Prior to entering Northern Michigan University in 1986, defenseman Brad Werenka began building his ice hockey career in Alberta with the Sherwood Park Crusaders (1983-1984) and the Fort Saskatchewan Traders (1984-1986). He was drafted by the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and in his fifth, and final, year with Northern Michigan he captured the 1991 national collegiate championship. He spent the 1991-1992 season in the American Hockey League with the Cape Breton Oilers in preparation for his 1992 NHL debut with Edmonton. His 1993-1994 season was busy, as he suited up with both Oiler squads and was traded to the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques after returning from the 1994 Winter Olympics with Team Canada. At the Games’ ice hockey tournament he played in eight matches, scored two goals, and took home a silver medal. He spent 1994-1995 out of the NHL entirely, skating with the Milwaukee Admirals of the International Hockey League, and returned the following year for nine games with the Chicago Blackhawks and seventy-three with the IHL’s Indianapolis Ice. He was exclusive with the Ice during the 1996-1997 season and won both the Governor’s Trophy as the league’s top defenseman and the Ironman Award in recognition of his offensive and defensive talents. These accolades earned him a place back in the NHL and he skated out the remainder of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1997-2000) and the Calgary Flames (1999-2001). He now runs the annual “Brad Werenka Hockey School”, a training camp for Midget and Bantam-level players. At Northern Michigan University he obtained a degree in Political Science, with a minor in Business Administration, and earned a law degree from the University of Calgary in 2007. When not running his hockey school, he works as a lawyer with Macleod Dixon in Calgary, Alberta.
Canada