Craig Kowalski
Encyclopedia
Craig Kowalski is an American
professional ice hockey
player who currently plays for the Nottingham Panthers
of the EIHL.
in 2000 NHL Entry Draft
. He was chosen in the eighth round by the Carolina Hurricanes as their seventh overall pick and 235th overall. More than four years after being drafted, on August 6, 2004, Kowalski signed a multi-year contract with the Hurricanes. In 2007, Kowalski was released from a Player Try Out Contract with the Syracuse Crunch
of the American Hockey League
, and subsequently signed with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL. During the 2007-2008 ECHL Season, he was named to the All-Star Team, and was chosen as the American Conference's starting Goaltender. Prior to the 2008-2009 ECHL Season, Kowalski was traded to the Phoenix RoadRunners
of the ECHL, for Bryan Esner and signed on July 22, 2009 an contract with HC Valpellice
. On December 3, 2009 he scored an empty net goal against Sportivi Ghiaccio Pontebba.
On July 8, 2010 Kowalski was revealed as the new starting netminder for Nottingham Panthers
in Great Britain's Elite Ice Hockey League
On March 28, 2011 it was announced that Kowalski had agreed to return to Nottingham for a second season with the Nottingham Panthers
in the 2011/12 Elite League campaign
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional ice hockey
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...
player who currently plays for the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
of the EIHL.
Playing career
Kowalski's Pro career begun on June 25, 2000, when he was selected by the Carolina HurricanesCarolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in 2000 NHL Entry Draft
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
. He was chosen in the eighth round by the Carolina Hurricanes as their seventh overall pick and 235th overall. More than four years after being drafted, on August 6, 2004, Kowalski signed a multi-year contract with the Hurricanes. In 2007, Kowalski was released from a Player Try Out Contract with the Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
of the American Hockey League
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...
, and subsequently signed with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL. During the 2007-2008 ECHL Season, he was named to the All-Star Team, and was chosen as the American Conference's starting Goaltender. Prior to the 2008-2009 ECHL Season, Kowalski was traded to the Phoenix RoadRunners
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Phoenix RoadRunners were a minor league ice hockey team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They played in the ECHL, beginning in the 2005–2006 season and ceasing operations at the end of the 2008-2009 season...
of the ECHL, for Bryan Esner and signed on July 22, 2009 an contract with HC Valpellice
HC Valpellice
HC Valpellice Bulldogs is a professional ice hockey team in Italy. The team plays in the country's top division, Serie A1....
. On December 3, 2009 he scored an empty net goal against Sportivi Ghiaccio Pontebba.
On July 8, 2010 Kowalski was revealed as the new starting netminder for Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
in Great Britain's Elite Ice Hockey League
Elite Ice Hockey League
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other...
On March 28, 2011 it was announced that Kowalski had agreed to return to Nottingham for a second season with the Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
in the 2011/12 Elite League campaign