Brendan Witt
Encyclopedia
Brendan Witt is a Canadian professional ice hockey
defenceman
. He most recently played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
of the American Hockey League, affiliate of the New York Islanders
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
of the Washington Capitals
during the 2001–02 NHL season, along with Steve Konowalchuk
. Witt lost his share of the captaincy, when in a player vote (before the 2002–03 NHL season), the Capitals chose Konowalchuk as sole captain. After Konowalchuk's trade to the Avalanche (October 2003), the captaincy remained vacant (until Jeff Halpern
was appointed in September 2005).
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout Witt signed for the English, BNL side, Bracknell Bees
. He only played three games for Bracknell before returning home due to a fire at his house. During his three games he scored one goal and got four assists for a total of five points.
In August, 2005, Witt requested a trade to the Capitals management to a team with a better chance of winning Stanley Cup
. Re-signed by the Capitals despite his trade desire he remained on the Capitals defense to start the 2005–06 season. His request for a trade was finally granted by the Capitals on March 9, 2006, when he was shipped to the Nashville Predators
for former Capital Kris Beech
and a first-round draft pick.
On July 3, 2006, Witt signed a three-year contract as a free agent with the New York Islanders
and was named an alternate captain. On July 8, 2008, with a year of his original Islander contract still remaining, Witt signed a 2 year, $6 million extension to remain with the New York Islanders. During the 2008–09
season, on February 27, 2009, the NHL suspended Witt 5 games for an elbow to the head of Toronto Maple Leafs
forward Niklas Hagman
resulting in a concussion.
In January 2010, Brendan was sent to Islanders affiliate the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League after clearing waivers. Completing the season with 2 goals in 27 games for Bridgeport, Witt was then bought-out from the remaining year of his contract with the Islanders on August 1, 2010.
article in which he showed off his tattoos.
On December 8, 2009, while in Philadelphia for a game later that day against the Flyers
, Witt was hit by a truck while crossing Arch Street in Center City Philadelphia. A truck made an illegal turn and hit Witt who tried to jump on the hood of the vehicle before being thrown to the ground as he was hit. Witt picked himself up off the road, cursed, and assured the stunned onlookers that he was ok. Witt chose not to call police or get medical care, and was at the Islanders' morning skate just a few hours later.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
. He most recently played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. It has been the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who also own the franchise, since its inception, and use the same team colors as the parent Islanders do. The team is based in...
of the American Hockey League, affiliate of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
Playing career
Witt's NHL career began with the Washington Capitals, the team that drafted him in the 1993 Entry Draft. In the 2000–01 NHL season, he led the league with 322 hits. Witt served as co-captainCaptain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
of the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
during the 2001–02 NHL season, along with Steve Konowalchuk
Steve Konowalchuk
Steven Reed Konowalchuk is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and the Colorado Avalanche. He is currently the head coach for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League...
. Witt lost his share of the captaincy, when in a player vote (before the 2002–03 NHL season), the Capitals chose Konowalchuk as sole captain. After Konowalchuk's trade to the Avalanche (October 2003), the captaincy remained vacant (until Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern
Jeffrey C. Halpern is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...
was appointed in September 2005).
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout Witt signed for the English, BNL side, Bracknell Bees
Bracknell Bees
The Bracknell Bees are an ice hockey team from Bracknell, Berkshire, UK.-Early years:The Bracknell Bees were formed in 1987, under the ownership of John Nike OBE. Bees began life in the Heineken League Division Two, under the leadership of former Durham Wasps and Nottingham Panthers forward, Jamie...
. He only played three games for Bracknell before returning home due to a fire at his house. During his three games he scored one goal and got four assists for a total of five points.
In August, 2005, Witt requested a trade to the Capitals management to a team with a better chance of winning Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
. Re-signed by the Capitals despite his trade desire he remained on the Capitals defense to start the 2005–06 season. His request for a trade was finally granted by the Capitals on March 9, 2006, when he was shipped to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
for former Capital Kris Beech
Kris Beech
Kristopher Beech is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for Rauman Lukko in the Finnish elite league SM-Liiga.-Playing career:...
and a first-round draft pick.
On July 3, 2006, Witt signed a three-year contract as a free agent with the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and was named an alternate captain. On July 8, 2008, with a year of his original Islander contract still remaining, Witt signed a 2 year, $6 million extension to remain with the New York Islanders. During the 2008–09
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
season, on February 27, 2009, the NHL suspended Witt 5 games for an elbow to the head of Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
forward Niklas Hagman
Niklas Hagman
Niklas Hagman is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . He was a third round pick of the Florida Panthers, 70th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with Florida in 2001...
resulting in a concussion.
In January 2010, Brendan was sent to Islanders affiliate the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League after clearing waivers. Completing the season with 2 goals in 27 games for Bridgeport, Witt was then bought-out from the remaining year of his contract with the Islanders on August 1, 2010.
Personal
Witt and his wife, Salima have two daughters, Aliana and Safiya. On January 30, 2007, Witt was the subject of a Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
article in which he showed off his tattoos.
On December 8, 2009, while in Philadelphia for a game later that day against the Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Witt was hit by a truck while crossing Arch Street in Center City Philadelphia. A truck made an illegal turn and hit Witt who tried to jump on the hood of the vehicle before being thrown to the ground as he was hit. Witt picked himself up off the road, cursed, and assured the stunned onlookers that he was ok. Witt chose not to call police or get medical care, and was at the Islanders' morning skate just a few hours later.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1990–91 | Seattle Thunderbirds Seattle Thunderbirds The Seattle Thunderbirds are a junior ice hockey team based in Kent, a suburb of Seattle, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, and play in the ShoWare Center... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
— | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1991–92 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 67 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 212 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 84 | ||
| 1992–93 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 70 | 2 | 26 | 28 | 239 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 30 | ||
| 1993–94 | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | 56 | 8 | 31 | 39 | 235 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 23 | ||
| 1995–96 | Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
48 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 85 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 1996–97 AHL season The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division... |
Portland Pirates Portland Pirates The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 56 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 30 | ||
| 1996–97 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 44 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 64 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 112 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 | ||
| 1998–99 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 54 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 77 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 114 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 72 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 101 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 2001–02 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 68 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 69 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 106 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 72 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 123 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Bracknell Bees Bracknell Bees The Bracknell Bees are an ice hockey team from Bracknell, Berkshire, UK.-Early years:The Bracknell Bees were formed in 1987, under the ownership of John Nike OBE. Bees began life in the Heineken League Division Two, under the leadership of former Durham Wasps and Nottingham Panthers forward, Jamie... |
BNL British National League The British National League is a defunct second-level professional ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. Although no formal promotion and relegation existed during its period of existence, it was considered to have a standard below that of the Ice Hockey Superleague and above that of the... |
3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 58 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 141 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Nashville Predators Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 68 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | ||
| 2006–07 | New York Islanders New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 81 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 131 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | New York Islanders | NHL | 59 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
New York Islanders | NHL | 65 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
New York Islanders | NHL | 42 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 AHL season The 2009–10 AHL season was the 74th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 regular-season games each from October 2 to April 11... |
Bridgeport Sound Tigers Bridgeport Sound Tigers The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. It has been the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who also own the franchise, since its inception, and use the same team colors as the parent Islanders do. The team is based in... |
AHL | 27 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 890 | 25 | 96 | 121 | 1424 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 44 | ||||