Jamie Drysdale

Jamie Drysdale (born April 8, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected sixth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft,[1][2] and made his NHL debut in 2021.

Jamie Drysdale
Drysdale with the Toronto Marlboros in 2018
Born (2002-04-08) April 8, 2002
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team Anaheim Ducks
NHL Draft 6th overall, 2020
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2021–present

Early life

Drysdale was born on April 8, 2002, in Toronto, Ontario,[3] to parents Gary and Tina.[4] He learned to skate through the hockey program Learn to Play at the age of five.[5] Growing up, his father's favourite player was Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins, resulting in both his sons wearing the jersey number four.[6]

Playing career

Growing up in Toronto, Drysdale competed in the Ontario Junior Hockey League with the St. Michael's Buzzers and played Minor Midget AAA hockey with the Toronto Marlboros of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL).[7] At the age of 15, he helped lead the Marlboros to a GTHL Championship and was named the GTHL’s Player of the Year. He also helped GTHL Red win the 2018 OHL Gold Cup Final and was named to the OHL Cup All-Star Team.[8] As a result of his play, Drysdale was drafted fourth overall by the Erie Otters in the 2018 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection.[9]

During his rookie season with the Otters, Drysdale led team defencemen in goals, assists, scoring, and power-play points resulting in a selection for the 2018-19 OHL First All-Rookie Team. The following season, he ranked 10th among OHL defensemen in points-per-game by recording nine goals and 38 points in 49 games. As a result, he was named an OHL First Team All-Star in 2019–20.[10]

Professional

While the league was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Drysdale took up rollerblading to remain in shape and began working out at home.[11] Leading up to the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Drysdale received praise from scout David Gregory who said: "Drysdale is the kind of player that every team is looking for, very smart puck-moving defenceman who can beat you with his vision, beat you with his hockey sense, able to use that great quickness and thinking..."[6] He earned a high final ranking from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau amongst North American skaters[6] before being drafted sixth overall by the Anaheim Ducks.[12]

Shortly following the draft, Drysdale signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Anaheim.[10] Drysdale made his NHL debut on March 18, 2021 against the Arizona Coyotes, where he also recorded his first career NHL goal. During the same game, fellow rookie Trevor Zegras also scored, making the teammates the youngest in NHL history to each score their first NHL goals less than 2:30 apart.[13]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2020 Czech Republic
Silver medal – second place2021 Canada

Drysdale has represented Team Canada at the international level on numerous occasions. His first international tournament was during the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge with Canada Black.[14] He recorded four points in five games as the team failed to medal.[3] Following the tournament, Drysdale competed at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships[15] and 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.[16]

In 2020, Drysdale became the seventh 17-year-old defenceman to play for Team Canada at the World Juniors since 1991. He originally served as Team Canada's extra defenceman before making his debut during the semifinal game against Finland as a replacement for an ill Bowen Byram.[17] Throughout the tournament, he averaged 11:38 of ice time and recorded one goal and two assists in seven games.[18] Drysdale was again named to Team Canada at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he was a top-pairing defenceman alongside Byram.[18]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2017–18 St. Michael's Buzzers OJHL 10000 —————
2018–19 Erie Otters OHL 637334020 —————
2019–20 Erie Otters OHL 499384724 —————
2020–21 San Diego Gulls AHL 1446106 30220
2020–21 Anaheim Ducks NHL 243586 —————
2021–22 Anaheim Ducks NHL 814283216 —————
2022–23 Anaheim Ducks NHL 80002 —————
NHL totals 1137334024 —————

International
Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
2018 Canada Black U17 50442
2019 Canada U18 70220
2019 Canada HG18 50550
2020 Canada WJC 71230
2021 Canada WJC 70220
Junior totals 31115162

References
  1. Masters, Mark (April 2, 2020). "Projected to be first D-man drafted in 2020, Drysdale aims to emulate Makar". TSN. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  2. Kennedy, Ryan. "Prospect Need to Know: Jamie Drysdale is the Best Defenseman in the 2020 Draft". The Hockey News. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  3. "Jamie Drysdale". Elite Prospects. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. Leeson, Ben (March 27, 2018). "OHL draft: Power, Drysdale have different styles, high potential". The Sudbury Star. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  5. Nagle, Brendan (July 13, 2018). "Toronto Marlboros Defenceman Jamie Drysdale Named The 2018 HockeyNow Minor Hockey Player Of Year In ON Powered By HockeyShot". Hockey Now. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  6. Stein, Amanda (July 29, 2020). "DRAFT: Jamie Drysdale Profile". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  7. "A Junior Hockey Journey Paved in Gold: SMCS Alumni". St. Michael's College School. January 6, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  8. "Jamie Drysdale commits to Otters". Ontario Hockey League. May 11, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  9. "Otters Select Jamie Drysdale Fourth Overall". Erie Otters. April 7, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  10. "Ducks sign first-round draft pick Jamie Drysdale to three-year, entry-level contract". Anaheim Ducks. November 7, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  11. Reilly, Josh (October 6, 2020). "Erie Otters defenseman Jamie Drysdale expected to go early in NHL Draft". Erie Times-News. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  12. Shohara, Kyle (October 6, 2020). "Ducks Select Drysdale with Sixth Overall Pick in 2020 NHL Draft". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  13. "Drysdale, Zegras Make History with First NHL Goals". National Hockey League. March 19, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  14. "Drysdale, Byfield, Vierling and Perfetti to lead respective teams at World Under-17 Hockey Challenge". Erie Otters. November 6, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  15. "7 OHL Players to Represent Canada at World U18 Hockey Championship". Ontario Hockey League. April 17, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  16. "Jamie Drysdale Among OHL Players to Represent Canada at 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup". Erie Otters. July 30, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  17. Masters, Mark (April 2, 2020). "Projected to be first D-man drafted in 2020, Drysdale aims to emulate Makar". The Sports Network. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  18. Spiker, Brianne (January 6, 2021). "Poised Drysdale finds new level at second World Juniors". The Sports Network. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
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