Joe Motzko

Joseph Andrew Motzko (born March 14, 1980 in Bemidji, Minnesota) is an American ice hockey forward currently with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.

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. 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 (in his Capitals debut, he had 3 points scoring 2 goals and one assist) 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.

Awards and achievements

 * 1997-98 MSHSL Mr. Hockey Semifinalist (Bemidji High School)
 * 1999-00 WCHA Rookie of the Week (St. Cloud State)
 * 2000-01 WCHA Broadmoor Trophy (St. Cloud State)
 * 2006–07 NHL Stanley Cup (Anaheim Ducks)
 * 2007–08 AHL Calder Cup (Chicago Wolves)
 * 2010 Bemidji High School Athletic Hall of Fame