Bernd Brückler (born August 26, 1981) is an Austrian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the Austrian Hockey League (EBEL), the Finnish Liiga, and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Bernd Brückler
Born (1981-08-26) 26 August 1981 (age 43)
Graz, Austria
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for EC Graz
Graz 99ers
Hartford Wolf Pack
Espoo Blues
Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod
HC Sibir Novosibirsk
EC Red Bull Salzburg
EC KAC
National team  Austria
NHL draft 150th overall, 2001
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 1996–2016

Playing career

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Brückler started his hockey career with Graz EC in the Austrian league, and has represented the Tri-City Storm and the University of Wisconsin–Madison in North America. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers as their fifth-round pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, 150th overall.

After short stints with several minor league teams, Brückler finished the 2005–06 season by taking the Espoo Blues of the Finnish SM-liiga into the playoffs. He posted a fantastic save percentage in his nine regular season games, registering three shutouts. On 23 April 2009, Brückler left Finland and signed with Kontinental Hockey League club Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

On 6 May 2011, Brückler signed a one-year contract with the KHL's Sibir Novosibirsk.[1]

In December 2013, Brückler and Finnish hockey writer Risto Pakarinen wrote a book "This is Russia: Life in the KHL – Doctors, bazas and millions of air miles", about Brückler's time in the KHL.[2]

On September 8, 2015, Brückler was signed as a free agent from Champions EC Red Bull Salzburg, to EC KAC as an injury replacement on a one-year contract.[3]

Awards and honors

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Award Year
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2001–02
All-WCHA First Team 2003–04
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2003–04
All-WCHA Second Team 2004–05

References

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  1. ^ " Sibir Novosibirsk announce signing of Bernd Brueckler | Sports.ru in English".
  2. ^ Bruckler, Bernd; Pakarinen, Risto (2013-12-14). Book on Amazon. ISBN 978-1494379285.
  3. ^ "KAC commits to Bernd Bruckler". EC KAC. 2015-09-08. Archived from the original on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
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