Zack MacEwen | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() MacEwen with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021 | |||
Born |
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | July 8, 1996||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shoots | Right | ||
NHL team Former teams |
Ottawa Senators Vancouver Canucks Philadelphia Flyers Los Angeles Kings | ||
NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
Playing career | 2017–present |
Zack MacEwen is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings.
Early life
editMacEwen was born on July 8, 1996, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island,[1] to parents Craig and Juliana, and he was raised on his family's berries and cattle farm in Stratford.[2] MacEwen began playing organized ice hockey when he was three years old,[3] and as an adolescent, he played minor ice hockey with the Pownal Red Devils and the Charlottetown Islanders.[4] After going unclaimed by the major junior leagues during his draft year, MacEwen began playing for the Amherst Ramblers of the Maritime Junior Hockey League (MJHL), a Junior A league.[5] The Ramblers took MacEwen in the fifth round, 45th overall, of he 2013 MJHL draft. Following a rookie season in which he recorded nine goals and five assists in 50 games, MacEwen had a breakout 2014–15 season, scoring 29 goals and 23 assists in 46 games.[6]
Playing career
editJunior
editThe Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) signed MacEwen as a free agent on December 27, 2014. They had noticed his performance with the Ramblers and asked him to fill in while several Wildcats were away for the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[5][7]
- Moncton Wildcats 2014-15
- Moncton Wildcats 2015-16
On August 12, 2016, the Wildcats traded MacEwen to the Gatineau Olympiques in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft. While Moncton had expressed interest in retaining MacEwen for the 2016–17 QMJHL season, there were limited roster positions for 20-year-olds in the league, and they could not guarantee he would play.[8] After the trade, the Olympiques named MacEwen one of three assistant captains to Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin.[9] MacEwen experienced a career resurgence with Gatineau, surpassing his season high goal and point totals by January 21. He told reporters that, unlike the utility player role he held in Moncton, "Here, I've been given the opportunity, and put in situations, where I can put up points."[10]
- Gatineau Olympiques 2016-17
Professional
editVancouver Canucks (2017–2021)
editOn March 3, 2017, the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) signed MacEwen to a three-year entry-level contract.[11] At the end of the Olympiques season, he joined the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets, on an amateur tryout contract,[12] but he did not appear in a game for them during the 2016–17 season.[13] He made his professional ice hockey debut on October 28, 2017, facing the Charlotte Checkers, and scored hist first AHL goal against Charlotte the following day.[14][15]
- 2017-18
- 2018-19
- 2019-20
MacEwen began the 2019–20 season in Utica, recording three goals and eight points in his first 13 games of the year.[16] Following injuries to Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle, MacEwen and Tyler Graovac were promoted to Vancouver on November 13.[17] His first NHL goal came on December 3, when MacEwen scored on Anders Nilsson as part of Vancouver's 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.[18] MacEwen was briefly reassigned to the AHL when Micheal Ferland returned from a concussion, but was promoted back to Vancouver four days later after Ferland suffered another injury.[19]
On October 6, 2020, the Canucks re-signed MacEwen to a two-year, $1.65 million contract,[20] and he was named to Vancouver's 2020–21 opening night roster in January.[21] Canucks coach Travis Green praised MacEwen for his role as a third-line grinder, describing the player as "a big guy who worksa nd is hard to play against with an in-your-face game and good hands".[22] In April, MacEwen was one of 21 Canucks to contract the COVID-19 virus as part of a team breakout, forcing the NHL to postpone six games.[23] Initially asymptomatic, MacEwen later described experiencing headaches, fever, muscle aches, and "uncomfortable tiredness" from the virus.[24] On May 7, MacEwen received a one-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for kneeing Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse the day prior.[25] MacEwen struggled during the pandemic-shortened season: he was a healthy scratch 22 times in 56 games, sometimes missing three or four games at a stretch. In the 34 games he did play, MacEwen recorded only two points.[26]
Philadelphia Flyers (2021–2023)
