Cody Hodgson
Encyclopedia
Cody Hodgson is a Canadian
professional ice hockey
centre
currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks
of the National Hockey League
(NHL).
During his major junior career with the Brampton Battalion
of the Ontario Hockey League
(OHL), Hodgson has received First Team All-Star honours, won the Red Tilson Trophy
, William Hanley Trophy
and CHL Player of the Year Award
in 2009
. He has been named to two OHL All-Star Games, holding the record for most goals and points in a single game.
Hodgson has represented Canada at two International Ice Hockey Federation
(IIHF)—sanctioned events, winning gold and leading tournament scoring at both—the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships
and 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
. In 2007, he won a gold medal with Ontario at the Canada Games
. He also represented Canada at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
, finishing fourth.
, Ontario
, to Marie and Chris Hodgson
. His father is the president of the Ontario Mining Association and a former Ontario provincial Progressive Conservative
cabinet minister in Premier Mike Harris
's government, while his mother is the executive director of a day care
. He has an older brother, Clayton, who attends Brock University
, and two sisters, Charlotte and Caroline, who play organized hockey. Hodgson grew up in Haliburton with his family until they moved to Markham, Ontario
, in 1998.
Hodgson began playing organized hockey at age four in Haliburton, Ontario. Playing for the OMHA's Haliburton Huskies Tyke rep team, he was linemates with Matt Duchene
. The two went on to become childhood friends and played together with the Battalion, as well as other minor league teams. His family was also friends with Jeff Skinner
's family growing up. Hodgson played peewee and minor bantam hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Greater Toronto Hockey League
, captaining a team that included Alex Pietrangelo
. He advanced to the bantam ranks with the Markham Waxers of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association
in 2004-05 and the Midget club in 2005-06. Hodgson also played in two games with the Markham Waxers Jr.A. club in 2005–06. He recorded a 51-point campaign over 31 games that season with the Waxers Midgets. Hodgson played on the Waxers for several years alongside Steven Stamkos
and Michael Del Zotto
.
He attended Buttonville Public School
and Unionville High School in Markham, the latter of which he helped win numerous hockey tournaments. Following his draft by the Vancouver Canucks
, Hodgson was accepted into the business program at York University
for the 2008 fall semester. However, due to missing classes from his commitments to the Canucks' training camp and a subsequent university staff strike, he placed his academics on hiatus.
In December 2009, Hodgson was chosen to be the city of Markham's official torchbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
. The torch passed through Markham on its way to Vancouver on December 17, 2009, on day 49 of the cross-country relay.
in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. The following season, Hodgson joined the Battalion and led the team in rookie scoring with 23 goals and 46 points in 2006–07. He added four points in four playoff games as the Battalion were eliminated by the Barrie Colts
in the first round.
In his second season with Brampton, Hodgson improved to 85 points in 68 games, second in team-scoring, behind centre John Hughes
. He was chosen to the Eastern Conference squad in the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic and scored one goal. Hodgson added five goals in five playoff games, as Brampton was eliminated in the opening round for the second straight season by Barrie.
Heading into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
, Hodgson was ranked ninth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
. He went on to be chosen 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
. Scouting reports and former coaches emphasized Hodgson's hockey sense and character, while Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis
cited his leadership as a strong factor in drafting him. After the 2007–08 season, OHL coaches had voted him the smartest player in the Eastern Conference. As his skating was considered a weakness, he spent the subsequent off-season training to improve it.
Hodgson was expected to compete for a roster spot on the Canucks immediately after being drafted. He was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract worth the rookie maximum of $2.625 million on October 5, 2008. However, the next day, he was sent back to Brampton for the 2008–09 season
.
Upon his return, Hodgson was named the ninth captain in Battalion team history. He succeeded forward Thomas Stajan, who served as captain for the start of the season while Hodgson was competed in the NHL pre-season. Stajan, himself, had replaced defenceman John de Gray
, who had turned professional.
Chosen to represent the OHL in the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge
in November, Hodgson recorded a hat trick
and added an assist in the first of two games against Russia; he was chosen as game MVP. He went on to complete the month of November with 27 points in 13 games to be named OHL Player of the Month. Hodgson had also been chosen as the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending on November 9 after scoring nine points in three games. After a second Player of the Week recognition, scoring seven points in three games for the week ending February 1, 2009, Hodgson participated in the 2009 OHL All-Star Classic. Joined by teammates Matt Duchene
, Evgeny Grachev
and Thomas McCollum
for the Eastern Conference, Hodgson received player of the game honours after a five-point effort in an 11–6 win. He recorded a hat trick, along with Western Conference representative Justin DiBenedetto
, to tie Scott Barney
, who first scored three goals in 1999, for the OHL All-Star Game record. Hodgson's five points also tied the All-Star Game record for most points (shared by five others). He recorded another record later in the month with a 23-game point-scoring streak, registering 17 goals, 23 assists and 40 points in that span. The streak was both a Battalion club record and OHL season-high.
Hodgson finished the season with 43 goals and 92 points in 53 games, fourth in league scoring. The annual OHL coaches poll distinguished Hodgson as the smartest player (for the second consecutive season), the hardest worker, the best on faceoff
s and the best penalty killer. In addition to OHL First All-Star Team honours, he was awarded both the William Hanley Trophy
as the league's most sportsmanlike player and the Red Tilson Trophy
as OHL player of the year. The media voted Hodgson ahead of forward John Tavares and goaltender Mike Murphy
for the Tilson award. He was then distinguished over fellow major junior league MVP's Brett Sonne
of the Western Hockey League
(WHL) and Nicola Riopel
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
(QMJHL) as the CHL Player of the Year
.
Early in the subsequent playoff season, Hodgson received his second OHL Player of the Month recognition for March (26 points in 11 games). He helped the Battalion advance to the OHL Finals, where they lost the J. Ross Robertson Cup
to the Windsor Spitfires
. He led his team with 31 points in the post-season.
