Justin Auger (born May 14, 1994) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Justin Auger
Auger with the Ontario Reign in 2015
Born (1994-05-14) May 14, 1994 (age 29)
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight 229 lb (104 kg; 16 st 5 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft 103rd, overall, 2013
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2014–2020

Playing career edit

Auger first played junior hockey with the Waterloo Siskins in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. He was selected in the 2010 OHL Priority Draft, 112th overall by the Guelph Storm. He later made his debut in the Ontario Hockey League with the Storm in the 2011–12 season before he was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round, 103rd overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

On October 6, 2014, Auger turned pro for the 2014–15 season, after he was signed by the Kings to a three-year, entry-level contract.[1] He was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, and with using his size to his advantage he quickly adapted to become entrenched in a checking-line role. Adding 29 points 70 games, Auger appeared in 19 post-season games, as the Monarchs claimed the Calder Cup in their last season in the AHL.

Auger played two further seasons as a regular in the AHL with new affiliate the Ontario Reign, before he was re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract extension on July 14, 2017.[2] In the 2017–18 season, after three games with the Reign, Auger received his first recall to the Los Angeles Kings on October 17, 2017.[3] He made his NHL debut with the Kings the following day, in a 5-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.[4] After two scoreless games with the Kings, Auger was returned for the remainder of the season to the Ontario Reign, posting 25 points in 65 games.

As an impending restricted free agent, Auger was surprisingly not tendered a qualifying offer by the Kings and was released to free agency. Unable to attract a contract offer, Auger accepted an invite to the Calgary Flames 2018 training camp on a professional try-out basis. On September 22, 2018, Auger was released from his try-out with the Flames, and invited to AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, training camp.[5]

Auger did not catch on with the Heat and prior to the opening of the 2018–19 ECHL season, he agreed to a one-year contract with the Florida Everblades on October 18, 2018.[6]

Career statistics edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Waterloo Siskins GOJHL 42 22 15 37 57 4 2 5 7 2
2011–12 Guelph Storm OHL 58 7 7 14 39 6 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Guelph Storm OHL 68 16 17 33 39 5 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Guelph Storm OHL 53 11 12 23 61 20 2 5 7 15
2014–15 Manchester Monarchs AHL 70 13 16 29 59 19 1 1 2 8
2015–16 Ontario Reign AHL 68 19 17 36 57 13 3 2 5 6
2016–17 Ontario Reign AHL 61 11 9 20 58 5 2 1 3 6
2017–18 Ontario Reign AHL 65 11 14 25 39 4 1 0 1 0
2017–18 Los Angeles Kings NHL 2 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Florida Everblades ECHL 23 12 9 21 14 16 3 7 10 20
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 9 2 0 2 6
2018–19 Belleville Senators AHL 2 0 0 0 0
2019–20 Florida Everblades ECHL 59 26 20 46 42
NHL totals 2 0 0 0 0

Awards and honors edit

Award Year
AHL
Calder Cup (Manchester Monarchs) 2015 [7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Auger, Leslie ink three-year, entry-level contracts". Los Angeles Kings. October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  2. ^ "Kings sign four restricted free agents to one-year agreements". Los Angeles Kings. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  3. ^ "LA Kings recall Justin Auger from Ontario". Los Angeles Kings. October 17, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. ^ "Kempe gets hat-trick, Kings defeat Canadiens". National Hockey League. October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  5. ^ "Flames reduce training camp roster by 10". Calgary Flames. September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Everblades add pair of forward to roster". Florida Everblades. October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "Manchester defeats Utica to win Calder Cup". National Hockey League. June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.

External links edit