Wade Belak

Wade was born July 3rd, 1976 at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Wade spent his early childhood in Saskatoon. At age six, Wade and his family moved to Battleford, Saskatchewan. Wade attended St. Vital elementary school. It wasn’t until age eight that Wade began to play hockey.

Wade attended Battleford Junior High. Wade was described as the typical jock. He was part of the volleyball team, track and field team, badminton team, and basketball team. Outside from school, Wade played spent his time at the local swimming pool and ice arena. At age 14, Wade was on his way to becoming a certified life guard. However, competitive hockey was his priority. Wade played competitive hockey at the AA level. After Juniour High, Wade attended the North Battleford Comprehensive High School.

At age fifteen, Wade was a proud member of the AAA Midget North Stars. That same year, Wade was selected by the Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club in the Western Hockey League. This was an outstanding achievement for Wade. As a youngster, he was a Fan of The Blades. Wade attended the Blades training camp and was given a spot on the team at age sixteen. However, Wade felt that he was inexperienced for the Western Hockey League and decided to play another season with the AAA Midget North Stars. This proved to be a great decision as Wade enhanced his skills and developed himself to become a better hockey player. He was selected as the top defenseman on his team. The following season, Wade joined the Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club in the Western Hockey League.

As a Blade, Wade had an incredible rookie campaign. He was part of a Blade team that reached game seven of the finals only to loose out to the heavily favorite Kamloops Blazers. Wade was awarded the Most Improved Player award. He continued to develop as the season progressed and established himself to be a quality hockey player with great National Hockey League potential.

On June 26, 1994, Wade was selected 12th overall in the first round of the National Hockey League entry draft by the Quebec Nordiques. Wade played two more seasons with the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League before joining the Quebec Nordiques farm team, the Cornwall Aces in the American Hockey League. The team relocated to Hershey, where Wade played for the Bears for two seasons. In his first season with the Bears, Wade was part of a Calder Cup winning team. Wade was called up by the Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club in the National Hockey League to play in five games that season. Wade played his first National Hockey League game on December 21st, 1996 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was an exciting achievement for Wade. It was his childhood dream to play a National Hockey League game live on Hockey Night in Canada on CBC.

Wade began the 1997-1998 season in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche. Wade recorded his first two National Hockey League points, a goal and an assist, on October 22nd, 1997 against the Washington Capitals. After eight games at the National Hockey League level, Wade was sent down to Hershey in the American Hockey League. This is when things took a turn for the worse. Wade suffered a grade five separation which required surgery and would keep him off the ice for four months. Wade returned that season and played eight games for Hershey in the American Hockey League and three games for Colorado at the National Hockey League level before suffering a groin and abdominal tear that would sideline him for the rest of the season.

Wade spent the summer in surgery to repair his injuries. Doctors informed Wade that his injuries were serious and if he did not progress accordingly, he would be forced to end his career prematurely. Wade was determined to get back on the ice. He spent the entire summer in rehab to ensure he would be ready for the upcoming hockey season.

The following season, Wade started the season in November. He played with the Colorado Avalanche until January when he was sent down to Hershey. While in Hershey, Wade was involved in a blockbuster trade. He was traded to the Calgary Flames Hockey Club along with his teammates Rene Corbet, Robyn Regehr, and a conditional draft pick in exchange for Chris Dingman and Theoren Fleury. Wade spent twelve games with the Saint John Flames in the American Hockey League that season. He was coached by former Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Rick Vaive. Wade played his first game as a member of the Calgary Flames on March 27th, 1999. He registered his first point (assist) as a member of the Calgary Flames on April 1st, 1999 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

The 1999-2000 season was filled with drama for Wade. He began the season in Saint John. He was then called up and played in forty National Hockey League games with the Calgary Flames. He lead the team in penalty minutes (122) and averaged 7:33 minutes of ice that season. Towards the end of the season, Wade suffered injuries that sidelined him for 20 games and he was forced to sit as a healthy scratch for the remainder of the season.

Wade began the 2000-2001 season with the Calgary Flames. After playing twenty-three games, he was placed on waivers and picked up by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Wade made his Toronto Maple Leafs debut against his former team, the Colorado Avalanche, on February 17th, 2001. He scored his first goal as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 25th, 2001 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Wade collected his first assist as a Maple Leaf on February 28th, 2001 against the San Jose Sharks.