Following the Battalion's playoff elimination, Hodgson was assigned to the Canucks' American Hockey League
(AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose
for their 2009 playoff
run. Making his professional debut with the Moose in Game 1 of the semifinals against the Houston Aeros
, he notched an assist on the game's first goal for his first professional point. He followed up with his first professional goal the next night, a wrist shot against Aeros goaltender Nolan Schaefer
, in a 5–2 victory. While Hodgson started on the fourth line for the Moose, he quickly moved his way up to the second line with fellow Canucks first-round pick Michael Grabner
. Advancing past the Aeros, Moose head coach Scott Arniel
chose not to play Hodgson in Game 4 of the Calder Cup
Finals against the Hershey Bears
. Arniel explained the decision was attributed to fatigue on Hodgson's part from a lengthy season in the juniors (including the 2009 World Juniors and a lengthy OHL playoff-run). He returned the next game to help the Moose stave off elimination with a goal in a 3–2 Game 5 victory. Manitoba went on to lose the Calder Cup in Game 6 by a 4–1 score. Hodgson's assisted on the Moose's lone tally by Mario Bliznak
.
Preparing for the Canucks' training camp for the 2009–10 season
, Hodgson injured his back while working out in the summer. The injury, which was misdiagnosed as a bulging disc in his lower back, caused him to miss two months of summer training. After being cleared to play by Canucks team doctors on September 11, 2009, and a back specialist in Toronto
, Hodgson was again expected to secure a roster spot during training camp. After struggling in six pre-season games, he was returned to the Brampton Battalion on September 29, in the final round of cuts.
Hodgson subsequently sought a third opinion regarding his back at the Cleveland Clinic
in Ohio
. In response, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault publicly speculated whether Hodgson was simply having a hard time being cut and was trying to "roll the [blame] in another direction." Despite having been cleared earlier to play in the pre-season by two sets of doctors, the Cleveland Clinic judged him unfit to play for a month. Previously undetected nerve damage in one leg was also revealed. Due to Hodgson's misdiagnosis, which was not corrected until a year later, subsequent treatment and rehabilitation was designed for a bulging disc, which further aggravated his real injury – a muscle strain.
After missing the first 50 games of the 2009–10 OHL season
, Hodgson returned to the Battalion lineup on February 4, 2010, recording two assists in a 4–2 win against the Erie Otters
. Following his return, he declared he would no longer be training in the off-season with the Canucks' director of player development, Dave Gagner
, under whose supervision he suffered his back injury. Combined with the Canucks doctor's initial misdiagnosis and Vigneault's disparaging comments regarding Hodgson following the NHL pre-season, there was speculation in the media of a possible conflict between Hodgson and the Canucks organization. General manager Mike Gillis
dismissed such speculation.
Eight days after his OHL return, Hodgson suffered another injury, breaking a toe on his right foot while blocking a shot against the Sudbury Wolves
. Initial X-rays came up negative and he continued playing for nine more games before a second X-ray revealed a hairline fracture in one his right metatarsal bones. Missing the Battalion's final five regular season games, he finished the campaign with eight goals and 20 points over 13 contests. Despite missing the majority of the season, he was voted as the smartest player in the Eastern Conference for the third consecutive year in the OHL coaches poll.
Hodgson returned to the Brampton lineup for the opening game of the 2010 playoffs, scoring the game-winning goal against the Kingston Frontenacs
. In Game 5 of the series, he scored his 20th career playoff goal in the OHL, surpassing Wojtek Wolski
for the all-time lead among Battalion players. The Battalion eliminated the Frontenacs in seven games, before being ousted in four games by Barrie in the second round. Hodgson completed the post-season with 10 points in 11 games, second in team-scoring to Sean Jones. He admitted publicly after the playoffs that his health "was never 100 percent" during the 2009–10 season.
The Battalion's playoff elimination marked the end of Hodgson's four-year OHL career. He left Brampton ranked second on the club's all-time scoring list behind Wojtek Wolski
in regular season goals (114), assists (129), points (243), powerplay goals (46) and shorthanded goals (7), while ranking first in game-winning goals (23). In playoff games, he left as the all-time leader in goals (20), assists (30) and points (50).
Following his 2009–10 OHL season, it was expected Hodgson would join the Manitoba Moose for a second consecutive AHL playoff season. However, after being assessed by Canucks team doctors, his broken toe was judged to have not yet fully healed and he was not cleared for AHL assignment. Hodgson additionally believed that he had re-injured his back while colliding head-first into the boards during Game 7 of the opening playoff round. He underwent an MRI
in the off-season, which uncovered the misdiagnosed bulging disc to be a muscle strain instead. With the Canucks' consent, he trained in the off-season with former NHL player Gary Roberts.
on October 22, 2010. With the score tied 3–3 after overtime, Hodgson added a shootout goal to help the Moose win the game. Later in December 2010, Hodgson suffered a broken orbital bone after he was high-sticked by Lee Sweatt
during a team practice. Eight days after returning to the Moose lineup, Hodgson earned his first NHL call-up to Vancouver.
Hodgson made his NHL debut on February 1, 2011, in a 4–1 win against the Dallas Stars
. Centring the fourth line and playing on the second powerplay unit, he registered two shots in over nine minutes of ice time. The following day, he scored his first NHL goal against Ilya Bryzgalov
in a 6–0 win against the Phoenix Coyotes
. In his third game, he recorded his first career NHL assist on a goal by Christian Ehrhoff
against the Chicago Blackhawks
; Vancouver won 4–3. After appearing in his first five NHL games, Hodgson was returned to the Moose on February 11. Team management explained to the media his call-up was a means to introduce him to NHL play and that they were more comfortable having him continue developing in the AHL with first-line minutes and a bigger role with the Moose. However, with the team's fourth-line centre role unfilled (Vigneault had been using natural winger Tanner Glass
in that position), he was called back to Vancouver within 10 days. Hodgson played three more games for the Canucks before the team acquired fourth-line centre Maxim Lapierre
from the Anaheim Ducks
at the trade deadline on February 28. He was subsequently sent back down to Manitoba. He completed his professional rookie season with 30 points in 52 AHL games – ranking fifth in Moose scoring – and 2 points in 8 NHL games.
