{{short description|American ice hockey player (born 1993)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | name = Andy Welinski | image = Andy Welinski (39079132335).jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Welinski at the 2018 AHL All-Star Game | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|4|27}} | birth_place = Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 205 | position = Defense | shoots = Right | league = | team = Free agent | former_teams = Anaheim Ducks<br>Löwen Frankfurt | draft = 83rd overall | draft_year = 2011 | draft_team = Anaheim Ducks | career_start = 2016 | career_end = }} '''Andrew Philip Welinski''' (born April 27, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for Löwen Frankfurt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, 83rd overall, of the 2011 NHL entry draft.
==Playing career== Welinski attended Duluth East High School in his native Minnesota and then spent two years with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL starting 2010, capturing the Anderson Cup and the Clark Cup his second season, while receiving Defenseman of the Year and All-USHL First Team recognition. He was also presented with the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award that season.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.minnesotahockeyjournal.com/news_article/show/152994-awards-galore|title = Awards Galore|website = Minnesota Hockey Journal|access-date = 2016-04-04 | date = 2016-04-04}}</ref>
He enrolled at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2012 and was named to the 2012–13 Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie team.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/sports/umd-bulldogs/Camaranesi-Welinski-on-WCHA-All-Rookie-Team-198248521.html|title = Camaranesi, Welinski on WCHA All-Rookie Team|website = KBJR 6 & Range 11 {{!}} KDLH 3|access-date = 2016-04-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160415074528/http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/sports/umd-bulldogs/Camaranesi-Welinski-on-WCHA-All-Rookie-Team-198248521.html|archive-date = 2016-04-15|url-status = dead}}</ref> Prior to his senior season (2015–16), in which he served as team captain, Welinski made the College Hockey News Preseason All-America Team and the All-National Collegiate Hockey Conference Preseason Team.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://umdbulldogs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1846|title = Andy Welinski – 2015–16 Men's Hockey|access-date = 2016-04-04}}</ref> Following the season, he was named to the All-NCHC Second Team (for the second straight year).<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.nchchockey.com/news_article/show/623106?referrer_id=878553-news|title = SCSU, UND Lead 2015–16 NCHC All-Conference Teams|website = National Collegiate Hockey Conference|access-date = 2016-04-04|date = 2016-03-09}}</ref> He made 154 appearances for the Bulldogs throughout his college career, amassing 24 goals and 53 assists.
On April 4, 2016, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL and joined the Ducks' AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls on an amateur tryout agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://ducks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=877088|title = Ducks Sign D Welinski to Two-Year Entry-Level Contract|website = ducks.nhl.com|access-date = 2016-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiegogulls.com/san-diego-gulls-announce-roster-addition-2/|title=SAN DIEGO GULLS ANNOUNCE ROSTER ADDITION – San Diego Gulls|website=San Diego Gulls|language=en-US|access-date=2016-04-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420062719/http://www.sandiegogulls.com/san-diego-gulls-announce-roster-addition-2/|archive-date=2016-04-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made his debut in the American Hockey League on April 6, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theahl.com/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1015731|title=Gamesheet: Bakersfield at San Diego – Apr 6, 2016|website=theahl.com|access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> He made his NHL debut on December 11, 2017, against the Carolina Hurricanes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kaczur|first=Korey|url=http://www.week.com/story/37044548/former-umd-captain-duluth-native-welinski-makes-nhl-debut-with-anaheim|title=Former UMD captain, Duluth native Welinski makes NHL debut with Anaheim|website=week.com|access-date=May 17, 2018|date=December 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054542/http://www.week.com/story/37044548/former-umd-captain-duluth-native-welinski-makes-nhl-debut-with-anaheim|archive-date=May 18, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
As a free agent from the Ducks following the 2018–19 season, Welinski left to sign a one-year $750,000 contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on July 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-free-agency-tracker-2019/c-308145762?tid=281464512 | title = Flyers free agency tracker | publisher = Philadelphia Flyers | date = July 1, 2019 | accessdate = July 1, 2019}}</ref> After attending the Flyers training camp, Welinski was waived and assigned to AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the 2019–20 season. He registered 8 goals and 21 points from the blueline for the Phantoms, however was unable to earn a recall to the Flyers.
At the conclusion of his contract with the Flyers, Welinski returned to the Anaheim Ducks organization as a free agent, securing a one-year, $750,000 contract on October 10, 2020.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/ducks/news/ducks-sign-de-leo-welinski-poturalski-and-lettieri-to-contracts/c-319420896 | title = Ducks sign De Leo, Welinski, Poturalski and Lettieri to contracts | publisher = Anaheim Ducks | date = October 10, 2020 | accessdate = October 10, 2020}}</ref> In the pandemic delayed {{NHL Year|2020}} season, Welinski remained on the Ducks roster as a depth defenseman, returning NHL action in featuring in 13 regular season games.
