Eric Hartzell (born May 28, 1989) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He last played abroad for HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga (Slovak).

Eric Hartzell
Hartzell practicing with the Penguins in 2013.
Born (1989-05-28) May 28, 1989 (age 35)
White Bear Lake, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for WBS Penguins
Stockton Heat
Heilbronner Falken
HK Nitra
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2013–2018

Playing career

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Prior to turning professional, Hartzell attended Quinnipiac University, where he played four seasons of NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team. In his final year with the Bobcats, Hartzell was selected to the 2012–2013 NCAA (East) First All-American Team, was named NCAA Top Collegiate Player Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick Finalist, and was selected as the USCHO.com Player of the Year.[1] On April 14, 2013, Hartzell was signed to a two-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

He made his professional debut in the 2013–14 season with Pittsburgh's American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[2]

At the conclusion of his contract with the Penguins, Hartzell was not tendered a new deal and was released to free agency. Unable to garner interest in the NHL or AHL, Hartzell was signed by the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL on October 11, 2015.[3] Hartzell appeared in 5 games with the Steelheads in the 2015–16 season, before he was loaned on a professional try-out contract to the Stockton Heat of the AHL on November 7, 2015.[4] After featured in relief in a single games with the Heat, Hartzell opted to venture to Germany for the remainder of the season, linking up with Heilbronner Falken of the DEL2.

As a free agent after his tenure with Heilbronner, Hartzell opted to return to the ECHL signing a one-year deal with the Fort Wayne Komets to share goaltending duties alongside Pat Nagle on August 8, 2016.[5] In the 2016–17 season, Hartzell appeared in 19 games with the Komets for 7 wins. Relegated to a backup role, Hartzell opted to conclude his contract with Fort Wayne and return to Europe, signing a deal for the remainder of the year with Slovakian club, HK Nitra of Slovak Extraliga on January 7, 2017.[6]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T/OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2006–07 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 1 0 1 0 60 5 0 5.00 .865
2007–08 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 32 19 9 2 1835 84 5 2.75 .913 2 0 2 140 7 0 3.00 .920
2008–09 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 46 20 22 2 2599 142 1 3.28 .900 2 0 2 73 9 0 7.39 .736
2009–10 Quinnipiac University ECAC 6 4 2 0 299 13 1 2.61 .894
2010–11 Quinnipiac University ECAC 28 12 7 6 1570 58 3 2.22 .927
2011–12 Quinnipiac University ECAC 30 12 11 6 1748 64 1 2.20 .913
2012–13 Quinnipiac University ECAC 42 30 7 5 2522 66 5 1.57 .933
2013–14 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 25 10 8 1 1233 51 3 2.48 .902
2013–14 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 14 8 5 1 843 44 1 3.13 .900
2014–15 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 32 17 14 1 1855 85 1 2.75 .914 5 2 2 255 10 0 2.36 .924
2014–15 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 2 2 0 0 123 6 0 2.92 .882
2015–16 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 5 2 3 0 274 17 0 3.73 .878
2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 1 0 0 0 38 0 0 0.00 1.000
2015–16 Heilbronner Falken DEL2 22 7 14 0 1284 80 1 3.74 .911
2016–17 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 19 7 7 0 950 54 1 3.41 .888
2016–17 HK Nitra Slovak 15 868 37 0 2.56 .918 13 750 27 0 2.16 .932
2017–18 HK Nitra Slovak 11 5 6 0 539 29 1 3.23 .881
2017–18 Quad City Mallards ECHL 16 3 8 0 777 59 0 4.56 .874
AHL totals 27 12 8 1 1357 57 3 2.52 0.900

Awards and honors

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Award Year
College
All-ECAC Hockey First Team 2012–13
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2012–13 [7]
USA Hockey College Player of the Year 2012–13 [8]
AHL
Goalie of the month (January) 2014

References

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  1. ^ Penguins ink Hobey Baker finalist Eric Hartzell | ProHockeyTalk
  2. ^ Eric Hartzell Suits-Up For Penguins In 3–1 Win Against Ottawa – Sports – Hamden, CT Patch
  3. ^ "Eric Hartzell signed with Idaho". Idaho Steelheads. October 11, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Heat bring in Hartzell on PTO". Stockton Heat. November 7, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  5. ^ "Komets sign Goaltender Hartzell". Fort Wayne Komets. August 8, 2016. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
  6. ^ "American goalie Eric Hartzell coming to Nitra" (in Slovak). HK Nitra. January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Eric Hartzell Named AHCA/CCM Hockey First Team All-American – Quinnipiac". Quinnipiac Bobcats. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013.
  8. ^ "Penguins Goaltender Eric Hartzell Named USA Hockey College Player of the Year – Pittsburgh Penguins". Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by ECAC Hockey Player of the Year
2012–13
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ken Dryden Award
2012–13
Succeeded by