Timothy James Hensick (born December 10, 1985) is an American 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 ...
center
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
. He is currently playing for the
Toledo Walleye
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL. The Walleye were founded in 1991 as the Toledo Storm and play their home games at ...
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 ...
. Hensick was drafted 88th overall in the
2005 NHL Entry Draft
The 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft. Originally scheduled to be held on June 25, the 2004–05 NHL lockout led to the draft being postponed to July 30.
Special procedures were required to determine the order of picks, because ...
by the
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The Avalanche play thei ...
.
Playing career
As a youth, Hensick played in the 1999
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament
The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament (french: Tournoi international de hockey pee-wee de Québec) is an annual minor ice hockey event in Quebec City. The tournament was founded in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival, ...
with the Detroit Honeybaked
minor ice hockey
Minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from cla ...
team. He later played with the
United States National Development Program. He spent four years (2003–07) at
University of Michigan
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
playing collegiate ice hockey. Hensick had a league leading 69 points and 46 assists in the 2006–07 season, but was not among the three finalists for the
Hobey Baker Award
The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player. It has been awarded 41 times. It is named for Hall of Famer Hobey Baker, who played college hockey at Princeton University ...
. He was, however, named in the NCAA All-American Team.
[ ] Hensick scored 222 points in his collegiate career with the Wolverines. It proved to be the most by any player in the decade as Hensick was later honored, named in the First All-Decade Team.
After his senior year with the Wolverines, Hensick was signed by the Avalanche to a three-year entry level contract on April 11, 2007. T.J. made his professional debut in the
2007–08 season with 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 ...
of the AHL, the Avalanche's affiliate team. Hensick was called up to the Avalanche on November 29, 2007, and made his NHL debut in a 3-2 loss to the
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...
on November 30, 2007. Hensick, in his second game, scored his first NHL goal against the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...
in a 5-2 win on December 1, 2007. He was named as Lake Erie's only contribution to the 2008
AHL All-Star Game, playing for PlanetUSA, Hensick led the team with 2 goals and 2 assists in a 9-8 shoot-out loss to the Canadian All-Stars.
Hensick made the Avalanche opening roster to start the
2009–10 season. Reduced to a reserve forward, T.J. played in only 7 games before he was placed on waivers on November 25, 2009. After clearing waivers he was assigned to Lake Erie and lead the Monsters in scoring with 70 points. Hensick was named "AHL player of the Month" in December, becoming the first player to be awarded in Monsters history. T.J. was also selected to the 2010 AHL All-Star Game, replacing injured teammate
Darren Haydar
Darren J. Haydar (born October 22, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Haydar was selected by the Nashville Predators in the ninth round (248th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He is one of the top AHL players of all ...
, as the lone Lake Erie representative.
On June 17, 2010, after he was unable to establish himself with the Avalanche, and in need of a new contract, he was traded to the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...
for
Julian Talbot
Julian Talbot (born March 24, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman, converted from center, who last played for the Nottingham Panthers in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Playing career
Talbot, a Wahnapitae native, follow ...
. On July 14, 2010, Hensick agreed to a contract with the Blues signing a one-year two way contract. After attending the Blues training camp for the
2010–11 season, he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the
Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen is the name of four minor league hockey clubs:
*Peoria Rivermen (IHL), named as such 1984–1996, formerly the Peoria Prancers 1982–1984
*Peoria Rivermen (ECHL), 1996–2005
*Peoria Rivermen (AHL), 2005–2013
*Peoria Rivermen (SP ...
, during the preseason. During the season, Hensick was recalled from the Rivermen to make his Blues debut, marking his 100th career NHL game in a defeat to the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
on November 17, 2010. At the conclusion of the season, he participated in 13 games for the Blues, scoring 1 goal.
After his third consecutive season in leading the Rivermen in scoring within the Blues organization, Hensick left as a free agent to sign his first European contract on a one-year deal with Swedish club,
Modo Hockey
Modo Hockey (or MoDo with uppercase letters) is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The team plays in Sweden's second-tier league HockeyAllsvenskan. The club was founded in 1987 and has won one SHL championships; in 2007. ...