editAlthough the Canucks named MacEwen to their opening-night roster for the 2021–22 season, they soon placed him on waivers to clear space for newcomer Alex Chiasson.[27] The Philadelphia Flyers claimed MacEwen from Vancouver on October 13, 2021.[28] After successfully acquiring his US work visa, MacEwen joined the Flyers on October 20, skating on the fourth line alongside Nate Thompson and former QMJHL teammate Nicolas Aubé-Kubel.[29] MacEwen's role on his new team was mostly as a physical presence: by the NHL Christmas break, he had one goal and two points in 27 games but was third on the team with 57 hits.[30] Interim coach Mike Yeo used the fourth line as a defensively-minded, physically opposing group to deploy against skilled opponents. MacEwen's size and play became more important as injuries and COVID-19 protocols left him the only consistent member of the fourth line.[31] MacEwen finished the season with three goals and set career highs with nine points and 75 games played. He was also the 2021-22 recipient of the Gene Hart Memorial Award, given to the Flyer who demonstrated the most "Heart" during the season.[32] He also led the team with 12 fights, including bouts with Zdeno Chára, Wayne Simmonds, and Tom Wilson.[33]
A restricted free agent during the 2022 offseason, MacEwen signed a one-year, $925,000 contract extension with the Flyers on August 2.[34] He failed to make the team's opening night roster for the 2022–23 season, instead placed on waivers to make room for Hayden Hodgson. After clearing waivers, MacEwen played two games for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Philadelphia's AHL affiliate. He scored one goal and three points in Lehigh before being called back up to Philadelphia on October 18.[35] Playing on a lineup decimated by injuries, MacEwen took an expanded role on the Flyers, raising his average ice time to 14 minutes and 32 seconds by the end of November.[36] MacEwen's season was interrupted at the end of January, when he fractured his jaw during a fight with Minnesota Wild player Marcus Foligno.[37] At the time of the injury, MacEwen had five goals and nine points in 46 games for Philadelphia, as well as 54 penalty minutes.[38]
Los Angeles Kings (2023)
editOn March 3, 2023, the day after he was activated from injured reserve,[39] the Flyers traded MacEwen to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Brendan Lemieux and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.[40] He had difficulty breaking into the Los Angeles lineup after the trade, sitting as a healthy scratch for four of his first eight Kings games.[41] In 10 regular-season games with the Kings, MacEwen recorded only one point,[42] an assist against the Calgary Flames on March 21.[41] MacEwen appeared in one game for the Kings during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, recording two penalty minutes in the process.[43]
Ottawa Senators (2023–present)
editOn July 6, 2023, MacEwen signed a three-year, $2.325 million contract with the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa general manager Pierre Dorion praised MacEwen as "a player with strong character who adds increased physicality" to the Senators.[43]
Player profile
editPersonal life
editFollowing his father's sudden death from a stroke in 2021, MacEwen and his family established the My Biggest Fan Foundation. The charitable foundation provides scholarships and other financial support to children who want to play hockey across Canada.[44][45]
Awards and honours
editReferences
edit- ^ "Zack MacEwen Stats and News". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "A Day in the Life: Zack MacEwen". Utica Comets. August 29, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Hergott, Cory (September 24, 2018). "The Journey To Pro Hockey From The Perspective Of A Parent, With Craig MacEwen". Canucks Army. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Malloy, Jason (March 10, 2017). "MacEwen has gone from minor midget, junior A to signing NHL contract". Annapolis Valley Register. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Halford, Mike (March 2, 2018). "Q&A with standout Utica rookie Zack MacEwen, who has a message for all the longshots". The Athletic. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Former Rambler MacEwen To Make NHL Debut on Monday". Amherst Ramblers. February 12, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Wildcats Sign Free Agent to the Team". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Moncton Wildcats. December 27, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Wildcats Trade MacEwen to Gatineau". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Moncton Wildcats. August 12, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin named captain of the Gatineau Olympiques". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Gatineau Olympiques. October 16, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Malloy, Jason (January 21, 2017). "Zack MacEwen having a strong final season of junior hockey". The Guardian. SaltWire Network. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "Canucks Sign Forward Zack MacEwen to Three Year ELC". National Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks. March 3, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "Comets sign forward Zack MacEwen to ATO". Utica Comets. April 10, 2017. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ Birnell, Ben (April 20, 2017). "Who will play for the Utica Comets in 2017-18?". The Times Telegram. