Joe Motzko


Joseph Andrew Motzko is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Undrafted, Motzko played for St. Cloud State University in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. After his senior year with St. Cloud, Motzko was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets on May 15, 2003. Joe was then sent to join affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.
In the 2003–04 season, his first full professional season, Motzko appeared in his first NHL game with the Blue Jackets on February 2, 2004, against the Phoenix Coyotes.
In his fourth season with the Blue Jackets and having played mainly for the Syracuse Crunch, Motzko was traded by the Blue Jackets along with Mark Hartigan to the Anaheim Ducks for Curtis Glencross and Zenon Konopka on January 26, 2007. Ten days earlier, Motzko scored his first career NHL goal at the United Center in Chicago against Nikolai Khabibulin and the Chicago Blackhawks in a 5-4 Blue Jackets victory. Motzko was then assigned to the Portland Pirates before he was called up to the Ducks during the 2007 playoffs. Motzko appeared in 3 post-season games for the Stanley Cup winning Ducks.
On July 9, 2007, Joe was signed by the Washington Capitals. He appeared in 8 games with the Capitals before he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers for Alexandre Giroux on February 26, 2008. Motzko was assigned to Thrasher's affiliate where he won the 2008 Calder Cup Championship with the Chicago Wolves.
Motzko made his Thrashers debut in the 2008–09 season on January 31, 2009, in a 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes
On July 16, 2009, Motzko signed with Russian team HC MVD of the Kontinental Hockey League. However, before appearing in a game with MVD, Motzko was released on September 11, and four days later signed with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
After four seasons with Ingolstadt, Motzko left as a free agent and joined neighbouring league in Austria on a one-year deal with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the EBEL on June 26, 2013.

Career statistics

Awards and achievements