, of the
Swedish Hockey League
The Swedish Hockey League (officially SHL; sv, Svenska Hockeyligan) is a professional ice hockey league, and the highest division in the Swedish ice hockey system. The league currently consists of 14 teams. The league was founded in 1975, an ...
on June 13, 2013. After finally agreeing the transfer to Sweden from many years of interest with many clubs, Hensick failed to meet expectations producing just 4 goals and 11 assists in 31 games. After he was permitted a mutual release, Hensick returned to North America and signed an AHL contract with the
Abbotsford Heat
The Abbotsford Heat were a professional ice hockey team that played five seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) between 2009 and 2014. The team was based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, and played its home games at the 7,046-seat A ...
on January 11, 2014. Procedurally placed on waivers after participating in Europe, Hensick was immediately claimed by the
Hartford Wolf Pack
The Hartford Wolf Pack are a professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut. A member of the American Hockey League (AHL), they play their home games at the XL Center. The team was established in 1926 as the Providence Reds. After a ...
, an affiliate of the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...
. Hensick continued where he left off in the AHL, producing offensively with 34 points in 42 games, as the Wolf Pack missed the playoffs.
On July 3, 2014, Hensick decided to continue in the AHL and signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with the
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that began to play in the 2015–16 OHL season, 2015–16 season. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the Bulldogs play their home games at FirstOntario Cent ...
.
After two seasons without an NHL offer, on July 1, 2015, Hensick was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...
. Following the Hurricanes training camp, Hensick was familiarly assigned to the AHL to add his veteran presence to affiliate, the
Charlotte Checkers
The Charlotte Checkers are a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the American Hockey League (AHL), and are the top minor league affi ...
. During the
2015–16 season with the Checkers, Hensick appeared in 46 games with the scoring at a lower pace then his career average in the AHL before he was loaned to the Utica Comets, affiliate to the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
, in an exchange for
Blair Jones on March 7, 2016. Hensick continued to produce offensively in his stint with the Comets, posting 15 points in 19 games.
On July 2, 2016, as a free agent Hensick was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings affiliate, the
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in Ontario, California, and affiliated with the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings, the team plays i ...
.
![TJ Hensick](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/TJ_Hensick.png)
Hensick played two seasons with the Reign, before leaving as a free agent following the
2017–18 season. Despite maintaining his scoring touch, Hensick was unable to secure an NHL or AHL contract, opting to continue his career by signing a one-year
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 ...
contract with the
Toledo Walleye
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL. The Walleye were founded in 1991 as the Toledo Storm and play their home games at ...
on October 8, 2018. In the midst of the
2018–19 season, Hensick tallied a league high 58 points through 47 games with the Walleye, before he returned to the AHL in securing a contract with the
San Jose Barracuda
The San Jose Barracuda are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) that began play in the 2015–16 season. The team will play at Tech CU Arena beginning in the 2022-23 season.
The Barracuda is a relocation of the ...
on February 12, 2019. Hensick continued his career scoring pace in the AHL, posting 20 points through the final 23 regular season games.
In the following offseason, Hensick as a free agent returned to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL on August 21, 2019.
He was later announced as team captain leading into the
2019–20 season.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Awards and honors
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hensick, T. J.
1985 births
Living people
American expatriates in Sweden
American men's ice hockey centers
Colorado Avalanche draft picks
Colorado Avalanche players
Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players
Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) players
Hartford Wolf Pack players
Ice hockey players from Michigan
Lake Erie Monsters players
Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey players
Modo Hockey players
People from Howell, Michigan
Ontario Reign (AHL) players
Peoria Rivermen (AHL) players
St. Louis Blues players
San Jose Barracuda players
Sportspeople from Metro Detroit
Toledo Walleye players
USA Hockey National Team Development Program players
Utica Comets players
AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans