Brandon DeFazio, 2000-2009, Alumni (Oakville Rangers Hockey Club)

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Brandon DeFazio
Brandon DeFazio Photo
Participated: 1995-2001

Brandon DeFazio was born in Oakville, ON and as a 17-year old, DeFazio made the Milton Icehawks (OPJHL), and was traded to his hometown Oakville Blades at the end of his rookie season in 2005/06. DeFazio skated with the Blades until he started post-secondary education at Clarkson University in the fall of 2007. A point-a–game campaign earned him a scholarship at Clarkson.

DeFazio played four seasons with the Clarkson Golden Knights hockey team. He served two years as Assistant Captain, and led scoring in his senior year. DeFazio heard he would not play hockey after university, after all, he was not picked by an OHL team, but he had strong support from his dad, Dean, who played 22 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite being undrafted by both the OHL and the NHL, DeFazio made his pro hockey debut after graduation in 2010. He played for the Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL), both affiliate teams of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

DeFazio was honored as the IOA/American Speciality Man of the Year for his outstanding contributions to the community in both the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. He takes pride in trying to get involved with the community.

In the 2011/12 season, DeFazio was invited to Pittsburgh’s training camp and signed an AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Playing primarily in a physical, energy line role, the left-winger helped Wilkes-Barre/Scranton reached the second round in the playoffs after finishing second in the East Division. He signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders in July 2012.

DeFazio skated in a career-high 69 games for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport in his second pro season in 2012/13. The Sound Tigers missed the AHL playoffs after finishing third in the Northeast Division. DeFazio was signed by the Vancouver Canucks to a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent in July of 2013.

DeFazio played in 76 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) before receiving his first NHL recall by the Canucks in November of 2014. He played in two NHL games before returning to Utica to finish the remainder of the 2014/15 season.

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