Playing Career
Westrum was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes with their 7th pick, 187st overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. At the time he was playing in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota. Erik played the next four year with the U of MN. After completting his college career he moved to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL for the 2001/2002 season. With the Falcons he played 199 games, scoring 106 points, 37 goals and 69 assists.
Westrum made his NHL debut with Phoenix during the 2003–04 NHL season, playing 15 games with 2 points, one goal and one assist. At the same time he played for the farmteam of Phoenix, the Springfield Falcons.
After the little apparison in the NHL Westrum signed a contract with the Utah Grizzlies in the AHL. With this team he played 80 games with 18 goals and 15 assists, for a total of 33 points. In the season 2005–06 Erik Westrum signed a two-way contract with Minnesota Wild in the NHL after a trade sent him from Phoenix and to his home state of Minnesota. The Wild exchanged Zbynek Michalek for the Coyote's Erik Westrum and Dustin Wood. But the second experience in the top North America league lasted for only 10 games with one assist. He finished the season with the Wild's farm team, the Houston Aeros. He played 71 games with 98 points, finishing second on the team behind Kirby Law's 110 points.
At the end of 2006 season he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs in July, 2006, joining Minnesota Gophers teammate John Pohl, already with the Leafs. With Toronto, Westrum played two games scoring no points. As Captain of the Leafs top farm-team, the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League, he finished as the team's top scorer with 58 points (23 goals and 35 assist).
After six professional seasons in North America Westrum signed his first European contract in the Swiss League with the HC Ambri-Piotta. After an explosive start with Piotta he signed a four-year contract extension on May 15, 2009. In Ambrì he found Nick Naumenko, an old companion of the Utah Grizzlies. In the first year in Ambrì he became a fan favorite thanks to his spectacular league leading play.
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