BIOGRAPHY

Born and raised in Regina, Getzlaf started skating at the age of four and grew up playing numerous sports with his older brother Chris, who is currently a slotback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Getzlaf was drafted into the Western Hockey League (WHL) by the Calgary Hitmen in the 3rd round, 54th overall, in the 2000 WHL Bantam Draft. After an 18-point rookie season with the Hitmen, he improved to 68 points in 2002–03. He was then drafted by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 1st round, 19th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

After being drafted, Getzlaf returned to the Hitmen and played two more seasons with the team, including a junior career-high 75 points in just 49 games in 2003–04. After Getzlaf’s 2004–05 WHL season ended with the Hitmen, he was assigned to the Ducks’ minor league affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs.
He made his NHL debut with the Ducks the following season, appearing in 57 games and scoring 39 points.In his first year, Getzlaf made it to the Western Conference Finals with the Ducks.

In 2006–07, Getzlaf scored 58 points. Getzlaf helped the Ducks to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals where they defeated the Ottawa Senators for the Ducks’ first Stanley Cup championship in team history. He led the Duck’s roster in scoring in the 2007 playoffs with 17 points in 21 games.

In November 2007, Getzlaf and the Ducks agreed on a five-year contract extension which will last through the 2012-13 season. Getzlaf responded with a career-high 82 points to lead the Ducks in team scoring. He was also named to his first NHL All-Star Game.

Prior to the start of the 2008–09 season, Getzlaf was named an alternate captain along with Chris Pronger to captain Scott Niedermayer on October 7. Less than a month into the season, on October 29, Getzlaf tied a Ducks team record for most assists in a game with 5 in a 5-4 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Getzlaf was named as a starter to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal along with teammates Scott Niedermayer and Jean Sebastien Giguere, registering an assist in a 12–11 loss to the Eastern Conference.