Austin Czarnik (born December 12, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey center who is currently playing for SC Bern of the National League (NL). Undrafted, Czarnik has played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, Seattle Kraken and Detroit Red Wings.

Austin Czarnik
Czarnik with the Boston Bruins in 2016
Born (1992-12-12) December 12, 1992 (age 32)
Washington Township, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st 6 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NL team
Former teams
SC Bern
Boston Bruins
Calgary Flames
New York Islanders
Seattle Kraken
Detroit Red Wings
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2015–present

Prior to turning professional, Czarnik attended Miami University for four years where he was named to the CCHA All-Conference First Team, AHCA All-American First Team, CCHA First Team, and NCHC All-Tournament Team.

Playing career

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As a youth, Czarnik played in the 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Compuware minor ice hockey team.[1]

Czarnik played four seasons of NCAA Division I hockey for the Miami RedHawks (2011–2015). In his sophomore year at Miami University, Czarnik's outstanding play was rewarded with a selection to the 2012–13 CCHA All-Conference First Team.[2] On June 24, 2013, prior to the start of his junior season, Czarnik was named captain of the RedHawks by head coach Enrico Blasi.[3] He held this position through the end of his senior season.[citation needed]

Days after Miami was eliminated from the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament and his college career had come to a close, Czarnik signed an entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins on March 31, 2015.[4] He was assigned to the Bruins' AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins.[5]

Prior to the 2016–17 NHL season, Czarnik made the Boston Bruins' roster out of training camp, making his NHL debut on October 13 for the Bruins' 6–3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.[6] However, after two scoreless games and one healthy scratch with Boston, he was reassigned to Providence on October 20.[7] However, following an elbow injury to David Backes, Boston recalled Czarnik on October 26.[8] During a game that same day, Czarnik tallied his first NHL goal against the New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist in a 5–2 loss for the Bruins.[9] On July 18, 2017, Czarnik was signed by the Bruins to a one-year contract to play in the 2017–18 season.[10]

Czarnik participated in the Bruins training camp prior to the 2017–18 season,[11] and made the opening night roster out of camp but was reassigned to the Providence Bruins after playing in two games.[12] Czarnik and teammate Jordan Binnington were named the Providence Bruins representatives at the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic.[13] He was later named to the AHL Second All-Star Team.[14] After playing in 10 games with the Bruins during the 2017–18 season, Czarnik was reassigned to the AHL on February 10,[15] where he remained for the rest of the season.[citation needed]

On July 1, 2018, having seen his career stall within the Bruins organization, Czarnik left as a free agent and signed a one-way, two-year, $2.5 million contract with the Calgary Flames.[16] He made the Flames opening night roster out of training camp.[17]

The New York Islanders signed Czarnik to a two-year deal, announced on October 13, 2020.[18] Czarnik was placed on waivers on January 11, 2021[19] and was cleared the following day.[20] After being assigned to the taxi squad, Czarnik was promoted to the active roster on January 31, 2021.[21] Czarnik played his first game for the Islanders that evening, an OT loss to Philadelphia, 4-3. Czarnik wore number 11, and played right wing on the third line, which is centered by J-G Pageau.[22] Czarnik saw a total of 14:12 of ice time, including action on the powerplay and penalty kill units.[23] On February 1, Czarnik returned to the taxi squad.[24]

In the following 2021–22 season, Czarnik cleared waivers and began the season with newly renamed AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders. He registered 15 points through 20 regular season games before he was recalled to New York and added 2 goals and 5 points through 11 games. On February 8, 2022, Czarnik's tenure with the Islanders briefly ended as he was claimed off waivers by expansion club, the Seattle Kraken on February 8, 2022.[25] Czarnik appeared in just six games with the Kraken, registering two assists, only to be claimed back off waivers by the Islanders, on March 6, 2022. He was directly returned to Islanders AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.[26]

On July 13, 2022, Czarnik signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[27]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Red Wings, Czarnik left as a free agent and opted to sign his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year contract with Swiss club, SC Bern of the NL, on July 20, 2024.[28]

Personal life

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Czarnik is the cousin of Ravensburg Towerstars center Robert Czarnik.[29]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 23 8 14 22 16
2008–09 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 42 16 18 34 12 9 4 2 6 10
2009–10 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 26 10 18 28 25
2009–10 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 61 22 32 54 27
2010–11 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 46 20 14 34 33 11 3 1 4 2
2011–12 Miami RedHawks CCHA 40 10 27 37 31
2012–13 Miami RedHawks CCHA 42 14 26 40 24
2013–14 Miami RedHawks NCHC 37 13 34 47 28
2014–15 Miami RedHawks NCHC 40 9 36 45 36
2014–15 Providence Bruins AHL 3 0 2 2 0
2015–16 Providence Bruins AHL 68 20 41 61 24 3 2 1 3 2
2016–17 Boston Bruins NHL 49 5 8 13 12
2016–17 Providence Bruins AHL 22 6 17 23 4 17 3 4 7 10
2017–18 Boston Bruins NHL 10 0 4 4 0
2017–18 Providence Bruins AHL 64 25 44 69 24 4 2 4 6 0
2018–19 Calgary Flames NHL 54 6 12 18 8 1 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Calgary Flames NHL 8 2 1 3 0
2019–20 Stockton Heat AHL 32 16 17 33 22
2020–21 New York Islanders NHL 4 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Bridgeport Islanders AHL 38 14 23 37 8 6 3 7 10 0
2021–22 New York Islanders NHL 11 2 3 5 0
2021–22 Seattle Kraken NHL 6 0 2 2 0
2022–23 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 43 14 23 37 8
2022–23 Detroit Red Wings NHL 29 3 2 5 8
2023–24 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 38 10 18 28 12 9 4 4 8 6
2023–24 Detroit Red Wings NHL 34 0 1 1 12
NHL totals 205 18 33 51 40 1 0 0 0 0