At the end of the regular season, Hodgson was called up to the Canucks for the 2011 playoffs
. He registered his first NHL playoff point in Game 2 of the opening round against the Chicago Blackhawks
, assisting on a goal by defenceman Alex Edler in a 4–3 win. Hodgson drew in and out of the lineup throughout the post-season, appearing in 12 of the Canucks' 25-game playoff run, which ended in a Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins
in the Stanley Cup Finals
.
During the off-season, Canucks centre Ryan Kesler
underwent hip surgery, sidelining him for the start of the 2011–12 campaign
. With the centre position on the second line vacant, Hodgson competed with the newly-acquired Andrew Ebbett
to temporarily replace Kesler. After being cut in his previous three training camps with the team, Hodgson emerged with the second-line position to start the season. After wearing 39 on his jersey the previous season as a rookie, Hodgson switched to 9, a number historically associated with high-profile players. He had previously spoken to team trainers regarding the number, but decided having the number is "something you have to earn [by] mak[ing] the team first." When Kesler returned to the team's lineup six games into the season, Hodgson remained on the second line, but moved to the right wing.
at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
in Hodonín
, Czech Republic
and Piešťany
, Slovakia
. Although favoured to win the tournament, Canada finished in fourth place. He scored two goals in the 5–4 bronze medal game loss to Russia. In total, Hodgson contributed a team-high five points in four games, tied with Steven Stamkos
. Hodgson also represented Ontario
later that year at the 2007 Canada Winter Games
, winning gold over Manitoba
6–4 in the gold medal game.
Hodgson next represented Canada at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships
in Kazan
, Russia
. Playing in the quarter-finals against Finland
, Hodgson was named player of the game after scoring the game winning goal in a 2–1 victory. Hodgson finished with a tournament-high 12 points in seven games, leading Canada as team captain to its second IIHF World U18
gold medal with an 8–0 victory over tournament host Russia. He was chosen as one of Canada's three top players by tournament coaches, along with forward Jordan Eberle
and goaltender Jake Allen
.
In his third year of junior, Hodgson was selected to compete in the 2009 World Junior Championships
with Team Canada
in Ottawa
. He was chosen as an alternate captain to defenceman
Thomas Hickey
. In the second round-robin game against Kazakhstan
, Hodgson accumulated six points (two goals and four assists), coming within one point of the single-game Canadian record held by Mike Cammalleri
and Dave Andreychuk
. The following round-robin game against the United States, he scored the game winning goal in a 7–4 win to lead Team Canada to first place in their pool and a bye to the semi-finals. Facing Sweden in the final game, Hodgson scored two goals – one on the powerplay and an empty-netter
– and one assist to overtake John Tavares as the tournament leading scorer with five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in six games. Team Canada defeated Sweden 5–1 to capture the gold medal while Hodgson was named to the Tournament All-Star Team. Returning from the tournament, Hodgson was asked to drop the ceremonial faceoff for a Toronto Maple Leafs
game against the Florida Panthers
on January 6, 2009.
Leading up to the 2010 World Junior Championships
in Saskatchewan
, Hodgson was named to Team Canada's selection camp roster on December 2, 2009, despite not yet playing in an OHL game during the 2009–10 season
due to a back injury. However, he notified Hockey Canada five days later that his back was not yet ready and that he would not participate in the selection camp.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
centre
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
During his major junior career with the Brampton Battalion
Brampton Battalion
The Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
(OHL), Hodgson has received First Team All-Star honours, won the Red Tilson Trophy
Red Tilson Trophy
The Red Tilson Trophy is an annual award given to the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League. The award is voted on by OHL writers and broadcasters, and is named for Red Tilson, a former played for the Oshawa Generals who was killed in service in the Second World War...
, William Hanley Trophy
William Hanley Trophy
The William Hanley Trophy is awarded to the Ontario Hockey League's Most Sportsmanlike Player. It is named for William Hanley, a former secretary-manager of the Ontario Hockey Association who served in that capacity for twenty-five years...
and CHL Player of the Year Award
CHL Player of the Year
The CHL Player of the Year award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League. It is selected from the winners of the Red Tilson Trophy , Michel Briere Memorial Trophy , and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy .-Winners:* 2010-11 Ryan Ellis,...
in 2009
2008–09 OHL season
The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009....
. He has been named to two OHL All-Star Games, holding the record for most goals and points in a single game.
Hodgson has represented Canada at two International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
(IIHF)—sanctioned events, winning gold and leading tournament scoring at both—the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships
2008 IIHF World U18 Championships
The 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships were held in Kazan, Russia. The championships began on April 13, 2008 and finished on April 24, 2008. Games were played at TatNeft Arena and Arena Kazan in Kazan...
and 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Group B :ScheduleAll times local - Relegation round :The results from matches between teams from the same group in the preliminary round are carried forward to this round.-Schedule:...
. In 2007, he won a gold medal with Ontario at the Canada Games
Ice Hockey at the 2007 Canada Games
-Men's:-Women's:...
. He also represented Canada at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
The 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an ice hockey tournament held in Hodonin, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia between August 14, 2007 and August 18, 2007. It was the 2007 installment of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament...
, finishing fourth.
Early life
Hodgson was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, to Marie and Chris Hodgson
Chris Hodgson
Chris Hodgson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1994 to 2003, and a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves...
. His father is the president of the Ontario Mining Association and a former Ontario provincial Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
cabinet minister in Premier Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
's government, while his mother is the executive director of a day care
Day care
Child care or day care is care of a child during the day by a person other than the child's legal guardians, typically performed by someone outside the child's immediate family...
. He has an older brother, Clayton, who attends Brock University
Brock University
Brock University is a comprehensive university located in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Brock offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs that include co-op and other experiential learning opportunities to an enrolment of over 17,000 full-time students.The enabling legislation is...
