Wudrick lights up North Stars fortunes

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Eight games into the season, arguably the Newcastle North Stars’ biggest off-season signing Geordie Wudrick is living up to the hype.   
 
With nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points at three points per game, the 6’3, 95 kg forward is already establishing himself as a star player in the AIHL, sitting atop the point scoring leaders list.
 
Born in Canada, the 25-year old remembers a normal Canadian upbringing, learning to skate just after learning to walk.
 
"I started skating when I was about two," he said. "When I was three, it was pickup hockey with my dad, then I played organised hockey from five."
 
Wudrick spent his late teens playing for the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League, having started with the team in 2005-6.
 
In 2008, the then 18-year old entered the NHL draft and was snapped up in the 3rd round (88^th overall) by the Los Angeles Kings. This was on the back of a breakout season in 2007-08 season for the Broncos, where he scored 44 points from 66 games.
 
Wudrick bettered that the following season with 57 points in 69 games, and after two more seasons, completed his WHL career after 400 games with 264 points (157 goals, 107 assists).
 
Playing in Germany and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) hockey competitions, Wudrick has spent the last few years studying business at university and playing in various clubs around North America, even a stint in the German second league.
 
Last season, Wudrick found himself playing for the Missouri Mavericks in the ECHL and Louisiana IceGators in the SPHL before joining the Newcastle North Stars.
 
Bringing his powerful offensive play and great shooting ability to the AIHL, Wudrick has already made a mark on the AIHL, helping the North Stars to second on the ladder this early in the season. 
 
"It's obviously exciting to come off the start and it always helps the more goals that we can put in," Geordie said. "So far it's been pretty good for me personally and especially as a team."
 
A budding partnership between Wudrick and American import, Luke Moffatt, has provided some entertaining goals. The two North Americans are currently the top two point scorers in the league. 
 
"We all have really good chemistry and are really good friends already, so that translates over on the ice," he explained. "We've been having a great time out there."
 
Off the ice, Geordie is enjoying being in Newcastle and has found time to pick up a new hobby. 
 
"One of the big things I wanted to do here was try to learn how to surf,” Wudrick said. “So we're getting some lessons – it's been pretty fun. Luke [Moffatt] is probably the best right now, but Jan [Safar] and I have been standing up. I got up maybe 4 or 5 times today. It's really challenging and a pretty good workout."
 
It's clear that Wudrick's prowess on the ice and his chemistry with the team is having a great impact on the Newcastle side. He hopes this can continue throughout the season. 
 
"Obviously for us we're just trying to win every game we can,” Wudrick said. “If we can just do that the whole season then that would be incredible. Our goal going into every game is just to be able to win, whatever I can to help is just a huge bonus."