O to Pro: OHL Alumni Spotlight presented by Carlsberg
Brought to you by Carlsberg Canada, the OHL Alumni Spotlight brings you up to speed on accomplishments by graduates in the pro ranks from the past week’s action.
CAMERON BUTLER MAKES NHL DEBUT
Former Oshawa Generals, Niagara IceDogs and Peterborough Petes forward Cameron Butler had a night to remember on Saturday in Columbus, making his NHL debut in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 6-foot-4, 210Ib. never drafted to the NHL, Butler signed a three-year entry-level NHL contract with Columbus following his overage season in the OHL. This season, the 21-year-old from Ottawa, Ont. has appeared in 46 games with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters, recording two goals, six assists and eight points. Butler played four seasons in the OHL, originally being selected by the Peterborough Petes in the second round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection. He’d go on to spend time in Niagara, serving as captain of the IceDogs, before rounding-out his OHL career in Oshawa. He collected 154 points (74-80–154) over 257 career regular season games.
Cameron Butler had a memorable @NHL debut for the @BlueJacketsNHL last night. #AHLGrad🎓pic.twitter.com/jJleylx8ZC
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) March 31, 2024
AKIL THOMAS MAKES NHL DEBUT, SCORES FIRST GOAL
Former Peterborough Petes and Niagara IceDogs forward Akil Thomas realized a lifelong dream Monday night as he made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Thomas suited up again on Thursday, scoring his first career NHL goal in a 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. In what is now his fourth season playing with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, the 24-year-old Toronto, Ont. native has registered 22 goals and 21 assists in 61 games played this season. Selected in the second round, 51st overall by the Kings in the 2018 NHL Draft, Thomas signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with the club on July 8, 2023. Thomas played four seasons in the OHL, originally being selected by the Niagara IceDogs in the first round (12th overall) of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Marlboros U16 program. Splitting his final season in Peterborough, Thomas collected 315 points (105-210–315) over 241 career regular season games.
Welcome to the National, Akil! 👏#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/lxfqqkOmIS
— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 2, 2024
KRAKEN RECALL SHANE WRIGHT
The Seattle Kraken recalled forward Shane Wright from the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds on Sunday, as the 20-year-old Burlington, Ont. native netted a goal in a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Appearing in five games with the Kraken this season, the former fourth overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft has two points in 11 career games in the NHL. Wright has impressed in Coachella this season, registering 20 goals and 43 assists (20-43-63) in 56 games. Originally selected by the Kingston Frontenacs with the first overall pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Wright is one of six underaged players to ever be granted exceptional status into the Ontario Hockey League. Tallying 197 points (86-111-197) through 141 games spent between the Frontenacs and Windsor Spitfires, Wright was awarded OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2019-20, along with the CHL Top Draft Prospect Award in 2021-22. Wright has also had success on the international stage, bringing home a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship. Prior to his time in the OHL, Wright won GTHL Player of the Year, OHL Cup MVP and an OHL Cup championship with the Don Mills Flyers U16 AAA program.
Feeling all Wright. 😎
Shane Wright slots in for the @SeattleKraken tonight! pic.twitter.com/eysj1XOwIR
— NHL (@NHL) April 1, 2024
JOHN CARLSON SCORES IN 1,000TH NHL CONTEST
Former London Knights blueliner John Carlson skated in his 1,000th NHL contest on Saturday night, registering a goal in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins. Recording 149 goals and 519 assists over 1,000 games played, the 34-year-old Colonia, NJ. native has played 15 seasons in the NHL with the Washington Capitals after being selected in the first round (27th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft. A former second round (33rd overall) pick of the London Knights in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, Carlson spent one season in the OHL, tallying 76 points (16-60-76) over 59 regular season games, along with 22 (7-15-22) points in seven playoff contests.
1,000 games played and all with the @Capitals! 🦅
Congratulations on an incredible milestone, John Carlson! pic.twitter.com/hjHTVrUMo7
— NHL (@NHL) March 30, 2024
JEFF SKINNER SKATES IN 1,000TH NHL GAME
Former Kitchener Rangers forward Jeff Skinner skated in his 1,000th NHL contest on Tuesday as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Washington Capitals 6-2. Skinner became the 11th-youngest player in NHL history to reach the 1,000-game milestone. Registering 357 goals and 312 assists over 1,000 games played, the 31-year-old from Markham, Ont. has spent 14 seasons in the NHL spent between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Sabres after being selected in the first round (seventh overall) by the Hurricanes in the 2010 NHL Draft. A former first round (20th overall) pick of the Kitchener Rangers in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection from the Toronto Nationals U16 AAA program, Skinner spent two seasons with the Rangers, tallying 141 points (77-64-141) over 127 regular season games, along with 33 (20-13-33) points in 20 playoff contests to lead the Rangers to the 2010 Western Conference Finals.
Congrats to Jeff Skinner on 1,000 games played! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/aQYmZ4I4Oy
— NHL (@NHL) April 2, 2024