Born on June 16th, 1981 in Grimsby, Ontario, he is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman with a Lithuanian background, who currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.

His last name, which is pronounced phonetically (Bee-ek-sa), is frequently mispronounced by sports newscasters and hockey broadcasters such as Bob Cole and Harry Neale, to the frustration or amusement of many fans. It has even been misspelled on scoreboards.

Playing Career: -

Bieksa played four years of college hockey at Bowling Green University, starting in 2000-01. After his freshman year, he was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks with the 151st pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. In 2003-04, he made his professional debut with the Canucks' AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, playing the final four games of the season. During that first season with the Moose the following incident took place to cement Bieksa's name as a tough guy and as a fan favourite with the Moose & the Canucks...

Kevin Bieksa's first night with the Manitoba Moose was a knockout for him, literally.

Bieksa hadn't played with the Manitoba Moose yet, but that night he joined his new teammates at a local pub. Bieksa walked by a table and accidentally knocked over Fedor Fedorov's beer. One thing led to another and Fedorov challenged Bieksa to a fight. Both players then went to the parking lot, and according to then Vancouver Canucks General Manager, Brian Burke, Bieksa KO'd the bigger Fedorov with one punch.

According to Burke: "The next day, I'm talking to [assistant GM Steve Tambellini], and I guess Bieksa was all worried about it, saying to Tamby, 'Oh, geez, I'm all done, Burkie's going to be really [steamed], I show up and knock out one of his own guys.' I listen to Tamby and I say, "Are you kidding me? I love that. Sign him -- today!"

The following year, he was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team after recording 39 points in his first full professional season. After another solid start with the Moose in 2005-06, he was called up by the Canucks and played his first NHL game on December 19, 2005, against the Los Angeles Kings. Bieksa finished the season playing in 39 games for the Canucks, averaging 16 minutes of ice-time per game. On August 17, 2006, he was re-signed by the Canucks.

Switching his jersey number from 25 to 3 in 2006-07, he scored his first NHL goal on October 13, 2006, against Evgeni Nabokov in a loss to the San Jose Sharks. Bieksa rapidly developed into one of the Canucks' top blue liners and he finished the season leading all team defensemen with 42 points a career best and 134 penalty minutes. He was regularly given a shutdown role against opposing teams' top forwards and was awarded the team's Babe Pratt Trophy as best defenseman. After the Canucks were eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the playoffs, the Canucks acknowledged Bieksa's breakout season with a 3-year, $11.25 million contract extension, effective 2008-09.

On November 1st, 2007, Bieksa suffered a severe calf laceration in a game against the Nashville Predators. After battling with Vern Fiddler against the boards, Fiddler's skate slashed Bieksa across the back of his right calf. Bieksa was helped to the bench, leaving a trail of blood behind him on the ice. The injury limited him to just 12 points in 34 games in 2007-08. 

On February 13th, 2009 Bieksa played in his 200th NHL career game in a 2-1 away loss against the Dallas Stars. On March 24th, 2009 Bieksa recorded his 100th NHL career point with an assist in a 5-2 away win against the Dallas Stars. During the 2008-09 regular season Bieksa recorded a new career best season registering 43 points in doing so he once again led all Canucks defensemen in points, finishing 6th overall on the Canucks roster despite not playing 10 games. Recorded his first playoff point (an assist) as a Canuck April 19, 2009 against the St. Louis Blues in a 3-2 win. During the 2009 Playoffs Bieksa recorded a career high 5 points (all assists) in 10 games with career high +3 rating. Bieksa was mentioned in the Hockey News as the Canucks Come Back Player of 2008-09.

Off The Ice: -

Kevin Bieksa and his wife, Katie, have one child, Cole Walter, born October 24th 2007.

Names Steve Yzerman and Cam Neely as his hockey idols…Hobbies include golf, poker and watersports…Lists the Tragically Hip as his favourite band and Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as his favourite actors…Enjoys watching Grey’s Anatomy and Prison Break…Named to CCHA All-Academic Honorable Mention with his 3.42 GPA in finance…Most memorable hockey moment was starting his first game for the Canucks…Lists Ocean’s Eleven and Old School as his favourite movies and watermelon as his favourite food.

      Personal Awards & Achievements: -

• PHPA Ironman Award - 2005

• AHL All-Rookie Team - 2005

• Cam Neely Award (The Hockey News' Breakout Player of the Year) - 2007

• Babe Pratt Trophy (Canucks' top defenceman) - 2007