, and two sisters, Charlotte and Caroline, who play organized hockey. Hodgson grew up in Haliburton with his family until they moved to Markham, Ontario
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
, in 1998.
Hodgson began playing organized hockey at age four in Haliburton, Ontario. Playing for the OMHA's Haliburton Huskies Tyke rep team, he was linemates with Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene
Matthew Duchene is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche. He was selected third overall by Colorado in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.-Junior:...
. The two went on to become childhood friends and played together with the Battalion, as well as other minor league teams. His family was also friends with Jeff Skinner
Jeff Skinner
Jeffrey Skinner is a Canadian ice hockey player for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League . Selected seventh overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Skinner was the youngest player in the NHL during the season.-Early life:Skinner was born to lawyers Andrew...
's family growing up. Hodgson played peewee and minor bantam hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens of the Greater Toronto Hockey League
Greater Toronto Hockey League
The Greater Toronto Hockey League , formerly known as the "Metro Toronto Hockey League", is a minor level ice hockey organization based out of the Toronto region of Ontario. The league was founded in 1911 as the Beaches Hockey League by Fred C. Waghorne, Sr., and it is the largest minor hockey...
, captaining a team that included Alex Pietrangelo
Alex Pietrangelo
Alexander Pietrangelo is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain currently playing for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League . As a junior, he played with the Niagara IceDogs and the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League...
. He advanced to the bantam ranks with the Markham Waxers of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association
Ontario Minor Hockey Association
The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is a major ice hockey governing body at the minor level. The OMHA is empowered by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The OMHA oversees minor hockey from Initiation to Juvenile throughout the majority of southern Ontario...
in 2004-05 and the Midget club in 2005-06. Hodgson also played in two games with the Markham Waxers Jr.A. club in 2005–06. He recorded a 51-point campaign over 31 games that season with the Waxers Midgets. Hodgson played on the Waxers for several years alongside Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League . Stamkos was the first overall pick in the 2006 OHL Entry Draft, from the Markham Waxers of the OMHA. Playing with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey...
and Michael Del Zotto
Michael Del Zotto
Michael Del Zotto is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the New York Rangers.-Early career:...
.
He attended Buttonville Public School
Buttonville Public School
|schoolboard= York Region District School Board|affiliation = none|superintendent= Gayle Brocklebank-Vincent|trustee= Ada Yeung|principal= Bob Sandiford|viceprincipal= Paul Obael|fundingtype = Public|schooltype= Elementary school...
and Unionville High School in Markham, the latter of which he helped win numerous hockey tournaments. Following his draft by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, Hodgson was accepted into the business program at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
for the 2008 fall semester. However, due to missing classes from his commitments to the Canucks' training camp and a subsequent university staff strike, he placed his academics on hiatus.
In December 2009, Hodgson was chosen to be the city of Markham's official torchbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. The torch passed through Markham on its way to Vancouver on December 17, 2009, on day 49 of the cross-country relay.
Brampton Battalion
Hodgson was drafted 17th overall by the Brampton BattalionBrampton Battalion
The Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996...
in the 2006 OHL Priority Selection. The following season, Hodgson joined the Battalion and led the team in rookie scoring with 23 goals and 46 points in 2006–07. He added four points in four playoff games as the Battalion were eliminated by the Barrie Colts
Barrie Colts
The Barrie Colts are a junior ice hockey team in Ontario Hockey League, based in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. There were two previous Barrie Colts team which played Junior A & B hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association, one from 1907 until 1910 and another from the 1920s to 1940s.-Original Colts:The...
in the first round.
In his second season with Brampton, Hodgson improved to 85 points in 68 games, second in team-scoring, behind centre John Hughes
John Hughes (ice hockey b. 1988)
John Hughes is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for HDD Olimpija Ljubljana in the Austrian Hockey League.-Awards:*Jack Ferguson Award...
. He was chosen to the Eastern Conference squad in the 2008 OHL All-Star Classic and scored one goal. Hodgson added five goals in five playoff games, as Brampton was eliminated in the opening round for the second straight season by Barrie.
Heading into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft
2008 NHL Entry Draft
The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on June 20–21, 2008...
, Hodgson was ranked ninth among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau
NHL Central Scouting Bureau
The NHL Central Scouting Bureau or NHL Central Scouting Services is a department within the National Hockey League that ranks prospects for the NHL Entry Draft at specific times during the hockey season. Players are ranked based on how well they will translate to the professional game in the...
. He went on to be chosen 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. Scouting reports and former coaches emphasized Hodgson's hockey sense and character, while Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis
Mike Gillis
Michael David Gillis is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.-Playing career:...
cited his leadership as a strong factor in drafting him. After the 2007–08 season, OHL coaches had voted him the smartest player in the Eastern Conference. As his skating was considered a weakness, he spent the subsequent off-season training to improve it.
Hodgson was expected to compete for a roster spot on the Canucks immediately after being drafted. He was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract worth the rookie maximum of $2.625 million on October 5, 2008. However, the next day, he was sent back to Brampton for the 2008–09 season
2008–09 OHL season
The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009....
.
Upon his return, Hodgson was named the ninth captain in Battalion team history. He succeeded forward Thomas Stajan, who served as captain for the start of the season while Hodgson was competed in the NHL pre-season. Stajan, himself, had replaced defenceman John de Gray
John de Gray (ice hockey)
John de Gray is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent.-Playing career:...
, who had turned professional.
Chosen to represent the OHL in the 2008 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge
ADT Canada-Russia Challenge
The Subway Super Series is an annual six game exhibition ice hockey tournament held between a select team of Russian junior players and all-star teams representing the three leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The current corporate sponsor is Subway. The event was first held in 2003 as the...
in November, Hodgson recorded a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
and added an assist in the first of two games against Russia; he was chosen as game MVP. He went on to complete the month of November with 27 points in 13 games to be named OHL Player of the Month. Hodgson had also been chosen as the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending on November 9 after scoring nine points in three games. After a second Player of the Week recognition, scoring seven points in three games for the week ending February 1, 2009, Hodgson participated in the 2009 OHL All-Star Classic. Joined by teammates Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene
Matthew Duchene is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche. He was selected third overall by Colorado in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.-Junior:...
