On September 22nd, Florida Everblades forward Blake Winiecki announced his retirement from professional hockey via an Instagram post. The Minnesota Native spent two seasons in the USHL with the Waterloo Blackhawks, where he put up 29 goals and 40 assists for 69 points in 111 games before spending his five years playing college hockey at St.Cloud State University, where he put up 37 goals and 38 assists for 75 points, and in 2016 and 2018 they would make it to the NCAA regionals.
What a sport. Hockey, you’ve consumed my life for the last 25 years. From playing with my best friends growing up, to making life long friendships throughout college & pro hockey, to meeting my wife, I consider myself awfully lucky.
Thank you to the @fl_everblades and all the fans! My family fell in love with SWFL because of the people we’ve met, friends we’ve made and the Everblades organization.
To my teammates, a lot of you have turned into family. All the memories and laughs will last a lifetime.
To my parents & sisters, thank you for the endless support, coaching & guidance through it all. Dad, you’ll always be my favorite coach.Lastly, Alyssa; You’ve been the most supportive wife I could imagine. Thank you for being the glue to our family and always encouraging me to pursue my dreams.
Blake Winiecki Via Instagram
To my #1 fan Riley, seeing you smiling at the hockey rink is the best feeling of them all.
On to something new, cheers ✌🏽
Winiecki spent six seasons in the ECHL, all of them with the Everblades, where he would put up 118 goals, and 145 assists for 263 points in 313 regular-season games and would add 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points in 63 Kelly Cup Playoff games and would finish his career by winning back to back Kelly Cup Championships with the Everblades. His best season came during the 2021-22 season when the Everblades would go on to be the Brabham Cup Champions where Winieki would lead the team in goals and would be tied with John McCarron in points as Winieki had 33 goals and 37 assists for 70 points in 68 games. Winieki is currently in the top five in games played (313), goals(118), and points (263).
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