Mark I. Fistric (born June 1, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He last played with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Dallas Stars 28th overall in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He played major junior for the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

Mark Fistric
Shown with the Dallas Stars in October 2009
Born (1986-06-01) June 1, 1986 (age 38)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 233 lb (106 kg; 16 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Dallas Stars
Edmonton Oilers
Anaheim Ducks
NHL draft 28th overall, 2004
Dallas Stars
Playing career 2007–2015

Playing career

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Fistric began his major junior career in the WHL with the Vancouver Giants in 2001–02 while spending the majority of the season in the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL), winning the Brian Benning Trophy as the league's top defenceman with the Maple Leaf Athletic Club.[1]

 
Fistric's banner in the Pacific Coliseum, as part of the Giants' Ring of Honour

After a 12-point campaign with the Giants in 2003–04, he was drafted in the first round, 28th overall, by the Dallas Stars in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He returned to the Giants but was kept out of the lineup for all but 15 games in the subsequent 2004–05 season. In his fourth and final WHL season, Fistric won the 2006 President's Cup with the Giants and competed in the 2006 Memorial Cup. Five years after graduating from junior, Fistric was inducted into the Giants' Ring of Honour, a series of banners commemorating the team's best alumni.

Turning pro in 2006–07, Fistric was assigned to the Iowa Stars, Dallas' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, and scored 24 points in his professional rookie season. He made his debut with Dallas the following season in 2007–08, splitting the campaign between Iowa and the NHL. He managed 2 assists in his 35-game NHL rookie season with the Stars. Fistric continued to split time between the Stars and the AHL in 2008–09, recording 4 assists in 36 games in his second NHL season. In the off-season, the Stars re-signed Fistric to a three-year, $3 million contract on July 8, 2009.[2]

Fistric is known for his aggressive physical play. In a game against the Calgary Flames on January 27, 2010, Fistric received a match penalty for intent to injure after hitting opposing forward Eric Nystrom (who later became a Stars teammate) over the head with his own helmet during a fight, when the helmet became caught on his hand. The following day, he was fined $2,500 by the league for the incident.[3]

On January 14, 2013, Prior to the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, Fistric was traded by the Stars to the Edmonton Oilers for a Third Round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.[4]

On August 20, 2013, the Anaheim Ducks signed Fistric as a free agent to a one-year, $900,000 contract. In the 2013–14 season, Fistric was the Ducks depth defenseman, adding a physical element in 34 games. During the campaign, Fistric was signed to a three-year contract extension with Anaheim on January 29, 2014.

In the following 2014–15 season, Fistric effectiveness was hampered by a back injury, limiting him to just 9 regular season games. With the emergence of depth among the organization on the blueline, Fistric was placed on unconditional waivers and bought out from the final two-years of his contract with the Ducks on June 29, 2015.[5]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Maple Leaf Athletic Club AAA AMHL 30 8 10 18 85 2 1 1 2 4
2001–02 Vancouver Giants WHL 4 0 1 1 0
2002–03 Vancouver Giants WHL 63 2 7 9 81 4 0 0 0 8
2003–04 Vancouver Giants WHL 72 1 11 12 192 11 0 2 2 10
2004–05 Vancouver Giants WHL 15 1 5 6 32 6 1 1 2 16
2005–06 Vancouver Giants WHL 60 7 22 29 148 18 1 9 10 30
2006–07 Iowa Stars AHL 80 2 22 24 83 12 0 0 0 16
2007–08 Iowa Stars AHL 30 1 4 5 48
2007–08 Dallas Stars NHL 37 0 2 2 24 9 0 0 0 6
2008–09 Manitoba Moose AHL 35 0 8 8 26 22 2 5 7 26
2008–09 Dallas Stars NHL 36 0 4 4 42
2009–10 Dallas Stars NHL 67 1 9 10 69
2010–11 Dallas Stars NHL 57 2 3 5 44
2010–11 Texas Stars AHL 3 0 0 0 2
2011–12 Dallas Stars NHL 60 0 2 2 41
2012–13 Edmonton Oilers NHL 25 0 6 6 32
2013–14 Anaheim Ducks NHL 34 1 4 5 28 5 0 0 0 6
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 2 0 0 0 4
2014–15 Anaheim Ducks NHL 9 0 0 0 4
2014–15 Norfolk Admirals AHL 34 1 6 7 84
2016–17 Stony Plain Eagles ChHL 2 0 1 1 0
AHL totals 184 4 40 44 247 34 2 5 7 42
NHL totals 325 4 30 34 284 14 0 0 0 12

International

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Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2003 Canada U18 5 0 1 1 4
Junior totals 5 0 1 1 4

Awards and honours

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Award Year
AMHL
Brian Benning Trophy (Top Defenceman) 2002
WHL
President's Cup (Vancouver Giants) 2006

Ball hockey

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As of 2012, Fistric annually competed in Division 8 of a Ball Hockey Association in Edmonton.[6] As of 2013, Fistric also played summer hockey in the Strathcona Summer Hockey League.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Brian Benning Trophy - Top Defenseman". Alberta Midget Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  2. ^ "Stars acquire Auld, sign Fistric". Miami Herald. 2009-07-08. Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  3. ^ "Stars' Firstric fined but not suspended for helmet hit". The Sports Network. 2010-01-28. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  4. ^ "Edmonton Trade". Toronto Sports Network. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  5. ^ "Richards, Parenteau and Fistric clear waivers". ESPN. 2014-06-29. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  6. ^ "Ball Hockey Edmonton". Ball Hockey Edmonton. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  7. ^ "Summer Hockey Edmonton". Strathcona Summer Hockey League. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Dallas Stars first round draft pick
2004
Succeeded by