eight seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florid ...

, Vernace's former teammate from the Brampton Battalion. After two seasons within the Rangers organization, Vernace left as a free agent to sign his first European contract in Germany on a one-year deal with

Adler Mannheim The Adler Mannheim (English: ''Mannheim Eagles'', formerly Mannheimer ERC) is a professional ice hockey team of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the highest-level ice hockey league in Germany. The team is based in Mannheim, a city in the northern pa ...

of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga on August 8, 2013. After 18 points in 51 games with Mannheim, Vernace belatedly signed in the Swedish second division the following season, signing for the remainder of the 2014–15 HockeyAllsvenskan season, 2014–15 season with Rögle BK on December 11, 2014. Vernace played two seasons in Europe, before opting for a return to North America and with the 2015-16 ECHL season, 2015–16 season underway, signed a contract with the Brampton Beast of the ECHL on October 28, 2015.

Career statistics

Awards and honours

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Vernace, Michael 1986 births Adler Mannheim players Albany River Rats players Arizona Sundogs players Brampton Battalion players Brampton Beast players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Sweden Canadian ice hockey defencemen Chicago Wolves players Colorado Avalanche players Connecticut Whale (AHL) players Fehérvár AV19 players Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) players Lake Erie Monsters players Living people Norfolk Admirals players Rögle BK players San Antonio Rampage players San Jose Sharks draft picks Ice hockey people from Toronto Stockton Heat players Tampa Bay Lightning players