Cory Emmerton

Minor Hockey

Emmerton grew up playing minor hockey for his hometown St. Thomas Travellers of the OMHA and the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs of the Pavilion AAA league in Ontario.

Kingston Frontenacs (2004-2007)

The Kingston Frontenacs selected Emmerton with their 5th round, 89th overall pick in the 2004 OHL Priority Selection from the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs. He made the team out of training camp, and in his rookie season, he scored 17 goals and added 21 assists in 58 games, finishing 6th in team scoring.

In 2005–06, Emmerton led the Frontenacs in scoring with 90 points in 66 games, helping the team make the playoff for the first time since he joined the club. In the playoffs, Emmerton would only be held to two points, both goals, in 6 games, as Kingston would be eliminated in the opening round. In the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, the Detroit Red Wings selected Cory in the 2nd round, 41st overall selection.

Emmerton had a tough 2006–07 season, missing some time to injuries, as he would appear in only 40 regular season games. He finished fourth in team scoring with 66 points, as the team would once again make the playoffs. Emmerton had a strong playoff, leading Kingston with five goals and seven points in five games, however, his team would be eliminated in the first round.

He would return to Kingston in 2007–08, and be named the Frontenacs captain, however, the Fronts would get off to a bad start, and quickly fell out of playoff contention, and in early December, Emmerton would be traded to the Brampton Battalion for Justin Levac, Thomas Middup, 2nd and 3rd round picks in 2008, 2nd and 3rd round picks in 2009, and a 6th round pick in 2010. At the time of the trade, Emmerton was leading the Frontenacs with 31 points in 24 games.

Brampton Battalion (2007-2008)

In his first game as a Brampton Battalion, Emmerton would score a goal and add two assists to help the Battalion defeat the top team in the league, the Kitchener Rangers. Shortly after his trade to Brampton, Emmerton would compete for a spot on the Canadian National Junior Team, however, he was not able to fulfill his dream, as he was sent home by the team due to being diagonosed with mono. Emmerton came back from his illness, and recorded 30 points in 30 games with Brampton, followed by two assists in five playoff games with the team.

Detroit Red Wings (2006-2014)

Emmerton played a couple of games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the 2007 playoffs after the Frontenacs were eliminated from the OHL playoffs, going pointless in two games. He was signed to a three-year entry level contract with the Detroit Red Wings on June 4, 2007. After the Battalion were eliminated in the first round of the 2008 OHL playoffs, the Red Wings would once again bring Emmerton up to the Griffins, as he recorded an assist in seven regular season games with the club.

In his first full season with the Griffins in the 2008-09 season, Emmerton scored 10 goals and 35 points in 69 games. In nine playoff games, Emmerton had a goal.

Emmerton returned to Grand Rapids for the 2009-10, as he played in 76 games, scoring 12 goals and 37 points, finishing sixth in team scoring. Grand Rapids failed to qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs.

In 2010-11, Emmerton appeared in 65 games with the Griffins, scoring 12 goals and 38 points, good for fifth in team scoring, however, the club failed to reach the post-season for the second straight season.

Emmerton played two games in the 2010–11 season for Detroit and finished the season with their farm team, the Grand Rapids Griffins. He played his first NHL game on Saturday, January 22, 2011 and scored his first NHL goal against Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Emmerton was able to secure a steady NHL spot commencing with the 2011–12 NHL season. In 71 games, Emmerton had six goals and 10 points, and he followed that up with a goal in five playoff games. He was named 2011-12 Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association on June 6, 2012.

In 2012-13 NHL season, Emmerton appeared in all 48 games for the Red Wings in the lockout shortened season, scoring five goals and eight points. In 13 playoff games, Emmerton was held to an assist.

Emmerton spent the majority of the 2013-14 with the Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring 16 goals and 46 points in 53 games with the Griffins. In 10 playoff games, Emmerton had two goals and nine assists. He also appeared in 18 games with the Red Wings in 2013-14, earning two assists.

On May 23, 2014, as an impending free agent with the Red Wings, Emmerton opted to sign his first European contract, agreeing to a one-year contract for the HC Sochi inaugural season in the KHL.

HC Sochi (2014-2015)

Emmerton appeared in all 60 games with HC Sochi of the KHL in the 2014-15 season, scoring 17 goals and 29 points. In four playoff games, Emmerton was held pointless.

HC Ambri-Piotta (2015-present)

On June 8, 2015, Emmerton signed a two-year contract with HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League (NL). He finished his first season in the NL as the fourth top scorer of Ambri-Piotta, tallying 15 goals and 21 assists in 49 regular season games. He suited up for three of Ambri's six relegation games, scoring twice and missing the three other games as a healthy scratch.

On June 21, 2017, Emmerton was signed to a one-year contract extension by HC Ambri-Piotta.