, Evgeny Grachev
Evgeny Grachev
Evgeny Grachev is a Russian professional ice hockey player currently playing with the St. Louis Blues.-Playing career:Grachev played one game with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Super League in the 2007–08 season. He was selected 75th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft...
and Thomas McCollum
Thomas McCollum
Thomas McCollum is an American ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
for the Eastern Conference, Hodgson received player of the game honours after a five-point effort in an 11–6 win. He recorded a hat trick, along with Western Conference representative Justin DiBenedetto
Justin DiBenedetto
Justin DiBenedetto is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League . He was drafted 175th overall by the New York Islanders during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft....
, to tie Scott Barney
Scott Barney
Scott Barney is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing with HPK in the Finnish SM-liiga.-Playing career:...
, who first scored three goals in 1999, for the OHL All-Star Game record. Hodgson's five points also tied the All-Star Game record for most points (shared by five others). He recorded another record later in the month with a 23-game point-scoring streak, registering 17 goals, 23 assists and 40 points in that span. The streak was both a Battalion club record and OHL season-high.
Hodgson finished the season with 43 goals and 92 points in 53 games, fourth in league scoring. The annual OHL coaches poll distinguished Hodgson as the smartest player (for the second consecutive season), the hardest worker, the best on faceoff
Faceoff
A face-off is the method used to begin play in ice hockey and some other sports. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official. One of the referees drops the puck at centre ice...
s and the best penalty killer. In addition to OHL First All-Star Team honours, he was awarded both the William Hanley Trophy
William Hanley Trophy
The William Hanley Trophy is awarded to the Ontario Hockey League's Most Sportsmanlike Player. It is named for William Hanley, a former secretary-manager of the Ontario Hockey Association who served in that capacity for twenty-five years...
as the league's most sportsmanlike player and the Red Tilson Trophy
Red Tilson Trophy
The Red Tilson Trophy is an annual award given to the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League. The award is voted on by OHL writers and broadcasters, and is named for Red Tilson, a former played for the Oshawa Generals who was killed in service in the Second World War...
as OHL player of the year. The media voted Hodgson ahead of forward John Tavares and goaltender Mike Murphy
Mike Murphy (ice hockey b. 1989)
Mike Murphy is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently plays for the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League.-Playing career:...
for the Tilson award. He was then distinguished over fellow major junior league MVP's Brett Sonne
Brett Sonne
Brett Sonne is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League . He is a prospect in the St. Louis Blues organization, having been selected selected by the Blues in the third round, 85th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He is the 2009...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL) and Nicola Riopel
Nicola Riopel
Nicola Riopel is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL.-Playing career:...
of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL) as the CHL Player of the Year
CHL Player of the Year
The CHL Player of the Year award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League. It is selected from the winners of the Red Tilson Trophy , Michel Briere Memorial Trophy , and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy .-Winners:* 2010-11 Ryan Ellis,...
.
Early in the subsequent playoff season, Hodgson received his second OHL Player of the Month recognition for March (26 points in 11 games). He helped the Battalion advance to the OHL Finals, where they lost the J. Ross Robertson Cup
J. Ross Robertson Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League playoff championship. It was presented by and named for John Ross Robertson, the president of the Ontario Hockey Association who served from 1899 to 1905.Originally it was awarded to the...
to the Windsor Spitfires
Windsor Spitfires
The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was granted for the 1975–76 season and revived a previous OHA Jr. A Spitfires team which moved to become the Hamilton Tiger Cubs in 1953.-History:The...
. He led his team with 31 points in the post-season.
Following the Battalion's playoff elimination, Hodgson was assigned to the Canucks' American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...
for their 2009 playoff
2009 Calder Cup Playoffs
The 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 15, 2009. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions then played a best-of-seven series for the...
run. Making his professional debut with the Moose in Game 1 of the semifinals against the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
, he notched an assist on the game's first goal for his first professional point. He followed up with his first professional goal the next night, a wrist shot against Aeros goaltender Nolan Schaefer
Nolan Schaefer
Nolan Schaefer is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League A.-Playing career:...
, in a 5–2 victory. While Hodgson started on the fourth line for the Moose, he quickly moved his way up to the second line with fellow Canucks first-round pick Michael Grabner
Michael Grabner
Michael René Grabner is an Austrian professional ice hockey player playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League . Grabner grew up playing for the local team in Villach, EC VSV. He moved to North America at the age of 17 and joined the Spokane Chiefs of the major junior Western...
. Advancing past the Aeros, Moose head coach Scott Arniel
Scott Arniel
Scott William Arniel , is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League . Arniel was awarded the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as American Hockey League coach of the year in 2009, his third year as an AHL coach...
chose not to play Hodgson in Game 4 of the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
Finals against the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
. Arniel explained the decision was attributed to fatigue on Hodgson's part from a lengthy season in the juniors (including the 2009 World Juniors and a lengthy OHL playoff-run). He returned the next game to help the Moose stave off elimination with a goal in a 3–2 Game 5 victory. Manitoba went on to lose the Calder Cup in Game 6 by a 4–1 score. Hodgson's assisted on the Moose's lone tally by Mario Bliznak
Mario Bliznak
Mário Bližňák is a Slovak professional ice hockey center who currently plays within the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League...
.
Preparing for the Canucks' training camp for the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, Hodgson injured his back while working out in the summer. The injury, which was misdiagnosed as a bulging disc in his lower back, caused him to miss two months of summer training. After being cleared to play by Canucks team doctors on September 11, 2009, and a back specialist in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Hodgson was again expected to secure a roster spot during training camp. After struggling in six pre-season games, he was returned to the Brampton Battalion on September 29, in the final round of cuts.
