Playing Career
After a good season with the GKS Tychy in 1990–91, the Boston Bruins drafted him in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft in the 5th round, 105th overall. Czerkawski joined that year the Djurgårdens IF of the Elitserien. If his first season numbers were unimpressive, reflecting his rookie status, he posted good results in his second season in Stockholm, with 34 points in 39 games.
Czerkawski made his NHL debut in 1993–94 with the Bruins, playing in 4 games, a long enough stint to collect two goals and an assist and introduce himself as a promising youngster. The next season, he played 47 games with Boston, collecting 12 goals and 14 assists in the shortened season.
In 1996, Czerkawski was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He played about a season and a half there before another trade sent him to the New York Islanders, where Czerkawski would have his best years, including two 30-goal plus seasons. After being traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2002, however, he found himself waived to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League. His contract was bought out and he signed a one year deal with the Islanders in 2003, netting another 25-goal season.
Czerkawski made his only NHL All Star game appearance in 2000.
Next season, he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs. There again, he had a disappointing season, being benched for the most part of the first half of the season. A light resurrection occurred in December when he was paired with Mats Sundin, but overall, he only gathered 5 points in the 19 games he played in. The Bruins claimed him off waivers on March 8; however, he only played 16 games with Boston, scoring four goals and one assist.
Czerkawski joined the Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the NLA in 2006. He played two seasons for the Swiss team, collecting respectively 41 and 53 points. He retired in 2008.
After retiring from Hockey, he actively plays golf, where after 2 years he plays to a handicap 5.
For his contribution to the development of Polish ice hockey, he received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (5th Class) in 2004.
Read more about this topic: Mariusz Czerkawski
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