Throughout Victoria Grizzlies’ history, several alumni have played in the National Hockey League, and one of those is forward Kyle Greentree.
Greentree joined Victoria when the team was called the Salsa and was part of the 2001 championship run. He also helped set a regular-season points record. In 2003-04, Greentree won the Brett Hull Trophy by accumulating the most points of any player in the regular season.
After Victoria, Greentree followed the path of many players and skated in the NCAA before turning pro in the American Hockey League. And also like many other players, Greentree’s pro career eventually took him to Europe. There, he played for several teams before hanging up his skates.
For this article. I will trace his path from Victoria to Europe and point out important moments in his career. Let’s begin with his time in Victoria.
From Victoria, BC to Fairbanks, Alaska
Greentree joined his hometown Victoria Salsa as a 16-year-old rookie for the 1999-2000 season. In 28 games, he scored a modest seven goals and six assists.
His point total improved dramatically in the 2000-01 season as a sophomore, compiling 65 points in 59 games. During the Salsa’s 2001 championship run, Greentree posted eight goals and 22 assists in 24 playoff contests.
Greentree continued to put up impressive points during his remaining years in Victoria. He scored 85 points during the 2001-02 season and for the 2002-03 season, Greentree increased his points total to 97. During the 2003-04 season as a 20-year-old, Greentree achieved his award-winning point totals.
In 59 games, Greentree scored 62 goals and 53 assists. Those 115 points earned him the Brett Hull Trophy for the league’s highest point total.
After his final season in Victoria, Greentree departed for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Over three NCAA Division I seasons, Greentree played 115 games with the Nanooks, totalling 41 goals and 60 assists.
Going pro
After finishing his third year of school, Greentree signed an entry-level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers as a college free agent. The Flyers immediately assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate. During the 2006-07 season, Greentree played eight games with the Philadelphia Phantoms and scored two goals.
The 2007-08 season saw Greentree make his National Hockey League debut. He played two games for the Flyers before being reassigned to the Phantoms. In 72 AHL games, Greentree notched 48 points.
Before the 2008-09 season, Philly traded Greentree to the Calgary Flames for defenseman Tim Ranholt. He spent most of the season with the AHL’s Quad City Flames. In February 2009, Greentree made his Flames debut after being called up and got into a pair of games. While playing 72 games in Quad City, Greentree scored 39 goals and 37 assists.
The Flames then dealt Greentree to the Chicago Blackhawks early in the 2009-10 season in exchange for defenseman Aaron Johnson. He immediately was assigned to Chicago’s AHL affiliate in Rockford and in 64 games, scored 25 goals while notching 20 assists.
During the 2010 off-season, Greentree signed with the Washington Capitals as a free agent. He immediately joined the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Over the next two seasons, Greentree played 124 games with the Bears, posting 41 goals while notching 53 assists.
Europe bound
After his final season with the Bears, Greentree left to play hockey in Europe. For the 2012-13 season, Greentree joined Medvescak Zagreb of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, now known as the ICE Hockey League. The team is in Zagreb, Croatia, and in 51 games, Greentree had 24 goals and 30 assists.
For 2013-14, Greentree joined the EHC Basel Sharks of Switzerland’s National League and put up 23 goals and 36 assists in 42 games. The following season, he went to Germany to join the Schwenninger Wild Wings of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
In 50 games, Greentree had 11 goals and 21 assists before his final stop in Europe took him to Austria. In 2015-16, he signed with Dornbirner EC of the EBEL, finishing with 18 goals and 28 assists. After his one season with Dornbirner, Greentree announced his retirement from professional hockey.
The Victoria legend is one of the few players to have his number retired by the Grizzlies franchise. Along with several other of the team’s alumni, Greentree’s number 39 hangs from the rafters at The Q Centre.