Hodgson subsequently sought a third opinion regarding his back at the Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. In response, Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault publicly speculated whether Hodgson was simply having a hard time being cut and was trying to "roll the [blame] in another direction." Despite having been cleared earlier to play in the pre-season by two sets of doctors, the Cleveland Clinic judged him unfit to play for a month. Previously undetected nerve damage in one leg was also revealed. Due to Hodgson's misdiagnosis, which was not corrected until a year later, subsequent treatment and rehabilitation was designed for a bulging disc, which further aggravated his real injury – a muscle strain.
After missing the first 50 games of the 2009–10 OHL season
2009–10 OHL season
The 2009–10 OHL season was the 30th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2009 and ended on March 14, 2010....
, Hodgson returned to the Battalion lineup on February 4, 2010, recording two assists in a 4–2 win against the Erie Otters
Erie Otters
The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League . Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996...
. Following his return, he declared he would no longer be training in the off-season with the Canucks' director of player development, Dave Gagner
Dave Gagner
David R. Gagner is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current Director of Player Development for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, under whose supervision he suffered his back injury. Combined with the Canucks doctor's initial misdiagnosis and Vigneault's disparaging comments regarding Hodgson following the NHL pre-season, there was speculation in the media of a possible conflict between Hodgson and the Canucks organization. General manager Mike Gillis
Mike Gillis
Michael David Gillis is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and current president and general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.-Playing career:...
dismissed such speculation.
Eight days after his OHL return, Hodgson suffered another injury, breaking a toe on his right foot while blocking a shot against the Sudbury Wolves
Sudbury Wolves
The Sudbury Wolves are the name of the ice hockey team from Sudbury, Ontario. Sudbury has had a hockey team known as the "Wolves" nearly every year since World War I. The Sudbury Wolves, the senior men's AAA team, have twice been chosen to be Canada's representatives at the Ice Hockey World...
. Initial X-rays came up negative and he continued playing for nine more games before a second X-ray revealed a hairline fracture in one his right metatarsal bones. Missing the Battalion's final five regular season games, he finished the campaign with eight goals and 20 points over 13 contests. Despite missing the majority of the season, he was voted as the smartest player in the Eastern Conference for the third consecutive year in the OHL coaches poll.
Hodgson returned to the Brampton lineup for the opening game of the 2010 playoffs, scoring the game-winning goal against the Kingston Frontenacs
Kingston Frontenacs
The Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,...
. In Game 5 of the series, he scored his 20th career playoff goal in the OHL, surpassing Wojtek Wolski
Wojtek Wolski
Wojciech "Wojtek” Wolski is a Polish-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger, currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He previously played for the Colorado Avalanche and the Phoenix Coyotes.-Junior:...
for the all-time lead among Battalion players. The Battalion eliminated the Frontenacs in seven games, before being ousted in four games by Barrie in the second round. Hodgson completed the post-season with 10 points in 11 games, second in team-scoring to Sean Jones. He admitted publicly after the playoffs that his health "was never 100 percent" during the 2009–10 season.
The Battalion's playoff elimination marked the end of Hodgson's four-year OHL career. He left Brampton ranked second on the club's all-time scoring list behind Wojtek Wolski
Wojtek Wolski
Wojciech "Wojtek” Wolski is a Polish-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger, currently playing for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He previously played for the Colorado Avalanche and the Phoenix Coyotes.-Junior:...
in regular season goals (114), assists (129), points (243), powerplay goals (46) and shorthanded goals (7), while ranking first in game-winning goals (23). In playoff games, he left as the all-time leader in goals (20), assists (30) and points (50).
Following his 2009–10 OHL season, it was expected Hodgson would join the Manitoba Moose for a second consecutive AHL playoff season. However, after being assessed by Canucks team doctors, his broken toe was judged to have not yet fully healed and he was not cleared for AHL assignment. Hodgson additionally believed that he had re-injured his back while colliding head-first into the boards during Game 7 of the opening playoff round. He underwent an MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear magnetic resonance imaging , or magnetic resonance tomography is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to visualize detailed internal structures...
in the off-season, which uncovered the misdiagnosed bulging disc to be a muscle strain instead. With the Canucks' consent, he trained in the off-season with former NHL player Gary Roberts.
Vancouver Canucks
After challenging for a Canucks' roster spot once again during the team's 2010 training camp, he was assigned to the Manitoba Moose. He scored his first regular season AHL goal against goaltender Peter Delmas of the Hamilton BulldogsHamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
on October 22, 2010. With the score tied 3–3 after overtime, Hodgson added a shootout goal to help the Moose win the game. Later in December 2010, Hodgson suffered a broken orbital bone after he was high-sticked by Lee Sweatt
Lee Sweatt
Walter Lee Sweatt is an American former professional ice hockey player. Sweatt played four years of professional hockey in Europe and North America. Sweatt played three games in the National Hockey League in 2011, before retiring to work in the financial industry...
during a team practice. Eight days after returning to the Moose lineup, Hodgson earned his first NHL call-up to Vancouver.
Hodgson made his NHL debut on February 1, 2011, in a 4–1 win against the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
. Centring the fourth line and playing on the second powerplay unit, he registered two shots in over nine minutes of ice time. The following day, he scored his first NHL goal against Ilya Bryzgalov
Ilya Bryzgalov
Ilya Nikolayevich Bryzgalov is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League after being acquired by the team on June 7, 2011. He was selected in the second round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.In...
in a 6–0 win against the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
. In his third game, he recorded his first career NHL assist on a goal by Christian Ehrhoff
Christian Ehrhoff
Christian Ehrhoff is a German professional ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League...
against the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
; Vancouver won 4–3. After appearing in his first five NHL games, Hodgson was returned to the Moose on February 11. Team management explained to the media his call-up was a means to introduce him to NHL play and that they were more comfortable having him continue developing in the AHL with first-line minutes and a bigger role with the Moose. However, with the team's fourth-line centre role unfilled (Vigneault had been using natural winger Tanner Glass
Tanner Glass
Tanner Glass is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League . Known as a physical player, he has previously played in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers....
in that position), he was called back to Vancouver within 10 days. Hodgson played three more games for the Canucks before the team acquired fourth-line centre Maxim Lapierre
Maxim Lapierre
Maxim Lapierre is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League , he was selected 61st overall in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens...
from the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
at the trade deadline on February 28. He was subsequently sent back down to Manitoba. He completed his professional rookie season with 30 points in 52 AHL games – ranking fifth in Moose scoring – and 2 points in 8 NHL games.
