Michael Mersch
American forward drafted by Kings, played for Wisconsin Badgers.
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Michael Mersch is an American former professional ice hockey forward who was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played collegiate hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers, where he set a program record and earned All-Big Ten First Team and West Second-Team All-American honors. Mersch made his NHL debut with the Kings in December 2015 and scored his first career NHL goal later that month.
Lore & Background
Mersch grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois, playing for the Chicago Young Americans and Team Illinois AAA in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. He joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in 2008. After taking an accelerated course load to finish high school early, he joined the Wisconsin Badgers in 2010.
During his collegiate career, Mersch set a program record and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team, WCHA All-Academic Team, and West Second-Team All-American. He signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings in April 2014 and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, for the remainder of the season. Mersch made his NHL debut with the Kings on December 11, 2015, and scored his first career NHL goal on December 29 against the Edmonton Oilers.
Reader's Guide
Michael Mersch's career is notable for his collegiate achievements at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he set a program record and earned multiple conference and national honors. His selection by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2011 draft reflected his development as a forward, and he later made his NHL debut with the Kings in December 2015. Mersch's path from the USNTDP through college hockey to the professional ranks illustrates a typical trajectory for American players.
His time with the Kings organization included playing for their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, where he contributed to the team's success. Mersch's first NHL goal came against the Edmonton Oilers, marking a milestone in his professional career. His legacy is primarily tied to his college career and his brief NHL stint with the Kings.
Career statistics and honours
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2008–09 | U.S. National Development Team | NAHL | 42 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 50 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| 2009–10 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 27 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | University of Wisconsin | WCHA | 41 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | University of Wisconsin | WCHA | 37 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | University of Wisconsin | WCHA | 42 | 23 | 13 | 36 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | University of Wisconsin | B1G | 37 | 22 | 13 | 35 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2014–15 | Manchester Monarchs | AHL | 76 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 25 | 18 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 8 |
| 2015–16 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 52 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 2015–16 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 48 | 16 | 17 | 33 | 46 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Ontario Reign | AHL | 65 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Texas Stars | AHL | 68 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | Texas Stars | AHL | 61 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 28 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 65 | 26 | 28 | 54 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 61 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 31 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 4 |
| 2023–24 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 66 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| AHL totals | 597 | 188 | 213 | 401 | 323 | 68 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 22 | ||
| NHL totals | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| WCHA All-Academic Team | 2012–13 | |
| All-Big Ten First Team | 2013–14 | |
| AHCA West Second-Team All-American | 2013–14 | |
| AHL | ||
| Calder Cup (Manchester Monarchs) | 2015 | |
Tables copied from the source article, totals included as the source gives them: Wikipedia: Michael Mersch (CC BY-SA 4.0). Wide tables scroll sideways.
Did You Know?
- Mersch was named after his father, who played professionally in the International Hockey League.
- He scored his first collegiate hat-trick on January 10 against the Michigan Wolverines.
- Mersch was the first Badger since 2005–06 to notch 20 or more goals in two consecutive seasons.
- He was named CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for March 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Michael Mersch?
Michael Mersch is an American former professional ice hockey forward born on October 2, 1992, in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was picked 110th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft after a standout collegiate career at Wisconsin.
What position did Michael Mersch play and what was his role?
Mersch played forward, meaning his job centered on generating offense while also contributing defensively along the boards. At Wisconsin he was regarded as one of the top forwards in the Big Ten, earning First-Team All-Big Ten and West Second-Team All-American honors.
What college did Michael Mersch play for?
Mersch spent four seasons (2010–2014) with the University of Wisconsin–Madison Badgers. During that stretch he set a program record and collected both All-Big Ten First Team and West Second-Team All-American recognition.
Why is Michael Mersch a memorable name for Kings fans?
As a deep fourth-round selection who still found his way to the NHL roster, Mersch embodies the under-the-radar prospect who punches above his draft slot. His brief but productive December 2015 stint—including a goal on Edmonton—gave fans a small, feel-good moment to remember.
More in Los Angeles Kings Players
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Michael Mersch (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Statistics, medals and awards: the tables of the source article.
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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