Mariusz Czerkawski

Mariusz Krzysztof Czerkawski (pronounced [ˈmarjuʂ t͡ʂɛrˈkafski]; born April 13, 1972) is a retired Polish ice hockey player. He played for the Boston Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League (NHL). In addition to playing in the NHL, Czerkawski played for several different European-based teams. A consistent scorer, Czerkawski was the first player born and trained in Poland to play in the NHL.
== Playing career ==
After a good season with the GKS Tychy in 1990–91, the Boston Bruins drafted him in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft in the 5th round, 105th overall. Czerkawski joined that year the Djurgårdens IF of the Elitserien. His first season numbers were unimpressive, reflecting his rookie status. He posted good results in his second season in Stockholm, with 34 points in 39 games.
Czerkawski made his NHL debut in 1993-94 with the Bruins, playing in 4 games, a long enough stint to collect two goals and an assist and introduce himself as a promising youngster. The next season, he played 47 games with Boston, collecting 12 goals and 14 assists in the shortened season.
In 1996, Czerkawski was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He played about a season and a half there before another trade sent him to the New York Islanders, Where he would play his best seasons, reaching 30+ goals twice, and hitting the 70 point mark once, Czerkawski also participated in the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, where he notched one assist. Despite his great years with the Islanders, Czerkawski was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2002 for Arron Asham and a 5th round pick. However, he struggled with the Canadiens, finding himself waived to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. His contract was bought out and he signed a one-year deal with the Islanders in 2003, Where he once again had a great season, netting 25 goals and putting up 49 points.
The next season, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs. There again, he had a disappointing season, being benched for the most part of the first half of the season. A light resurrection occurred in December when he was paired with Mats Sundin, but overall, he only gathered 5 points in the 19 games he played in. The Bruins claimed him off waivers on March 8; however, he only played 16 games with Boston, scoring four goals and one assist.
Czerkawski joined the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the NLA in 2006. He played two seasons for the Swiss team, collecting respectively 41 and 53 points. He retired in 2008.
After retiring from Hockey, he actively plays golf, where after 2 years he plays to a handicap 5.
For his contribution to the development of Polish ice hockey, he received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (5th Class) in 2004.
== Career statistics ==
=== Regular season and playoffs ===
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1988–89 	GKS Tychy Jr. 	Poland Jr. 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1989–90 	GKS Tychy Jr. 	Poland Jr. 	 	30 	35 	11 	46 	— 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1990–91 	GKS Tychy 	Ekstraliga 	 	24 	25 	15 	40 	— 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1991-92 	Djurgårdens IF 	SEL 	 	39 	8 	5 	13 	4 	 	3 	0 	0 	0 	2
1992-93 	Hammarby IF 	Swe-2 	 	32 	39 	30 	69 	74 	 	13 	16 	7 	23 	34
1993-94 	Djurgårdens IF 	SEL 	 	39 	13 	21 	34 	20 	 	6 	3 	1 	4 	2
1993-94 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	4 	2 	1 	3 	0 	 	13 	3 	3 	6 	4
1994-95 	Kiekko-Espoo 	SM-Liiga 	 	7 	9 	3 	12 	10 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1994-95 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	47 	12 	14 	26 	31 	 	5 	1 	0 	1 	0
1995-96 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	33 	5 	6 	11 	10 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1995–96 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 	 	37 	12 	17 	29 	8 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1996-97 	Edmonton Oilers 	NHL 	 	76 	26 	21 	47 	16 	 	12 	2 	1 	3 	10
1997-98 	New York Islanders 	NHL 	 	68 	12 	13 	25 	23 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1998-99 	New York Islanders 	NHL 	 	78 	21 	17 	38 	14 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1999-00 	New York Islanders 	NHL 	 	79 	35 	35 	70 	34 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2000-01 	New York Islanders 	NHL 	 	82 	30 	32 	62 	48 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2001-02 	New York Islanders 	NHL 	 	82 	22 	29 	51 	48 	 	7 	2 	2 	4 	4
2002-03 	Montreal Canadiens 	NHL 	 	43 	5 	9 	14 	16 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2002-03 	Hamilton Bulldogs 	AHL 	 	20 	8 	12 	20 	12 	 	6 	1 	3 	4 	6
2003-04 	New York Islanders 	NHL 	 	81 	25 	24 	49 	16 	 	5 	0 	1 	1 	0
2004-05 	Djurgårdens IF 	SEL 	 	46 	15 	9 	24 	20 	 	5 	1 	0 	1 	2
2005-06 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	19 	4 	1 	5 	6 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2005–06 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	 	16 	4 	1 	5 	4 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2006-07 	Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	NLA 	 	43 	21 	20 	41 	70 	 	7 	6 	6 	12 	16
2007-08 	Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	NLA 	 	49 	22 	31 	53 	30 	 	5 	1 	0 	1 	4
2008–09 	GKS Tychy 	Poland 	 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NHL totals 	NHL totals 	NHL totals 	 	745 	215 	220 	435 	274 	 	42 	8 	7 	15 	18
Elitserien totals	Elitserien totals 	Elitserien totals	 	124 	36 	35 	71 	44 	 	14 	4 	1 	5 	6
NLA totals 	NLA totals 	NLA totals 	 	92 	43 	51 	94 	100 	 	12 	7 	6 	13 	20
SM-Liiga totals 	SM-Liiga totals 	SM-Liiga totals 	 	! 7 	9 	3 	12 	10 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
=== International ===
Year 	Team 	Event 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
1989 	Poland 	EJC-B 	5 	5 	6 	11 	6
1990 	Poland 	WJC 	7 	1 	0 	1 	4
1990 	Poland 	EJC 	6 	9 	3 	12 	14
1991 	Poland 	WJC-B 	7 	12	3 	15 	2
1991 	Poland 	WC-B 	7 	6 	2 	8 	4
1992 	Poland 	Oly 	5 	0 	1 	1 	4
1992 	Poland 	WC 	6 	0 	0 	0 	4
1998 	Poland 	WC-B 	3 	2 	1 	3 	0
2000 	Poland 	WC-B 	7 	4 	7 	11 	2
2002 	Poland 	WC 	3 	2 	2 	4 	4
2006 	Poland 	WC-B 	5 	3 	4 	7 	2
Junior int'l totals	Junior int'l totals	Junior int'l totals	25	27	12	39 	26
Senior int'l totals	Senior int'l totals	Senior int'l totals	36	17	17	34 	20
=== All Star Games ===
Year 	Location 	   	G	A	P
2000 	Toronto 	   	0	1	1
All-Star Totals	All-Star Totals	All-Star Totals	0	1	1
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
 	 	   	 	 	
== Awards ==
=== International ===
Award 	Year
IIHF U-20 Division I Best Player	1990
== Personal life ==
Czerkawski was married from 1996 to 1998 to Polish-Swedish actress Izabella Scorupco, best known as Natalya Simonova from the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye. They have a daughter Julia (b. September 16, 1997). Since September 1, 2007, he is married to Emilia Raszyńska (1st runner-up Miss Poland, 1999); they have a son named Iwo, born in 2009.
== External Links ==
* Mariusz Czerkawski's stats on hockeydb
Category:Born in 1972
Category:Polish hockey players
Category:GKS Tychy player
Category:Djurgårdens IF player
Category:Hammarby IF player
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Blues Espoo player
Category:Edmonton Oilers players
Category:New York Islanders players
Category:Montreal Canadiens players
Category:Hamilton Bulldogs player
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:SC Rapperswil-Jona player
Category:Member of the Polish National Team