As a free agent, Welinski left the Ducks for a second time in securing a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames on July 29, 2021.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flames-sign-andy-welinski/c-325873568 | title = Flames sign Andy Welinski | publisher = Calgary Flames | date = July 29, 2021 | accessdate = July 29, 2021}}</ref>
Following a lone season within the Flames organization, Welinski left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers on July 14, 2022.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/rangers-andy-welinski-gets-deal-with-rangers/ | title = Andy Welinski gets deal with Rangers | work = CBS Sports | date = July 14, 2022 | accessdate = July 14, 2022}}</ref> After attending the Rangers 2022 training camp, Welinski upon clearing waivers was re-assigned to play in the 2022–23 season with AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. Providing a veteran presence, Welinski posted four goals and 16 points through 40 games with the Wolf Pack.
On February 28, 2023, as part of a three-team deal, Welinski was traded by the New York Rangers (along with two Rangers' draft picks) to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Patrick Kane and minor league defenseman Cooper Zech.<ref>{{cite web |title=RELEASE: Blackhawks Trade Patrick Kane to Rangers in Three-Team Deal |url=https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/news/release-blackhawks-trade-patrick-kane-to-rangers-in-three-team-deal/c-341615496 |website=NHL.com |access-date=March 1, 2023 |date=February 28, 2023}}</ref>
During the {{NHL Year|2023}} preseason, Welinski was signed to the St. Louis Blues to a PTO on September 18 but was released on September 29.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2023 |title=Bitten, Welinski join Blues on pro tryouts |url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/bitten-welinski-join-blues-on-professional-tryouts |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=nhl.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2023 |title=Blues release Nick Ritchie, Andy Welinski from professional tryouts |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/blues-release-nick-ritchie-andy-welinski-from-professional-tryouts/ |access-date=November 26, 2023 |website=sportsnet.ca}}</ref> Remaining as a free agent heading into the {{NHL Year|2023}} season, Welinski was belatedly signed to a PTO with the Iowa Wild of the AHL on October 24.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.iowawild.com/news/detail/iowa-wild-signs-defenseman-andy-welinski-to-pto | title = Iowa Wild signs defenseman Andy Welinski to PTO | publisher = Iowa Wild | date = October 24, 2023 | accessdate = October 24, 2023 }}</ref> Adding a veteran presence on the Blueline for Iowa, Welinski made 27 appearances posting 3 goals and 10 points, before he concluded his try-out with the club. On March 14, 2024, he was signed to a PTO to join the Charlotte Checkers, primary affiliate to the Florida Panthers.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://charlottecheckers.com/articles/checkers-sign-andy-welinski-to-pto | title = Checkers sign Andy Welinski | publisher = Charlotte Checkers | date = March 14, 2024 | accessdate = March 14, 2024 }}</ref>
On September 16, 2024, Welinski signed a PTO with the New Jersey Devils.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lazary |first=Spencer |date=2024-09-16 |title=Devils Add Welinski on a PTO |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/devils-add-welinski-on-a-pto |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=The Hockey News}}</ref> He joined AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, on a PTO to begin the 2024–25 season, appearing in 8 games before he was released on November 26, 2024.
==International play== He represented the US Select Team at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.nhl.com/ice/m_news.htm?id=596916|title = Lucia to lead U.S. at World Junior 'A' Challenge – NHL.com – News|website = www.nhl.com|access-date = 2016-04-04}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2008–09 | Duluth East High School | USHS | 19 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2009–10 | Duluth East High School | USHS | 19 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 |- | 2010–11 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 51 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2011–12 | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL | 54 | 15 | 22 | 37 | 37 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 |- | 2012–13 | University of Minnesota Duluth | WCHA | 38 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2013–14 | University of Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | 36 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2014–15 | University of Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | 40 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 | University of Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | 40 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2015–16 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016–17 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 63 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |- | 2017–18 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 51 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |- | 2018–19 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 27 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 12 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 26 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2019–20 | Lehigh Valley Phantoms | AHL | 42 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2020–21 | San Diego Gulls | AHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021–22 | Stockton Heat | AHL | 39 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 |- | 2022–23 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 40 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |- | 2023–24 | Iowa Wild | AHL | 27 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023–24 | Charlotte Checkers | AHL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |- | 2024–25 | Utica Comets | AHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Löwen Frankfurt | DEL | 24 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 46 ! 1 ! 5 ! 6 ! 8 ! 3 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 |}
==Awards and honors== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! |- ! colspan="3"|College |- | All-WCHA Rookie Team | 2012–13 | <ref>{{cite news|title=WCHA All-Rookie Teams|url=http://www.augenblick.org/chha/wcha_roo.html|publisher=College Hockey Historical Archives|accessdate=May 19, 2013}}</ref> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welinski, Andrew}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen Category:Anaheim Ducks draft picks Category:Anaheim Ducks players Category:Charlotte Checkers (2010–) players Category:Green Bay Gamblers players Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players Category:Iowa Wild players Category:Ice hockey people from Duluth, Minnesota Category:Lehigh Valley Phantoms players Category:Löwen Frankfurt players Category:Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey players Category:Rockford IceHogs (AHL) players Category:San Diego Gulls (AHL) players Category:Stockton Heat players Category:University of Minnesota Duluth alumni Category:Utica Comets players Category:21st-century American sportsmen