At the end of the regular season, Hodgson was called up to the Canucks for the 2011 playoffs
2011 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 13, 2011, after the conclusion of the 2010–11 NHL regular season. Game 1 of the Finals was held on June 1, while Game 7 was held on June 15...
. He registered his first NHL playoff point in Game 2 of the opening round against the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, assisting on a goal by defenceman Alex Edler in a 4–3 win. Hodgson drew in and out of the lineup throughout the post-season, appearing in 12 of the Canucks' 25-game playoff run, which ended in a Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
in the Stanley Cup Finals
2011 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2011 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League , and the culmination of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was the 118th year of the Stanley Cup's presentation. The Eastern Conference Champion Boston Bruins defeated the Western Conference Champion Vancouver...
.
During the off-season, Canucks centre Ryan Kesler
Ryan Kesler
Ryan James Kesler is an American professional ice hockey center for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. Selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Kesler has...
underwent hip surgery, sidelining him for the start of the 2011–12 campaign
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...
. With the centre position on the second line vacant, Hodgson competed with the newly-acquired Andrew Ebbett
Andrew Ebbett
Andrew Ebbett is a ice hockey centre for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:Undrafted, Ebbett played collegiate hockey with the University of Michigan of the CCHA. After captaining the Wolverines in his senior year, Ebbett was signed as a free agent by the Ottawa...
to temporarily replace Kesler. After being cut in his previous three training camps with the team, Hodgson emerged with the second-line position to start the season. After wearing 39 on his jersey the previous season as a rookie, Hodgson switched to 9, a number historically associated with high-profile players. He had previously spoken to team trainers regarding the number, but decided having the number is "something you have to earn [by] mak[ing] the team first." When Kesler returned to the team's lineup six games into the season, Hodgson remained on the second line, but moved to the right wing.
International play
Hodgson first competed internationally for CanadaHockey Canada
Hockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
at the 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament
The 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an ice hockey tournament held in Hodonin, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia between August 14, 2007 and August 18, 2007. It was the 2007 installment of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament...
in Hodonín
Hodonín
Hodonín is a town on the River Morava in the southeast of Moravia, in the Czech Republic. It lies in the South Moravian Region. The population is 26,226 . Hodonín was first mentioned in 1046. In 1228 it became a town...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Piešťany
Pieštany
Piešťany is a town in Slovakia. It is located in the western part of the country within the Trnava Region and is the seat of its own district. It is the biggest and best known spa town in Slovakia and has around 30,000 inhabitants.-History:...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. Although favoured to win the tournament, Canada finished in fourth place. He scored two goals in the 5–4 bronze medal game loss to Russia. In total, Hodgson contributed a team-high five points in four games, tied with Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos
Steven Stamkos is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League . Stamkos was the first overall pick in the 2006 OHL Entry Draft, from the Markham Waxers of the OMHA. Playing with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey...
. Hodgson also represented Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
later that year at the 2007 Canada Winter Games
Ice Hockey at the 2007 Canada Games
-Men's:-Women's:...
, winning gold over Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
6–4 in the gold medal game.
Hodgson next represented Canada at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships
2008 IIHF World U18 Championships
The 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships were held in Kazan, Russia. The championships began on April 13, 2008 and finished on April 24, 2008. Games were played at TatNeft Arena and Arena Kazan in Kazan...
in Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Playing in the quarter-finals against Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Hodgson was named player of the game after scoring the game winning goal in a 2–1 victory. Hodgson finished with a tournament-high 12 points in seven games, leading Canada as team captain to its second IIHF World U18
IIHF World U18 Championships
The IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World...
gold medal with an 8–0 victory over tournament host Russia. He was chosen as one of Canada's three top players by tournament coaches, along with forward Jordan Eberle
Jordan Eberle
Jordan Ryan Eberle is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League . He was selected in the first round, 22nd overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft...
and goaltender Jake Allen
Jake Allen (ice hockey)
Jake Allen is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Peoria Rivermen of the American Hockey League . Allen was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft with the 34th overall pick....
.
In his third year of junior, Hodgson was selected to compete in the 2009 World Junior Championships
2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Group B :ScheduleAll times local - Relegation round :The results from matches between teams from the same group in the preliminary round are carried forward to this round.-Schedule:...
with Team Canada
Canada national junior hockey team
The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He was chosen as an alternate captain to defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
Thomas Hickey
Thomas Hickey (ice hockey)
Thomas Hickey is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League . He is a prospect for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League ....
. In the second round-robin game against Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, Hodgson accumulated six points (two goals and four assists), coming within one point of the single-game Canadian record held by Mike Cammalleri
Mike Cammalleri
Michael Cammalleri is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Junior:...
and Dave Andreychuk
Dave Andreychuk
David John Andreychuk is a former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning...
. The following round-robin game against the United States, he scored the game winning goal in a 7–4 win to lead Team Canada to first place in their pool and a bye to the semi-finals. Facing Sweden in the final game, Hodgson scored two goals – one on the powerplay and an empty-netter
Empty net goal
An empty net goal, or colloquially an empty netter , occurs in ice hockey when a team scores a goal into a net with no goaltender present...
– and one assist to overtake John Tavares as the tournament leading scorer with five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in six games. Team Canada defeated Sweden 5–1 to capture the gold medal while Hodgson was named to the Tournament All-Star Team. Returning from the tournament, Hodgson was asked to drop the ceremonial faceoff for a Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
game against the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
on January 6, 2009.