Things started to come around for Wade in the 2001-2002 season. He finished second on the team in penalty minutes (142) and set a career high in games played (63). Wade registered his 500th penalty minute on April 8th 2002 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Wade got his first taste of the playoffs that season. Wade played his first career National Hockey League playoff game on April 18th, 2002 against the New York Islanders and scored his first career playoff goal on April 28th, 2002 against the New York Islanders. In total, Wade played sixteen playoff games in which he registered one goal, eighteen penalty minutes and had a plus/minus of +5.

Wade continued his success in 2002-2003. He lead the Toronto Maple Leafs in penalty minutes (196) and set career highs in goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes in a season. Wade played in his 200th career National Hockey League game on January 3rd, 2002 against the New Jersey Devils. He also played in his 100th game as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club on March 17th, 2002 against the Washington Capitals. Wade also enjoyed his second consecutive season in the playoffs as a member of the blue and white.

The 2003-2004 season was yet again full of drama for Wade. He missed a total of 38 games due to injury and was suspended for eight games for a high-sticking incident. However, Wade made his third consecutive appearance in the playoffs.

The 2004-2005 season was an interesting experience for Wade. The National Hockey League cancelled its season due to a labour dispute between the owners and the players. Wade decided to play in Europe. He joined the Coventry Blaze Hockey Club in the United Kingdom in the Elite Ice Hockey League. He suited up for a total of 42 games. He contributed by scoring 7 goals and added 10 assists. Wade added a physical presence by adding 178 penalty minutes throughout the season. In the playoffs, he added a goal and an assist and sixteen penalty minutes to help lead the Coventry Blaze to win the grand slam in the Elite Ice Hockey League. His National Hockey League experience was a positive influence in Coventry. He played a leadership role on his team and enhanced his skills by playing more minutes that ever before.

In preparation for the 2005-2006 NHL season, Wade has signed a two year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club.

In the summer, Wade and his family spend their time in Kelowna, British Columbia. Wade enjoys golfing, bike riding, softball, and water sports that include: swimming, scuba diving, fishing, wake boarding, and kite surfing.

Wade was traded to the Florida Panthers
on February 26, 2008.

2006-2007 was disappointing for Wade as he and the Toronto Maple Leafs did not get a good start to the season. Wade was suffering from aches and pains throughout the year in his shoulder area. He missed some games due to injury and was a healthy scratch on some night. Wade continued to motivate his teammates throughout the season.

2007-2008 was a frustrating season for Wade. For the third consecutive season, the playoffs were yet again out of reach for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even though wade was a healthy scratch for a number of games during the season, he did achieve some great accomplishments. He played in his 400th career NHL game vs. Chicago Blackhawks on October 20, 2007. He also scored a goal for the first time in 143 games on December 4, 2007 vs. Nashville Predators. Wade was traded to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 5th round draft pick in 2008 at the trade deadline.

Wade married Jennifer Jordan Russell on July 20th, 2002 in Banff, Alberta. He is a loving and devoted family man. The Belak family has two wonderful children. Their first daughter, Andie Marie was born on July 23rd, 2004 in Toronto, Ontario. On March 20th 2006, Alex Grace became the newest addition to the Belak Family. Their second daugter Alex Grace was also born in Toronto. They also own two Yorkshire dogs: Oscar and Macie.

Wade has two sets of loving parents. His mother Lorraine Belak and his step father Barry Belak. His father, Lionel Aadland and his step mother Joy Aadland.

Wade also has a younger brother, Graham, who is now back in Canada following in the footsteps of his father, a retired police officer. Graham is an RCMP officer in Yukon. Graham also has a background in hockey. We was drafted by the New York Islanders hockey club. He played for Bridgeport in the American Hockey League. He also got some international experience playing for the Coventry Blaze hockey club in the Elite Ice Hockey League.

Wade believes his grandmother’s, Katherin Belak and Betty Pliske are responsible for his size. Their outstanding cooking skills have increased his appetite which has made him a big, strong, successful hockey player.