Victor Oreskovich

Victor J. Oreskovich (born August 15, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger. Selected 55th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, he played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) and Kitchener Rangers of the major junior Ontario Hockey League (OHL) before deciding to turn professional. After signing a contract with the Avalanche in 2007, he was assigned to the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, but chose not to report and spent two years away from hockey. In 2009, he signed with the Florida Panthers and spent the subsequent season between the NHL and the team's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. The following off-season, he was traded to the Canucks, joining the team in 2011 on their run to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Boston Bruins. In October 2011, he was waived by the Canucks and assigned to the Chicago Wolves, the Canucks' AHL affiliate. Oreskovich retired from hockey in 2012, and returned to university in 2015. He completed a Master of Business Administration degree, and joined the Royal Bank of Canada.

Victor Oreskovich
Oreskovich playing for the Chicago Wolves in 2011
Born (1986-08-15) August 15, 1986
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Florida Panthers
Vancouver Canucks
NHL Draft 55th overall, 2004
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2009–2012

Personal life

Oreskovich was born in Whitby, Ontario and grew up in Oakville, Ontario, the son of Victor and Diane.[1][2] He is of Italian-Croatian descent.[3] He attended high school at Notre Dame College School in Welland, Ontario, as well as at Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville.[4] While playing college hockey with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, he studied finance before dropping out to join the Kitchener Rangers. He later re-enrolled at University of Notre Dame during his two-year hiatus from his hockey career, to complete his finance degree.[5]

After his playing career ended Oreskovich spent two years working at Sun Life Financial, moving into a management position. In 2015, Oreskovich enrolled at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario to complete his master's degree in Business Administration, which he received in 2016.[6] He subsequently took up a position with the Royal Bank of Canada.[7]

Playing career

Amateur career

Oreskovich played minor hockey with the Oakville Rangers of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association South-Central Triple A Hockey League, winning two provincial rep championships with the club in the mid-1990s.[4] He played in the 1999 and 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with the Markham Islanders, and then the Toronto Marlboros.[8] After one year with the St. Catharines Falcons in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Oreskovich's playing rights were acquired by the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), who selected him in the sixth round of the 2002 OHL Priority Selection.[9] Interested in maintaining his eligibility for college hockey in the United States, Oreskovich instead played the 2002–03 season with the Milton Icehawks of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL), before joining the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) the following year. He recorded 37 points in 58 games and was named to the 2004 USHL All-Star Game. Following his season with the Gamblers, Oreskovich was selected in the second round, 55th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.[10]

Recruited to play college hockey with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), Oreskovich joined the club following his draft on a US$42,000 annual scholarship.[4] He struggled in his freshman year, recording three points in 37 games. With aspirations to turn professional sooner, he left Notre Dame nine games into his sophomore year to join the OHL, where his major junior rights had been traded on November 24, 2005, from Windsor to the Kitchener Rangers.[4][11] Kitchener was Oreskovich's desired destination to play major junior, as his best friend and former minor hockey teammate Evan McGrath starred with the Rangers.[4] In December 2005, he debuted with the Rangers, scoring goals in his first three games.[4] He went on to record 16 points over 19 games for the remainder of the 2005–06 season. Oreskovich attended the Avalanche's training camp at the start of the 2006–07 season, where he was among the first cuts reassigned back to junior.[12] Returning to the Rangers for a second season, he finished with 28 goals and 60 points in 62 games.[5]

Professional career
Oreskovich (right) during an intra-squad scrimmage with the Colorado Avalanche in 2007.

The following off-season, on July 7, 2007, Oreskovich was signed to a two-year, entry level contract by the Colorado Avalanche.[13] He returned for his second Avalanche training camp for the 2007–08 season and was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters. Oreskovich, however, did not report to the Monsters; he was suspended by the Avalanche, before announcing his retirement from the game, citing burnout and a lost drive, and re-enrolled at Notre Dame.[14]

After a two-year hiatus, Oreskovich regained ambitions to play professionally and reached out to former Kitchener Rangers coach Peter DeBoer, now head coach of the NHL's Florida Panthers. He earned a try-out with the Panthers at their training camp for the 2009–10 season.[15] He was assigned to Florida's AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans and was signed to a two-year contract with the Panthers on October 7, 2009.[16] Within less than a month, Oreskovich was called up to the NHL, making his debut with the Panthers against the St. Louis Blues on October 31.[17] Providing an energetic checking presence with the Panthers, he scored his first NHL goal against Jonathan Quick of the Los Angeles Kings in a 4–3 defeat on November 16.[18] He split his professional rookie season between the Panthers and Americans, scoring six points over 50 games in the NHL and 15 points over 34 games in the AHL.[17]

During the 2010 NHL Entry Draft on June 25, 2010, Oreskovich was traded to the Vancouver Canucks along with defenceman Keith Ballard in exchange for Michael Grabner, Steve Bernier, and Vancouver's first round pick, the 25th overall selection, used to select Quinton Howden.[19] Following the pre-season, the Canucks assigned Oreskovich to their AHL affiliate the Manitoba Moose.[20] Shortly after returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for 15 games, he was recalled by the Canucks on February 10, 2011. After making his Canucks debut two nights later against the Calgary Flames,[21] he spent the remainder of the regular season being assigned back-and-forth from the Canucks and Moose, recording 3 assists over 16 NHL games and 12 points (4 goals and 8 assists) over 40 AHL games. Oreskovich remained with the Canucks for the entire 2011 playoffs. He played in 19 games, not recording any points, as the Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Boston Bruins.[17]