Leading up to the 2010 World Junior Championships
2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 2010 IIHF World U20 Championship, commonly referred to as the 2010 World Junior Hockey Championships , was the 34th edition of World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. The tournament was hosted in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, from December 26, 2009 to January 5, 2010...
in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Hodgson was named to Team Canada's selection camp roster on December 2, 2009, despite not yet playing in an OHL game during the 2009–10 season
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
due to a back injury. However, he notified Hockey Canada five days later that his back was not yet ready and that he would not participate in the selection camp.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2004–05 | Markham Waxers Jr.A. | OHA Ontario Hockey Association The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the... |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Markham Waxers Bantam AAA | OMHA Ontario Minor Hockey Association The Ontario Minor Hockey Association is a major ice hockey governing body at the minor level. The OMHA is empowered by the Ontario Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada. The OMHA oversees minor hockey from Initiation to Juvenile throughout the majority of southern Ontario... |
59 | 51 | 48 | 99 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Markham Waxers Midget AAA | OMHA | 30 | 27 | 24 | 51 | 22 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 8 | ||
| 2006–07 | Brampton Battalion Brampton Battalion The Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996... |
OHL Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
63 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 2007–08 OHL season The 2007–08 OHL season was the 28th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams played 68 games each during the schedule, that started on September 19, 2007, and concluded on March 16, 2008.... |
Brampton Battalion | OHL | 68 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 36 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 OHL season The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009.... |
Brampton Battalion | OHL | 53 | 43 | 49 | 92 | 33 | 21 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 18 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 AHL season The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:... |
Manitoba Moose Manitoba Moose The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — | — | — | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 OHL season The 2009–10 OHL season was the 30th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2009 and ended on March 14, 2010.... |
Brampton Battalion | OHL | 13 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 4 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 AHL season The 2010–11 AHL season is the 75th season of the American Hockey League. An all-time high of thirty teams will play 80 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on October 8, 2010 and ended on April 10, 2011... |
Manitoba Moose | AHL | 52 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| OHL totals | 197 | 114 | 129 | 243 | 102 | 41 | 20 | 30 | 50 | 22 | ||||
| AHL totals | 52 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | ||||
| NHL totals | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament The 2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament was an ice hockey tournament held in Hodonin, Czech Republic and Piešťany, Slovakia between August 14, 2007 and August 18, 2007. It was the 2007 installment of the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament... |
Canada | IH18 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament The Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament is an annual event held each August for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. Unsanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation , the tournament is not granted official status by the sport's governing body... |
4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2008 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships The 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships were held in Kazan, Russia. The championships began on April 13, 2008 and finished on April 24, 2008. Games were played at TatNeft Arena and Arena Kazan in Kazan... |
Canada | U18 IIHF World U18 Championships The IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World... |
7 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 8 | |
| 2009 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships - Group B :ScheduleAll times local - Relegation round :The results from matches between teams from the same group in the preliminary round are carried forward to this round.-Schedule:... |
Canada Canada national junior hockey team The Canadian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Canada. The team represents Canada at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January... |
WJC World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... |
6 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 2 | |
| Junior int'l totals | 17 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 14 | |||
Major junior
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| OHL Player of the Week | November 2–7, 2008 2008–09 OHL season The 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009.... January 25–February 1, 2009. |
| ADT Canada-Russia Challenge ADT Canada-Russia Challenge The Subway Super Series is an annual six game exhibition ice hockey tournament held between a select team of Russian junior players and all-star teams representing the three leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The current corporate sponsor is Subway. The event was first held in 2003 as the... Player of the Game |
Game 3, 2008 |
| OHL Player of the Month | November 2008, March 2009 |
| OHL All-Star Classic Player of the Game | 2009 |
| William Hanley Trophy William Hanley Trophy The William Hanley Trophy is awarded to the Ontario Hockey League's Most Sportsmanlike Player. It is named for William Hanley, a former secretary-manager of the Ontario Hockey Association who served in that capacity for twenty-five years... (OHL's Most Sportsmanlike) |
2009 |
| Red Tilson Trophy Red Tilson Trophy The Red Tilson Trophy is an annual award given to the most outstanding player in the Ontario Hockey League. The award is voted on by OHL writers and broadcasters, and is named for Red Tilson, a former played for the Oshawa Generals who was killed in service in the Second World War... (OHL's Most Outstanding Player) |
2009 |
| OHL First All-Star Team | 2009 |
| CHL Player of the Year CHL Player of the Year The CHL Player of the Year award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League. It is selected from the winners of the Red Tilson Trophy , Michel Briere Memorial Trophy , and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy .-Winners:* 2010-11 Ryan Ellis,... |
2009 |
International
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| World Junior Championships World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... All-Star Team |
2009 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships - Group B :ScheduleAll times local - Relegation round :The results from matches between teams from the same group in the preliminary round are carried forward to this round.-Schedule:... |
Other
| Award | Year (s) |
|---|---|
| Brampton Sports Hall of Fame | May 27, 2009 |
Records
- OHLOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
All-Star Classic record; most goals, single-game - 3 in 2009 (tied with Justin DiBenedettoJustin DiBenedettoJustin DiBenedetto is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League . He was drafted 175th overall by the New York Islanders during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft....
, 2009; and Scott BarneyScott BarneyScott Barney is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing with HPK in the Finnish SM-liiga.-Playing career:...
, 1999) - OHL All-Star Classic record; most points, single-game - 5 in 2009 (tied with five others)
- Brampton BattalionBrampton BattalionThe Brampton Battalion are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team is based in Brampton, Ontario and started playing in 1998.-History:The Brampton Battalion were granted an expansion franchise on December 3, 1996...
franchise record; point-scoring streak - 23 games in 2008–092008–09 OHL seasonThe 2008–09 OHL season was the 29th season of the Ontario Hockey League . Twenty teams played 68 games each during the regular season schedule, which started on September 17, 2008 and concluded on March 15, 2009....
(17 goals, 23 assists, 40 points) - Brampton Battalion franchise record; most game-winning goals, all-time - 23
- Brampton Battalion franchise record; most playoff goals, all-time - 20
- Brampton Battalion franchise record; most playoff assists, all-time - 30
- Brampton Battalion franchise record; most playoff points, all-time - 50