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Casey Cizikas

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Casey Cizikas
Cizikas with the New York Islanders in 2018
Born (1991-02-27) February 27, 1991 (age 33)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team New York Islanders
NHL draft 92nd overall, 2009
New York Islanders
Playing career 2011–present

Casey Cizikas (born February 27, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent four seasons with the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he had two 20-goal seasons. Cizikas was selected by the Islanders in the fourth round, 92nd overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He began playing for their minor league affiliate, the American Hockey League (AHL)'s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, two years after the draft, during the 2011–12 season; he was recalled to the Islanders' NHL roster mid-season.

Playing career

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Cizikas in the 2012 AHL All-Star Game, playing for the Eastern Conference All-Stars

The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors selected Cizikas with their first selection, third overall, in the 2007 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection draft.[1] He made his OHL debut in the 2007–08 season, finishing tenth in rookie scoring with 41 points in 62 games.[2]

At the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Cizikas was selected by the New York Islanders with their fourth round pick, 92nd overall.[2] He returned to the Majors for the 2009–10 season, where he tied for the team lead in scoring with 62 points and led with a plus-minus rating of +32. Cizikas served as their captain in the 2010–11 season, where he recorded 64 points. He added 19 more in the OHL playoffs that year, leading the Majors to the championship series, which they ultimately lost to the Owen Sound Attack in seven games.[2]

Cizikas spent the majority of the 2011–12 season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Islanders' minor league affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He scored his first two goals with the team on October 18, 2011, against the Providence Bruins, and was second in team scoring with 45 points by the end of the season.[2] He was recalled by the Islanders during the season, and made his NHL debut on February 24, 2012, against the New York Rangers.[3] He appeared in 15 games with the Islanders that season and recorded four assists. His first two NHL points came on March 1, 2012, against the Philadelphia Flyers.[2] After returning to the Sound Tigers, an upper body injury prevented him from playing in the team's last five games of the regular season, but he returned in time for the playoffs.[4]

As a result of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Cizikas began the season with the Sound Tigers. He had 21 points in 31 games with Bridgeport before the labour dispute was settled and he was recalled to the Islanders. He then scored his first career NHL goal on January 29, 2013, against goaltender Marc-André Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins.[5] Cizikas finished the season with six goals and 15 points in 45 regular season games, then added four points in six Stanley Cup playoff games.[6]

During the 2015–16 campaign, Cizikas' line, consisting of him, Matt Martin, and Cal Clutterbuck was considered to be the best 4th line in the NHL by hockey analysts.[7] Cizikas is commonly considered to be one of the best fourth line players in the NHL. On June 2, 2016, Cizikas signed a new five-year contract with the Islanders.[8] On April 5, 2018, Cizikas was presented with the Islanders' Bob Nystrom Award for 2017–18.[9] On May 24, 2019, Cizikas received his second Bob Nystrom Award.[10]

On September 1, 2021, Cizikas was re-signed to a six-year, $15 million contract by the Islanders.[11][12] On April 21, 2023, he scored the first playoff goal at UBS Arena.[13]

International play

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Medal record
Representing Canada Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2011 USA
World U17 Hockey Challenge
Gold medal – first place 2008 Canada

Cizikas made two appearances with the Canadian national junior team program during the 2008–09 season. He was first a member of the Team Ontario squad that won the gold medal in the 2008 World U17 Hockey Challenge during the season,[14][15] then won gold with the under-18 national team at the 2008 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament following his OHL season.[16]

During the 2011–12 season, Cizikas was a surprise pick for the national junior team at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[17] He recorded two goals and one assist to help Canada win a silver medal.[2]

Playing style

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Cizikas, in his first full season with the Islanders, was described as a player with a lot of energy and intensity whose offensive skills have improved over time.[18] His forecheck has been called relentless and he became known for being willing to create energy by throwing his body around the ice.[19]

Personal life

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During a rugby football game in 2007, Cizikas tackled Manny Castillo in what was described by Cizikas as a "headlock." Castillo died of a head injury two days later; it was noted by physicians that two weeks prior to the battle with Cizikas, Castillo suffered a major concussion. One doctor testified that Castillo's concussion was severe enough that it should have kept him out of competition with physical contact for a full year. The Castillo family supported Cizikas throughout his ordeal and believed the death to have been accidental, asking that Cizikas be spared punishment. Their request could not be met, however, because Peel Regional Police supported Cizikas' conviction, as the tackle led to a death. Castillo's father provided a statement that called for fighting in youth hockey to be abolished, but again did not blame Cizikas for his son's death.[20]

