Bruce Mulherin

Bruce Mulherin
Born (1982-02-03) February 3, 1982
Red Deer, AB, CAN
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Left
Played for Gwinnett Gladiators
Toledo Storm
Las Vegas Wranglers
Manchester Phoenix
Tohoku Free Blades
Playing career 2002–2011

Bruce Mulherin (born February 3, 1982) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, currently playing for Tohoku Free Blades after being released by the Manchester Phoenix due to financial problems.

Born in Red Deer, Alberta, Mulherin began his senior level career icing at NCAA level for the University of Alabama in Huntsville. In his first season at UAH, 2002–03, he featured in 22 games although only managed 3 points and 8 penalty minutes. Mulherin's form would improve greatly in his second year in Alabama though, and in the same number of games he scored 24 points, a ratio greater than a point per game.

Mulherin would play for UAH for two more years, 2004–05 and 2005–06, playing on 64 occasions and totalling 74 points in that time. This excellent points-per-game ratio led to Mulherin's signature being picked up by the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL, generally regarded as the third tier of professional ice hockey in North America. Mulherin featured in 30 games, scoring 11 points. A mid-season move to the Toledo Storm followed, also playing in the ECHL. Mulherin would once again find his scoring touch, totalling 28 points in 36 games. This would help the Storm into the post-season race for the Kelly Cup.

In 2007-08, Mulherin would sign for his third ECHL team, the Las Vegas Wranglers, a team affiliated with the NHL Calgary Flames. He would be given plenty of ice time and repaid the faith shown in him with a return of 35 points in 50 games. Again he would help his team into the post-season and the Wranglers would go on to win the Pacific Division Championship. This success led to Manchester Phoenix head coach Tony Hand successfully seeking Mulherin's signature in the summer of 2008. It was Mulherin's first taste of European hockey, and he adapted quickly scoring 48 points in 55 games despite suffering a knee injury part way through the season. Mulherin's work rate and natural goal-scoring ability lifted the Phoenix into both domestic cup finals as well as the post-season. Despite the on-ice success, financial problems continued and the Phoenix made the decision to play the 2009-10 season in the EPL, limiting the available budget. Consequently much of the senior squad, including Mulherin, was released. Signed with Tohoku Free Blades in the Asia league.

Career stats

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 U. Alabama - Huntsville NCAA 22 1 2 3 8 - - - - -
2003–04 U. Alabama - Huntsville NCAA 22 8 16 24 28 - - - - -
2004–05 U. Alabama - Huntsville NCAA 31 24 15 39 80 - - - - -
2005–06 U. Alabama - Huntsville NCAA 33 16 19 35 47 - - - - -
2006-07 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 30 2 9 11 25 - - - - -
2006-07 Toledo Storm ECHL 36 10 18 28 41 3 0 1 1 6
2007-08 Las Vegas Wranglers ECHL 50 15 20 35 90 17 3 7 10 31
2008-09 Manchester Phoenix EIHL 55 25 23 48 115 2 0 0 0 2
2009-10 Tohoku Free Blades ALH 36 21 30 51 108 - - - - -
2010-11 Tohoku Free Blades ALH
Career Totals 279 101 122 223 434 22 3 8 11 37

Awards and honours

Award Year
All-CHA Second Team 2004–05
All-CHA First Team 2005–06

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Award Created		 Easton Three-Star Player of the Year
2004-05
2005-06 		Succeeded by
Ted Cook
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