Junior Liambas began his
junior hockey career in the
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJHL) with the
St. Michael's Buzzers. He joined the major junior ranks in
2006–07 with the
Erie Otters of the
Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Liambas underwent hip surgery in December 2008 and was subsequently sidelined for much of the
2008–09 season. Liambas played the final eight games of the 2008–09 season for the PrairieThunder, scoring one goal, but returned to the OHL for a fourth season with the Otters as an overage player in
2009–10.
Controversial hit on Ben Fanelli During a game against the
Kitchener Rangers on October 30, 2009, Liambas delivered a devastating check to the head of opposing sixteen-year-old defenceman
Ben Fanelli. As Liambas checked Fanelli into the boards behind the Rangers net, Fanelli's head hit a metal partition in the glass, breaking and knocking off his helmet. Fanelli was released from
Hamilton General Hospital a week later on November 6, and he rejoined the Rangers two years later after recovering from the resulting brain injury.
Suspension Four days after the hit, on November 4, Liambas was suspended by OHL commissioner
David Branch for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, effectively ending Liambas' junior career. Branch cited the speed and distance to which Liambas skated to deliver the check, as well as the severity of Fanelli's injuries. He commented that the suspension was responding to a "need to take strong steps to ... send out the message to all our players and minor hockey players that we have to be ... more respectful of our opponent." Otters general manager
Sherwood Bassin was quick to come to Liambas' defence following the suspension, expressing surprise at the severity of the penalty from Branch. Bassin asserted that Liambas was not simply a "goofball kid", citing his 95 percent average in high school, as well as volunteer work in initiating a stay-in-school program for kids and at the
Shriners Hospital for Children in
Erie. The following year, Liambas was invited by the
Toronto Maple Leafs to their rookie camp. Liambas then attended the Maple Leafs' training camp on an amateur try-out contract. He was released from camp on September 23, 2010. In October 2010, Liambas joined the hockey team at the
University of British Columbia, where he studied Human Kinetics. Following a suspension in late February 2011 for instigating and fighting in an altercation with
Alberta Golden Bears forward Eric Hunter, Liambas signed with the
ECHL's
Cincinnati Cyclones, with whom he finished the season and skated in the
Kelly Cup playoffs. Liambas re-signed with the Cyclones for the
2011–12 ECHL season on July 14, 2011. The following season, Liambas appeared in only one game with the Cyclones before being traded to the
Orlando Solar Bears on October 30, 2012. Liambas would also appear in 27 games for the Milwaukee Admirals in the 2012-13 season. He would remain with the admirals for another two seasons. On July 2, 2015, Liambas was signed to his first NHL contract, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the
Chicago Blackhawks. At the conclusion of the season, Liambas was not tendered a qualifying offer to remain with the Blackhawks. As a free agent on July 3, 2016, Liambas agreed to a one-year, two-way deal with the
Nashville Predators. Marking a return to the affiliates of the Predators in the Milwaukee Admirals. On July 1, 2017, Liambas left the Predators as a free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the
Anaheim Ducks. During the
2017–18 season, Liambas was recalled from AHL affiliate, the
San Diego Gulls, and appeared in an NHL high 7 games while registering his first NHL point, an assist. He was injured with the Ducks before later returning to play out the remainder of the season with the Gulls. On July 1, 2018, Liambas again as a free agent, secured a two-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild. ==Career statistics==