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2009 United States U17   5 1 3 4 0
2010 United States U18   7 5 1 6 4
2012 United States WJC 7th 6 2 2 4 0
Junior totals 18 8 6 14 4

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-CCHA Rookie Team 2011–12
All-CCHA First Team 2012–13 [30]
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2012–13
All-NCHC First Team 2013–14 [31]
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2013–14
NCHC All-Tournament Team 2015 [32]
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2015–16 [33]
Second All-Star Team 2017–18 [14]
AHL All-Star Classic 2018 [13]

References

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  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. ^ "CCHA All-Conference team". Central Collegiate Hockey Association. April 1, 2013. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  3. ^ "Czarnik Named Hockey's Captain for 2013–14". Miami RedHawks.
  4. ^ Halford, Mike (March 31, 2015). "Bruins sign Miami (Ohio) playmaker Czarnik". ProHockeyTalk. NBC Sports. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  5. ^ "Bruins Sign Austin Czarnik to an Entry-Level Contract". Boston Bruins. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "Bruins' Austin Czarnik: Debuts with B's". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  7. ^ "Bruins Assign Austin Czarnik to Providence". Boston Bruins. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  8. ^ "Bruins Recall Czarnik; Issue Update On Backes". Boston Bruins. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  9. ^ Stevenson, Dave (October 26, 2016). "Bruins forward Austin Czarnik scores his first NHL goal". FanSided. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "Bruins Sign Forward Austin Czarnik to a one-year, two-way Contract". nhl.com. National Hockey League. July 18, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  11. ^ "Boston Bruins Training Camp Roster". NHL.com. September 15, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  12. ^ "Bruins Assign Austin Czarnik and Danton Heinen to Providence". NHL.com. October 17, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2018 AHL ALL-STAR CLASSIC". theahl.com. January 4, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "2017-18 AHL FIRST, SECOND ALL-STAR TEAMS UNVEILED". theahl.com. April 5, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  15. ^ "Bruins Assign Austin Czarnik To Providence". NHL.com. February 11, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  16. ^ "Flames sign three players". Calgary Flames. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  17. ^ Dittrick, Ryan (October 3, 2018). "5 THINGS - FLAMES @ CANUCKS". NHL.com. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  18. ^ "Czarnik, Hutton sign with Islanders". Bridgeport Sound Tigers. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "New York Islanders: Seven Players Placed on Waivers". January 11, 2021.
  20. ^ Gross, Andrew [@AGrossNewsday] (January 12, 2021). "#Isles place Leo Komarov on waivers today Also, seven players on waivers from yesterday - Andrew Ladd, Tanner Fritz, Cole Bardreau, Austin Czarnik and A.J. Greer and defensemen Thomas Hickey and Parker Wotherspoon - all cleared" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Staple, Arthur [@StapeAthletic] (January 31, 2021). "#Isles roster updated for today. A few changes. To the taxi squad: Bellows, Komarov, Wahlstrom Up from the taxi squad: Czarnik, Sorokin, Timashov Could see #Isles debuts of Czarnik and Timashov tonight in Philly. Sorokin likely starts in net" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Hornick, Eric [@ehornick] (January 31, 2021). "Looks like both Czarnik and Timashov are in lineup for Isles: Timashov- Nelson-Eberle DalColle-Pageau-Czarnik" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  23. ^ "Islanders Might Have Something with Austin Czarnik". February 2021.
  24. ^ Staple, Arthur [@StapeAthletic] (February 1, 2021). "#Isles daily roster update: -- Czarnik, Timashov to the taxi squad -- Komarov back up from the taxi squad Team was off today. We'll see what moves come ahead of tomorrow, 6 pm start vs. BUF" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ "Kraken claim Czarnik off waivers". The Sports Network. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  26. ^ "Red Wings claim Juolevi, Islanders nab Czarnik off waivers". The Sports Network. March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  27. ^ Roth, Thomas (July 13, 2022). "Red Wings sign Austin Czarnik and Matt Luff". Detroit Red Wings. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "SC Bern signs center Austin Czarnik" (in German). SC Bern. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  29. ^ "Austin Czarnik". Elite Hockey Prospects. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  30. ^ "Conference Honors, 2012–13". College Hockey, Inc. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
  31. ^ "NCHC announces All-Conference players, All-Rookie Team". USCHO. March 12, 2014.
  32. ^ "No. 5/6 Miami Captures 2015 NCHC Tournament Crown". NCHC Hockey. March 21, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  33. ^ "2015–16 AHL All-Rookie Team unveiled". AHL. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Player of the Year
2012–13
Succeeded by