Josh Wesley will play in Austria next year after finishing with the second-most points among all Utah Grizzlies defensemen in 2023-24
Utah Grizzlies' defenseman and team captain Josh Wesley is heading overseas. The 28-year-old has signed with HC Pustertal of the ICE Hockey League, Austria's top-tier ice hockey league, for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
Wesley, drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round, 96th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft, just completed his eighth professional season and first with the Utah Grizzlies. He finished with 18 goals and 22 assists, making his 40 points the second-most among all Utah blueliners.
The Hartford native was recalled to the AHL's Colorado Eagles for nine games and recorded one point (an assist) during his time there. Wesley returned to North America for a year after spending 2022-23 in Czechia.
Prior to that, he skated in the ECHL with the Florida Everblades, Maine Mariners, and Tulsa Oilers while also seeing time in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, Hartford Wolf Pack, San Antonio Rampage, Utica Comets, and Springfield Thunderbirds.
Wesley becomes the latest member of the Grizzlies to head overseas after Brandon Cutler and Brett Stapley recently signed with European clubs.