Zarley Zalapski

Zarley Zalapski
Position	Defenceman
Nickname(s)	ZZ
Height Weight	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 215 lb (98 kg)
Swiss-B Team F. Teams	Lausanne Hockey Club Pittsburgh Penguins Hartford Whalers Calgary Flames Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers
Nationality	Canadian
Born	April 22, 1968(1968-04-22), Edmonton, AB, CAN
Died	December 10, 2017(2017-12-10) (aged 49), Calgary, AB, CAN
NHL Draft	Rnd 1, 4th overall, 1986 Pittsburgh Penguins
Pro Career	1987 – 2010

Zarley Bennett Zalapski (April 22, 1968 – December 10, 2017) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman.

Playing career

Zalapski's career started with the Fort Saskatchewan Traders of the AJHL. In his first season with the Traders, Zalapski tallied 70 points in 67 games, including 17 goals. Zalapski spent the next two years playing with the Canadian National Team. He was a member of the Canadian Olympic Hockey team in the 1988 Olympics held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Canada would end up missing the medal podium and finished in 4th place. Although Canada lost their first game in the medal round, Zalapski played a key role in the team's victories over West Germany and Czechoslovakia. He is most well known for his 11 year career in the NHL playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, and Philadelphia Flyers. He has since played for teams in hockey leagues in Germany, Italy, and most recently Switzerland.

Zalapski was picked 4th in the 1st round by the Penguins in the 1986 entry draft. He has tallied 99 goals, and 285 assists, for a total of 384 points in his 637 games in the NHL. He also registered 684 penalty minutes.

In 2006 he became a Swiss citizen through marriage.

Death

Zalapski died on December 10, 2017, at the age of 49, after suffering complications related to a viral infection.

Titles

NHL All-Rookie Team (1989) Played in NHL All-Star Game (1993) NHL (PIT, HFD, CGY, MTL): 637/99/285/680

Career

• 1984–1986 Fort Saskatchewan Traders
• 1987–1990 Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1990–1993 Hartford Whalers
• 1993–1998 Calgary Flames
• 1997–1998 Montreal Canadiens
• 1998–1999 ZSC Lions
• 1999–2000 Philadelphia Flyers
• 1999–2000 Long Beach Ice Dogs
• 1999–2000 Utah Grizzlies
• 2000–2001 Houston Aeros
• 2000–2001 Munich Barons
• 2001–2002 HC Merano
• 2002–2003 EfB (Ice hockey)
• 2002–2003 IF Björklöven
• 2004–2005 Amsterdam Bulldogs
• 2004–2005 Kalamazoo Wings
• 2005–2006 Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
• 2005–2006 HC Martigny
• 2005–2006 EHC Visp
• 2005–2006 HC TWK Innsbruck
• 2006–2007 EHC Chur
• 2007-2008 EHC Biel
• 2008-2009 EHC Olten
• 2009-... Lausanne Hockey Club

Awards

• Named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1989.
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1993)

External links

• Zarley Zalapski's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Zarley Zalapski's biography at Legends of Hockey