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "Utica Comets name MacEwen most improved rookie". The Guardian. April 15, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "Comets overpower Checkers". Utica Comets. October 29, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "Canucks recall MacEwen & Graovac". National Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks. November 13, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ Birnell, Ben (November 13, 2019). "Comets lose Graovac, MacEwen to recalls; Chatfield back to Utica". Observer-Dispatch. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ "MacEwen tallies first NHL goal in Canucks win". The Guardian. December 4, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ Johnston, Patrick (December 11, 2019). "Canucks recall Zack MacEwen following Ferland injury". The Province. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ "Canucks re-sign forward Zack MacEwen". National Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks. October 6, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "Canucks Confirm Opening Night Roster". National Hockey League. Vancouver Canucks. January 13, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ Kuzma, Ben (January 25, 2021). "Canucks notebook: Zack MacEwen is measuring up as willing, grinding winger". The Province. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ Battaglino, Mike (April 8, 2021). "Canucks have 21 players test positive for COVID-19". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ Ross, Shane (May 5, 2021). "NHL player Zack MacEwen says COVID-19 is 'no joke' – and he would know". CBC News. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "MacEwen suspended one game for actions in Canucks game against Oilers". National Hockey League. NHL Public Relations. May 7, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ Kuzma, Ben (October 4, 2021). "Canucks: Zack MacEwen finding fourth-line ticket not easy to punch". The Province. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ Williams, Rob (October 12, 2021). "Canucks waive MacEwen, sign Chiasson to one-year contract". Daily Hive. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "Flyers claim forward Zack MacEwen off of waivers from Vancouver". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. October 13, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Han, Giana (October 20, 2021). "Three Flyers to debut Wednesday vs. Bruins; COVID-19 vaccinations to be offered at Wells Fargo Center". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ Carchidi, Sam (December 26, 2021). "Grading the Flyers at their break; like the team, many mediocre marks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Reiner, Olivia (February 1, 2022). "Despite rotating personnel, Flyers' fourth line trying to establish physical identity with the help of Zack MacEwen". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "Flyers sign forward Zack MacEwen to one-year contract". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. August 2, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Hall, Jordan (August 2, 2022). "After 12 fights and a solid sample size, MacEwen has new deal, avoids arbitration". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "Flyers sign Zack MacEwen to one year contract". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. August 2, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Reiner, Olivia (October 18, 2022). "'He's always in the right spot': Flyers rookie Noah Cates making shift from wing to center look easy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Hall, Jordan (November 30, 2022). "MacEwen 'works his nuts off,' giving Flyers more than just a physical punch". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Elvin, Gustav (January 29, 2023). "Flyers forward Zack MacEwen out five weeks with fractured jaw". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "MacEwen out 5 weeks for Flyers with fractured jaw". National Hockey League. January 29, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ "Flyers' Zack MacEwen: Lifted from IR". CBS Sports. RotoWire. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "Lemieux traded to Flyers by Kings for MacEwen". National Hockey League. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Kings' Zack MacEwen: Gets first helper with new team". CBS Sports. RotoWire. March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
- ^ "Zack MacEwen". Elite Prospects. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "Sens agree to terms with forward Zack MacEwen on a three-year contract". National Hockey League. Ottawa Senators. July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- ^ Lomon, Chris (May 27, 2021). "Zack MacEwen Honouring His Biggest Fan". National Hockey League Players' Association. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Malloy, Jason (July 30, 2021). "Honouring Craig: P.E.I. family creates My Biggest Fan Foundation to assist children play hockey". Annapolis Valley Register. Retrieved January 2, 2023.