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Paul Szczechura (C)

Rochester Americans

Biography

Draft: Undrafted
Acquired: Signed a one-year contract with the Lightning on July 16, 2010

2009-10 NOTES:
Set NHL career highs for games played, goals and shots (83) with Tampa Bay in 2009-10 … Ranked second in points-per-game (0.83) and tied for fifth in assists with Norfolk in 2009-10 … Recorded first NHL career multiple-goal game with two goals on 03/25/10 with Tampa Bay at Boston … Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL) on 03/06/10 and returned to Norfolk (AHL) on 04/03/10, appeared in 15 games with the Lightning and recorded three goals and one assist … Had a goal and an assist – including the overtime game-winner – for #1 star on 02/05/10 vs. Hartford … Scored goals in back-to-back games on 11/27 – 11/28/09 with Tampa Bay (NHL) … Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL) on 11/11/09 and returned on conditioning loan on 01/31/10, appeared in 37 games with the Lightning and recorded two goals and one assist … Notched a pair of goals to record points in a fifth straight game on 11/10/09 vs. Binghamton … Had points in four straight contests (2G, 3A) from 10/16 – 10/24/09.

CAREER NOTES:
2008-09: The second-leading rookie in goals, assists and points with Tampa Bay (NHL) in 2008-09 … Recalled by Tampa Bay (NHL) on 03/03/09 and finished the season with the Lightning … Appeared in his 100th career AHL game on 03/01/09 with Norfolk at Albany … Recorded his first career NHL multi-point game with a goal and an assist for #1 star honors on 12/23/08 with Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh … Scored his first career NHL goal on 12/08/08 with Tampa Bay at Boston (Tim Thomas) … Made his NHL debut on 12/02/08 with Tampa Bay at Philadelphia … Recalled by Tampa Bay (NHL) on 12/01/08 – his first NHL recall – and returned to Norfolk 02/13/09, appeared in 18 games, scoring two goals and two assists with six penalty minutes … Had a five-game point streak (2G, 4A) from 11/01 – 11/14/08 … Scored two goals – including the game-winner – added an assist, and was +3 for first star honors on 10/17/08 at Lake Erie … Signed a two-year contract with the Lightning on April 24, 2008. 2007-08: Led Norfolk rookies in scoring and tied for the overall team lead with three game-winning goals … Scored the game-winning goal in overtime on 04/12/08 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton … Missed 16 games with a lower-body injury sustained on 02/26/08 at Portland, returned 04/04/08 … Netted points (7G, 7A) in his first ten games as an Admiral from 01/16/08 to 02/08/08, tied longest point streak by a Norfolk rookie in franchise history, tied for the fourth-longest point streak overall in Norfolk franchise history … Had a five-game goal-scoring streak (5g) from 01/23 – 02/02/08 … Scored a goal in his Admirals debut on 01/16/08 vs. Bridgeport for second star honors … Acquired by Norfolk from the Iowa Stars in exchange for future considerations on January 15, 2008 … Signed an American Hockey League Standard Player’s Contract for the 2007-08 season.2006-07: Scored first pro/AHL point/goal on 03/18/07 with Iowa at San Antonio (David LeNeveau) … Made pro/AHL debut on 03/09/07 with Iowa at Manitoba … Signed to an Amateur Tryout Contract with Iowa (AHL) on 03/08/07.
Collegiate Career: Has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Western Michigan University … Finished seventh in CCHA overall points (45) in 2006-07 … Finished first on Western Michigan University Broncos in assists (26), tied for second in goals (19) and was second in points (45) in 2006-07 … WMU’s recipient of the 2005-06 CCHA Scholar Athlete Award … Voted one of CCHA’s Smartest Players in Captain’s Poll in 2005-06 … Finished 15th in CCHA overall scoring (36 points) and tied for eighth in assists (26) in 2005-06 … Finished first in assists (26) and second in goals (10) with WMU in 2005-06 … Three-time Bronco Player of the Week in 2005-06 … CCHA Offensive Player of the Week and InsideCollegeHockey.com Player of the Week for 10/31/05 … Recipient of the WMU Catherine Lawson Sportsmanship Award in 2004-05 … Finished second on team in assists (23) and third in scoring (29 points) in 2004-05 with WMU … Bronco Player of the Week for the period ending 11/18/04 … WMU’s recipient of the 2004-05 CCHA Scholar Athlete Award … Leading rookie scorer at WMU in 2003-04 … Co-Recipient of the Suzanne Klop Rookie of the Year Award in 2003-04 with WMU … Named CCHA All-Rookie Team Honorable Mention in 2003-04 … Named CCHA Rookie of the Week and Bronco Player of the Week for the period ending 01/19/04 … Scored first collegiate goal vs. Michigan on 10/25/03.