In 2009, Cizikas was found guilty of manslaughter by Judge Bruce Duncan, who believed Cizikas used "unnecessary force." He was given a sentence of one year probation and 100 hours of community service.[21]

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
2007–08 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 62 18 23 41 41 4 1 2 3 6
2008–09 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 55 16 20 36 39 11 5 4 9 11
2009–10 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 68 25 37 62 77 16 7 7 14 16
2010–11 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors OHL 52 29 34 64 40 16 5 14 19 14
2011–12 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 52 15 30 45 30 3 0 0 0 20
2011–12 New York Islanders NHL 15 0 4 4 6 — — — — —
2012–13 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 31 10 11 21 35 — — — — —
2012–13 New York Islanders NHL 45 6 9 15 14 6 2 2 4 12
2013–14 New York Islanders NHL 80 6 10 16 30 — — — — —
2014–15 New York Islanders NHL 70 9 9 18 24 7 1 0 1 0
2015–16 New York Islanders NHL 80 8 21 29 31 11 0 3 3 16
2016–17 New York Islanders NHL 59 8 17 25 30 — — — — —
2017–18 New York Islanders NHL 64 7 10 17 23 — — — — —
2018–19 New York Islanders NHL 73 20 13 33 36 8 0 0 0 6
2019–20 New York Islanders NHL 48 10 4 14 41 18 0 2 2 8
2020–21 New York Islanders NHL 56 7 7 14 27 19 2 3 5 2
2021–22 New York Islanders NHL 74 10 6 16 48 — — — — —
2022–23 New York Islanders NHL 81 6 15 21 54 6 1 2 3 16
2023–24 New York Islanders NHL 70 10 13 23 22 5 1 1 2 14
NHL totals 815 107 138 245 386 80 7 13 20 74

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2008 Canada Ontario U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 4 5 9 0
2011 Canada WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 2 1 3 6
Junior totals 13 6 6 12 6

References

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  1. ^ "2007 OHL Priority Selection Concluded". SooToday. May 6, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Auerbach, Kimber; Eisenberg, Jesse, eds. (2012). 2012–13 New York Islanders Media Guide. p. 21.
  3. ^ Staple, Arthur (February 24, 2012). "Isles' Cizikas makes NHL debut". Newsday. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  4. ^ "Hockey's Future - Casey Cizikas". Hockey's Future. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  5. ^ "Islanders send Penguins to third loss in four games". ESPN. January 29, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  6. ^ "Casey Cizikas player card". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  7. ^ "Maple Leafs sign NHL hits leader Matt Martin for four years". Sportsnet. July 1, 2016. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  8. ^ "Cizikas Agrees To Five-Year Deal". NHL. June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  9. ^ "Islanders beat Rangers to sweep four-game season series". Newsday. April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  10. ^ Kandrach, Sasha (May 24, 2019). "Cizikas Wins Second Straight Bob Nystrom Award". NHL.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  11. ^ "Islanders Announce Signings". NHL.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "Islanders sign RFAs Beauvillier, Sorokin and UFAs Cizikas, Palmieri". TSN.ca. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  13. ^ Gross, Andrew (April 21, 2023). "Islanders surge with four goals late in third period to beat Hurricanes in Game 3, pull within 2-1". Newsday. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  14. ^ "Team Ontario To Meet Team USA In Gold-Medal Game Of 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge; Team West And Team Pacific To Play For Bronze". SooToday. January 3, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  15. ^ "Team Ontario wins gold medal at 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Team West takes bronze". Hockey Canada. January 4, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  16. ^ "Cizikas, Mens Summer Under-18 Team Bring Home the Gold". Our Sports Central (Press release). August 18, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  17. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (January 2, 2011). "No more questioning Cizikas' spot on Canada's roster". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  18. ^ Buckingham, Josh (April 1, 2013). "New York Islanders prospects show ample progress and promise". Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  19. ^ Buckingham, Josh (January 22, 2013). "New York Islanders own a bevy of talented young guns at the AHL level". Hockey's Future. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  20. ^ Staple, Arthur (July 11, 2009). "Isles prospect Cizikas fights through tragedy". newsday.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  21. ^ "NY Islanders' Prospect Casey Cizikas Sentenced After Fatal Rugby Incident". Total Pro Sports. December 20, 2011. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
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