James Gregory Arniel (born November 16, 1989) is a Canadian ice hockey centre who signed to play for the Cardiff Devils in June 2023 after spending the previous winter playing for Kassel Huskies of the DEL2.

Arniel was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (97th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and played one game for them during the 2010–11 season. He is the nephew of Scott Arniel.

Playing career

June 22, 2008 after being drafted in the 4th round 97th overall by the Boston Bruins, Arniel was out celebrating and got behind the wheel of his vehicle after attending stages nightclub in his hometown of Kingston, Ontario. Arniel blew 2.5 times the legal limit and was arrested and charged with a DUI.

On November 9, 2010, the Boston Bruins recalled Arniel on an emergency basis from the AHL's Providence Bruins, and on November 28, 2010, Arniel made his NHL debut, suiting up for the Bruins in an away game against the Atlanta Thrashers. He was awarded a Stanley Cup ring and included on team picture for his play. However, Arniel did not qualify to have name engraved on the Stanley Cup (41 regular season game, or 1 game in the finals).

On August 20, 2012, Arniel signed in Europe to a one-year contract with Eisbären Berlin of the German DEL. In his second European season, Arniel transferred from Lukko Rauma of the Finnish Liiga, to Dornbirner EC of the Austrian EBEL.

Having joined the Vienna Capitals for the 2018–19 season, Arniel continued in the EBEL scoring 11 points through 19 games. On February 14, 2019, Arniel was mutually released from his contract in returning to the DEL in joining Augsburger Panther for the remainder of the campaign.

Arniel returned to the EBEL the following summer, signing a one-year deal with Italian outfit, HC Bolzano, on August 2, 2019.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2004–05Kingston PredatorsODHA4434508426—————
2004–05Kingston VoyageursOPJHL30000—————
2005–06Guelph StormOHL611181930152024
2006–07Guelph StormOHL683131625142240
2007–08Guelph StormOHL20941316—————
2007–08Sarnia StingOHL401816342292246
2008–09Sarnia StingOHL633236682851234
2008–09Providence BruinsAHL—————81010
2009–10Providence BruinsAHL6712162816—————
2010–11Boston BruinsNHL10000—————
2010–11Providence BruinsAHL7823275026—————
2011–12Providence BruinsAHL747172426—————
2012–13Eisbären BerlinDEL50891741305516
2013–14LukkoFIN30000—————
2013–14Dornbirner ECEBEL291126371064372
2014–15Dornbirner ECEBEL5422274932—————
2015–16Dornbirner ECEBEL531230422062352
2016–17Dornbirner ECEBEL5319254436—————
2017–18Dornbirn BulldogsEBEL541727443263366
2018–19Vienna CapitalsEBEL1938114—————
2018–19Augsburger PantherDEL2000051122
2019–20HC BolzanoEBEL42722292831012
2020–21EC Bad NauheimDEL24929336222—————
2021–22Bratislava CapitalsICEHL1447116—————
2021–22HK PopradSVK372021411672134
2022–23Kassel HuskiesDEL24717314818102240
AHL totals21942601026881010
NHL totals10000—————

See also

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from , or , or , or