"Bierk essentially lost a year of development by being recalled to the NHL when the injury bug hit Tampa's goaltending last season. But he is playing regularly and well for Cleveland and had a huge confidence boost by being selected for the IHL All-Star Game. "The one thing we don't want to do with Zac is rush him," [Lightning player development director Don] Murdoch said. "But until we have a legitimate No. 1 goalie, I wouldn't want to count anyone out."" (Tim Buckley, The Hockey News Future Watch 1999)
"Once considered Tampa Bay's goalie of the future, Bierk has Daren Puppa-like size. Covers a lot of net and is very quick. An untouchable, the Lightning don't want to rush him. Already has some NHL experience and was selected to the IHL all-star game in 1998-99." (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 141)
"The goaltending prospect has had a strange pro career. He didn't play net until he was 14, yet was in the NHL two years ago, appearing in 13 games. Then he developed a bizarre inner-ear problem that has kept him out of the lineup for the better part of 18 months. At times this season he has been brilliant. At other time he looks like a kid who has played goal only seven years. Cloutier is considered the goalie of the future, but Bierk may have shown enough to at least serve as backup next season. The downside to that would be he still needs to play more; his ear problems have handcuffed him a bit." (Tom Jones, The Hockey News Future Watch 2000)
"Some observers feel Bierk is a year or two away from some duty in the NHL. Showed some promise in 13 appearances last season. Unfortunately has an inner ear problem that may be incurable." (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 182)
"Dubbed the Tampa Bay Lightning's goaltender of the future in the late-90s, Bierk was not able to take the final step to the NHL, despite a gaping hole in the Bolts' crease...still is young enough to enjoy a solid future in the NHL. However, he'll need to make a push for playing time soon, since both Fernandez and McLennan could be in St. Paul for some time to come." (The Sports Forecaster Online 2000-01)
"Starting to regain confidence after battling inner ear problem. A real gamer." (Tom Jones, The Hockey News Future Watch 2001)
"Bierk has battled injuries throughout his career. Has lost his luster as a prospect." (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 223)
REGULAR SEASON
Year Team GP Min W L T GA GAA Shots Sv% ShO G A PiM S/60 PERS
92-93 Trinity College HS
93-94 Peterborough Jr. Petes OJHL 4 205 17 4.98 0
Peterborough Petes OHL 9 423 0 4 2 37 5.25 285 .870 0 0 1 2 48.43 937.55
94-95 Peterborough Petes OHL 35 1798 12 15 5 118 3.94 0 0 3 10
95-96 Peterborough Petes OHL 58 3292 31 16 6 174 3.17 2 0 2 16
Peterborough Petes MEM CUP 5 303 3 2 0 14 2.77 0
96-97 Peterborough Petes OHL 49 2744 28 16 0 151 3.30 1797 .916 2 0 2 22 39.29 981.46
97-98 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 12 558 1 6 1 36 3.87 331 .891 0 0 0 2 35.59 950.56
Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 13 433 1 4 1 30 4.16 210 .857 0 0 0 0 29.10 905.64
98-99 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 27 1556 11 12 4 79 3.05 923 .914 0 0 0 4 35.59 973.73
Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 1 59 0 1 0 2 2.03 21 .905 0 0 0 0 21.36 940.36
99-00 Detroit Vipers IHL 15 846 6 8 2 46 3.26 532 .914 1 0 1 4 37.73 976.42
Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 12 509 4 4 1 31 3.65 308 .899 0 0 1 0 36.31 959.86
00-01 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 49 2785 24 18 5 134 2.89 1475 .909 6 0 3 14 31.78 962.11
Minnesota Wild NHL 1 60 0 1 0 6 6.00 27 .778 0 0 0 2 27.00 822.78
01-02 Springfield Falcons AHL 1 20 0 1 0 4 12.00 18 .778 0 0 0 0
Augusta Lynx ECHL 30 1748 16 9 3 68 2.33 909 .925 1 0 3 0
02-03 Springfield Falcons AHL 13 685 6 4 1 33 2.89 388 .915 0 0 0 6
Phoenix Coyotes NHL 16 884 4 9 1 32 2.17 471 .932 1 0 0 2
03-04 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 4 190 0 1 2 12 3.79 108 .889 0 0 0 2
Springfield Falcons AHL 2 106 0 1 1 6 3.38 62 .903 0 0 0 0
SIX (6) NHL SEASONS 47 2135 9 20 5 113 3.18 1145 0.901 1 0 1 6
POST-SEASON
Year Team GP Min W L GA GAA Shots Sv% ShO G A PiM S/60 PERS
93-94 Peterborough Petes OHL 1 33 0 0 7 12.73 0
94-95 Peterborough Petes OHL 6 301 2 3 24 4.78 0
95-96 Peterborough Petes OHL 22 1383 14 7 83 3.60 0
96-97 Peterborough Petes OHL 11 666 6 5 35 3.15 0
00-01 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 4 182 0 3 10 3.30 0 0 0 0