Calvin Thürkauf (born 27 June 1997) is a Swiss professional ice hockey player who is a forward for HC Lugano of the National League (NL). Thurkauf was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round (185th overall) of the 2016 NHL entry draft.
Playing career Thürkauf as a youth played within the EV Zug junior ranks. In spending 5 seasons within Zug's development program, Thürkauf made his professional debut in the 2014–15 playoffs, appearing in one game on loan to SC Langenthal of the then second tier National League B (NLB).
With NHL aspirations, Thürkauf was selected 59th overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL). In his first major junior season in North America, Thürkauf displayed his offensive potential in contributing with 18 goals and 45 points in 61 games as a rookie. He was selected in his second year of eligibility in the seventh-round, 185th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2016 NHL entry draft.
On 31 December 2016, Thürkauf was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets. He placed second on team scoring in the 2016–17 season with the Rockets, establishing a career high 33 goals and 70 points in 60 regular season games.
In the final year of his entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets in the 2019–20 season, while playing with AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, Thürkauf received his first recall to the NHL on an emergency basis on 21 February 2020. He made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets, appearing on the fourth-line, in a 4–3 shootout defeat to the Nashville Predators on 22 February 2020. He was returned to the AHL with the Monsters the following day.
As an impending restricted free agent and with the following 2020–21 North American season delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thürkauf was signed to a temporary contract with hometown Swiss club, EV Zug of the NL, on 24 August 2020.
On May 10, 2021, Thürkauf left the Blue Jackets organization and joined HC Lugano on a three-year deal through the 2023–24 season.
International play
Thürkauf has represented the Swiss national junior team at multiple tournaments. The first time he was selected to play for the national junior team, was during the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He later captained Switzerland at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Canada, posting 4 points in 4 games in a 7th-placed finish.
He represented Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a silver medal.
Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2012–13 EV Zug Elite. A 4 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 2013–14 EV Zug Elite. A 8 1 1 2 6 2 0 0 0 4 2014–15 EV Zug Elite. A 38 11 10 21 54 12 1 1 2 20 2014–15 SC Langenthal NLB — — — — — 1 0 0 0 4 2015–16 Kelowna Rockets WHL 61 18 27 45 54 18 2 6 8 16 2016–17 Kelowna Rockets WHL 60 33 37 70 87 17 8 13 21 24 2017–18 Cleveland Monsters AHL 75 11 13 24 40 — — — — — 2018–19 Cleveland Monsters AHL 26 2 0 2 24 — — — — — 2019–20 Cleveland Monsters AHL 53 9 17 26 37 — — — — — 2019–20 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2020–21 EV Zug NL 22 3 2 5 26 — — — — — 2021–22 HC Lugano NL 50 16 19 35 65 6 1 3 4 4 2022–23 HC Lugano NL 52 11 8 19 61 8 3 4 7 12 2023–24 HC Lugano NL 52 28 32 60 34 9 1 7 8 6 2024–25 HC Lugano NL 36 10 13 23 30 — — — — — NHL totals 3 0 0 0 0 — — — — — NL totals 212 68 74 142 216 23 5 14 19 22
International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2014 Switzerland IH18 7th 4 0 1 1 38 2015 Switzerland U18 4th 7 1 2 3 12 2016 Switzerland WJC 9th 5 1 1 2 2 2017 Switzerland WJC 7th 4 2 2 4 16 2022 Switzerland OG 8th 5 0 2 2 0 2022 Switzerland WC 5th 6 2 0 2 0 2023 Switzerland WC 5th 2 1 1 2 0 2024 Switzerland WC 10 1 3 4 4 2026 Switzerland OG 5th 5 0 0 0 0 2026 Switzerland WC 10 3 4 7 10 Junior totals 20 4 6 10 68 Senior totals 38 7 10 17 14
References
External links
Calvin Thurkauf at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Calvin Thurkauf at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics (archived)