Photo by: Kirk Irwin
Danforth Makes NHL Debut with Columbus
11/16/2021 10:40:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Forward is the first Pioneer to play in an NHL game.
COLUMBUS, Ohio- History was made on Monday night as Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey alumnus Justin Danforth '17 made his National Hockey League debut for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He becomes the first Sacred Heart player to skate in an NHL game. Danforth registered two shots and six hits in his debut for Columbus.
"Obviously it's huge to be just called up in the first place, but to be put in the lineup in a big game, obviously first game of my career, so the nerves are definitely coming up and I'm getting a lot of texts and stuff like that," said Danforth on the Blue Jackets website.
Danforth signed a contract with the Blue Jackets in May, becoming the second Pioneer to ink an NHL contract. He was one of the last cuts of training camp and skated in eight games with Cleveland of the American Hockey League (AHL) posting two goals and three assists before getting the call up.
During his time at SHU, Danforth registered 42 goals, 82 assists for 124 points in 147 career games from 2013-17. He was named First Team All-Atlantic Hockey in his senior season after leading the team with 32 points, by tallying 22 assists and 10 goals.
"What an exciting night for Justin and Sacred Heart hockey" stated men's ice hockey head coach C.J. Marottolo. "When Justin was here at SHU he always had a great attitude and attacked each day with the notion of getting better. His perseverance and love of the game has carried him to the highest level of hockey and we are not surprised. All of us at SHU are so proud of him."
A native of Oshawa, Ontario, Danforth registered 45 goals, 67 assists for 112 points, and a +33 plus/minus rating over two campaigns with Lukko in Finland's top professional league (Liiga) from 2018-20. He captured the Lasse Oksanen Award as the league's best player, the Golden Helmet (top scorer), and was named to the All-Star Team in 2019-20. He led the league in points ranked second in goals and fourth in assists with 27-33-60 in 56 appearances.
The forward also spent time in the AHL and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) since turning pro in 2016-17. He notched four goals and three assists, for seven points in 21 career AHL contests with the Rochester Americans and local Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2016-18. He also posted 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points in 47 career ECHL contests with the Cincinnati Cyclones and Reading Royals.
Danforth was named the league's Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-Star and All-Rookie Team in 2017-18 after tallying 28 goals, 31 assists for 59 points in 44 outings with Cincinnati.
"Obviously it's huge to be just called up in the first place, but to be put in the lineup in a big game, obviously first game of my career, so the nerves are definitely coming up and I'm getting a lot of texts and stuff like that," said Danforth on the Blue Jackets website.
Danforth signed a contract with the Blue Jackets in May, becoming the second Pioneer to ink an NHL contract. He was one of the last cuts of training camp and skated in eight games with Cleveland of the American Hockey League (AHL) posting two goals and three assists before getting the call up.
During his time at SHU, Danforth registered 42 goals, 82 assists for 124 points in 147 career games from 2013-17. He was named First Team All-Atlantic Hockey in his senior season after leading the team with 32 points, by tallying 22 assists and 10 goals.
"What an exciting night for Justin and Sacred Heart hockey" stated men's ice hockey head coach C.J. Marottolo. "When Justin was here at SHU he always had a great attitude and attacked each day with the notion of getting better. His perseverance and love of the game has carried him to the highest level of hockey and we are not surprised. All of us at SHU are so proud of him."
A native of Oshawa, Ontario, Danforth registered 45 goals, 67 assists for 112 points, and a +33 plus/minus rating over two campaigns with Lukko in Finland's top professional league (Liiga) from 2018-20. He captured the Lasse Oksanen Award as the league's best player, the Golden Helmet (top scorer), and was named to the All-Star Team in 2019-20. He led the league in points ranked second in goals and fourth in assists with 27-33-60 in 56 appearances.
The forward also spent time in the AHL and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) since turning pro in 2016-17. He notched four goals and three assists, for seven points in 21 career AHL contests with the Rochester Americans and local Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2016-18. He also posted 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points in 47 career ECHL contests with the Cincinnati Cyclones and Reading Royals.
Danforth was named the league's Rookie of the Year, Second Team All-Star and All-Rookie Team in 2017-18 after tallying 28 goals, 31 assists for 59 points in 44 outings with Cincinnati.
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