Hayden Hodgson (born March 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL.

Hayden Hodgson
Hodgson with the Erie Otters in 2013
Born (1996-03-02) March 2, 1996 (age 28)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Los Angeles Kings
Ontario Reign (AHL)
Philadelphia Flyers
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2017–present

Early life edit

Hodgson was born on March 2, 1996, in Windsor, Ontario,[1] to Christine and Todd Hodgson. He grew up playing ice hockey, baseball, and golf in Leamington, Ontario, and spent most of his adolescence deciding whether he would pursue hockey or baseball professionally.[2] Despite collecting several awards for golf, he abandoned that sport when his golf swing negatively impacted his baseball batting.[3] Hodgson spent the 2011–12 season playing minor ice hockey for the Sun County Panthers of the Alliance Hockey organization, scoring 21 goals and recording 41 points in 28 games, while pitching for the Windsor Selects under-16 team.[4]

Playing career edit

Junior edit

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) drafted Hodgson in the third round, 44th overall, of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.[5] His first OHL goal came on October 24 as part of the Otters' 7–1 rout of the Saginaw Spirit.[6] He did not score again until November 23, when he recorded the first goal in the Otters' 3–2 loss to the Guelph Storm.[7] On February 24, Hodgson collided with Henri Ikonen of the Kingston Frontenacs. He was assessed a major interference penalty and was ejected from the game,[8] while Ikonen, who was leading the Frontenacs at that point with 48 points, sustained a concussion.[9] The OHL issued Hodgson a ten-game suspension for the hit, and as the suspension came with only seven games left in the 2012–13 season, Hodgson's rookie year ended early. He recorded eight goals and 12 points in 60 games.[10]

Hodgson recorded the first goal of his sophomore OHL season on November 11, 2013, in a 5–3 win over the Niagara IceDogs.[11] After acquiring four goals, nine points, and 45 penalty minutes in 34 games with Erie during the 2013–14 season, Hodgson was traded to the Sarnia Sting on January 10, 2014, in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection.[12] In his first game with his new team, Hodgson was assessed a major penalty for an illegal check to the head of Plymouth Whalers skater Liam Dunda. After review, he was suspended for another 10 games.[13] After the trade, Hodgson recorded five goals, nine points, and 19 penalty minutes in 18 games with Sarnia.[14]

After joining the Detroit Red Wings' rookie camp on a free agent National Hockey League (NHL) tryout,[15] Hodgson returned to the Sting for the 2014–15 season.[16]

On January 12, 2016, the Sting sent Hodgson to the Saginaw Spirit in exchange for centre Devon Paliani and four picks in the upcoming draft. Hodgson had struggled to that point with the Sting, with only five goals in 36 games.[17]

Professional edit

Philadelphia Flyers edit

On March 23, 2017, Hodgson signed a contract with the Cleveland Monsters, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.[18]

On March 22, 2022, the Flyers signed Hodgson to an NHL contract for the remainder of the 2021–22 season, with an average annual value of $750,000.[19] He made his NHL debut two nights later when the Flyers faced the St. Louis Blues, filling in for an injured Oskar Lindblom. At the time, he had recorded 16 goals and 29 points in 44 games with the Phantoms.[20] Hodgson recorded his first NHL goal and assist in his debut, and the Flyers won 5–2 at the Enterprise Center, their first win on the road of 2022.[21]

Los Angeles Kings edit

On June 6, 2023, Hodgson was sent to the Los Angeles Kings as part of a three-team trade with Philadelphia and Columbus.[22]

Career statistics edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2011–12 Sun County Panthers U16 AAA ALLIANCE 42 29 25 54 82
2011–12 Leamington Flyers GOJHL 1 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Erie Otters OHL 60 8 4 12 60
2013–14 Erie Otters OHL 34 4 5 9 45
2013–14 Sarnia Sting OHL 18 5 4 9 19
2014–15 Sarnia Sting OHL 59 23 15 38 62 5 2 0 2 9
2015–16 Sarnia Sting OHL 36 5 9 14 53
2015–16 Saginaw Spirit OHL 20 4 5 9 21 4 0 3 3 4
2016–17 Saginaw Spirit OHL 67 38 28 66 71
2017–18 Cleveland Monsters AHL 41 3 3 6 35
2017–18 Florida Everblades ECHL 3 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Manchester Monarchs ECHL 2 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Wichita Thunder ECHL 13 2 2 4 22
2018–19 HC 07 Detva 2HL 21 7 7 14 43 6 0 0 0 2
2019–20 Reading Royals ECHL 36 12 8 20 49
2020–21 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 18 2 4 6 41
2020–21 Utah Grizzlies ECHL 26 6 6 12 86 3 0 1 1 12
2021–22 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 46 19 12 31 70
2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 6 1 2 3 11
2022–23 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 44 3 5 8 83
NHL totals 7 1 2 3 11

References edit

  1. ^ "Hayden Hodgson Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  2. ^ Sager, Neate (October 4, 2012). "Erie Otters' Hayden Hodgson has daily affirmation for choosing hockey over baseball". Buzzing the Net. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Parker, Jim (April 4, 2012). "Bruising battle". Windsor Star. Retrieved March 24, 2022 – via Pressreader.
  4. ^ Jeff (April 7, 2012). "OHL Draft see seven local players selected". Windsor Star. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Follow the 2012 OHL Priority Selection here!". Ontario Hockey League. Erie Otters. April 7, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Otters dominate Spirit in 7–1 win". Ontario Hockey League. Erie Otters. October 24, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Otters lose in Guelph, 3–2". Ontario Hockey League. Erie Otters. November 23, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Kennedy, Patrick (February 25, 2013). "Frots end road trip with win in Erie". The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 13. Retrieved March 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Graham, Doug (February 27, 2013). "Generals too much for Frontenacs". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Express break losing streak against Jazz". Windsor Star. February 28, 2013. p. B3. Retrieved March 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Potrecz, Bill (November 12, 2013). "Late rally sinks Dogs". The St. Catherines Standard. p. 1C. Retrieved March 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Sting acquire Hodgson from Otters". Ontario Hockey League. Sarnia Sting. January 10, 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Spitfire out for 8 games". Windsor Star. January 17, 2014. p. B4. Retrieved March 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Hayden Hodgson". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "Vipers improve to 3–0 with win over Rockets". Windsor Star. September 18, 2014. p. B3. Retrieved March 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Borody, Dave (October 3, 2014). "Sting lose 4–2 in Home Opener". Ontario Hockey League. Sarnia Sting. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  17. ^ Bridge, Terry (January 12, 2016). "Sarnia Sting flip Hayden Hodgson to the Saginaw Spirit on deadline day". Sarnia Observer. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  18. ^ Bernreuter, Hugh (March 23, 2017). "Spirit forward Hayden Hodgson signs with Columbus AHL affiliate". MLive.com. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  19. ^ "Flyers sign RW Hayden Hodgson to a NHL contract". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. March 22, 2022.
  20. ^ Hall, Jordan (March 24, 2022). "A winger to make his NHL debut; Flyers trade for a defenseman". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  21. ^ Hall, Jordan (March 24, 2022). "A winger has big game in NHL debut, Konecny nets 2 and Flyers get rare road win". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  22. ^ "Flyers participate in three-team trade with Columbus and Los Angeles". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.

External links edit