During the off-season, Oreskovich became a restricted free agent on July 1, 2011. Without arbitration rights (due to his lack of experience in the league), negotiations with Vancouver continued through the summer. As training camp neared, Oreskovich agreed on a one-year, two-way contract worth $605,000 in the NHL and $105,000 in the minors.[22] Prior to the start of the season he was waived by Vancouver after the team traded for Dale Weise from the New York Rangers.[23] After clearing waivers, he was assigned to the Canucks' new AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves on October 5, 2011.[24] Returning to the AHL, he suffered a concussion that sidelined him for several games. Following his recovery, he was called up to the Canucks on December 5, 2011, to replace injured winger Chris Higgins.[25] He appeared in one game during the call-up before being sent back down, with Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault suggesting he did not play physical enough.[26] Oreskovich retired at the end of the season, citing injury concerns.[6]

Career statistics
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2001–02 St. Catharines Falcons GHL 4713274038 40110
2002–03 Milton Icehawks OPJHL 4928467451 —————
2003–04 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 5811263733 —————
2004–05 Notre Dame CCHA 3712369 —————
2005–06 Notre Dame CCHA 92138 —————
2005–06 Kitchener Rangers OHL 196101616 50224
2006–07 Kitchener Rangers OHL 6228326048 52024
2009–10 Rochester Americans AHL 34691518 600010
2009–10 Florida Panthers NHL 5024626 —————
2010–11 Manitoba Moose AHL 40481238 —————
2010–11 Vancouver Canucks NHL 160338 1900012
2011–12 Chicago Wolves AHL 28661226 —————
2011–12 Vancouver Canucks NHL 10007 —————
NHL totals 6727941 1900012

References
  1. "Oreskovich appreciates his special opportunity". Oakville Beaver. Oakville, Ontario. May 26, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  2. Kuiperij, Jon (April 21, 2011). "Victor Oreskovich making an impact with Vancouver Canucks". Oshawa This Week. Oshawa, Ontario. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  3. "Vancouver na pragu NHL finala, sjajan potez kanadskog Hrvata!" (in Croatian). Nova TV. May 23, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  4. Kuiperij, Jon (December 5, 2005). "McGrath, Oreskovich reunited on the Range". Burlington Post. Burlington, Ontario. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  5. Wigge, Larry (November 18, 2009). "Panthers' Oreskovich authoring unlikely comeback tale". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 27, 2010.
  6. "Victor Oreskovich". Ivey School of Business. 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  7. Williams, Rob (July 10, 2018). "Here's what every member of the 2011 Vancouver Canucks is up to now". Daily Hive. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  8. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  9. Swybrous, Robb (May 8, 2002). "Eight bantam skaters chosen in OHL draft" (PDF). Oakville Beaver. Oakville, Ontario. p. C7. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  10. Halford, Mike (July 7, 2010). "Better Know a Newbie: Victor Oreskovich". The Province. Vancouver. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  11. "Irish Forward Victor Oreskovich Leaves Notre Dame Hockey Program". University of Notre Dame. November 27, 2005. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  12. "Avalanche trims roster to 35". Colorado Avalanche. September 19, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  13. "Avalanche signs Oreskovich". Colorado Avalanche. July 7, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  14. Wozniak, Keith (October 2, 2009). "Victor Oreskovich Fortunate to get a Second Chance". LetgoAmerks.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  15. "Panthers Sign former Avalanche draft pick Victor Oreskovich". LetsgoAmerks.com. October 8, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  16. "Panthers sign RW Oreskovich". Florida Panthers. October 7, 2009. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  17. Maniago, Stephanie; Rollins, Jen; Brown, Ben; Carling, TC, eds. (2011). 2011–12 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide. Vancouver: Hemlock Printers. pp. 60–61.
  18. "Kings ride special teams in Florida". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Associated Press. November 16, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  19. "Florida Deals D Ballard To Vancouver". Florida Panthers. National Hockey League. June 25, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  20. "Canucks reduce preseason roster by five players". Vancouver Canucks. October 3, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  21. "Canucks power past Flames". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. The Canadian Press. February 13, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  22. Brough, Jason (September 8, 2011). "Canucks Re-Sign Oreskovich". The Province. Vancouver. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  23. Sekeres, Matthew (October 4, 2011). "Canucks claim Weise off waivers from Rangers". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  24. "Canucks assign Victor Oreskovich and Ryan Parent to Chicago Wolves". Vancouver Canucks. October 5, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  25. McIntyre, Gordon (December 5, 2011). "Higgins out with possible staph infection, Oreskovich called up". The Province. Vancouver. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  26. Ziemer, Brad (December 8, 2011). "Oreskovich gone and probably won't be back". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
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