Jordan Spence (ice hockey)

Jordan Spence (born February 24, 2001) is a Japanese-Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] He was drafted in the fourth round, 95th overall, in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Kings.

Jordan Spence
Spence with the Los Angeles Kings in 2022
Born (2001-02-24) February 24, 2001
Sydney, Australia
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft 95th overall, 2019
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2021–present

Playing career
Spence skating in warm-ups on the LA Kings pride night for the 2021-2022 season.

After one season with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Spence was drafted in the fourth round, 95th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[2] He returned to the Wildcats the following year. On June 3, 2020, the Kings signed Spence to a three-year, entry-level contract.[3]

Spence joined the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign to begin the 2021–22 season. He made his NHL debut with the Kings on March 10, 2022 as the first skater with Japanese citizenship to play in the NHL.[4][5] On March 26, Spence scored his first career NHL goal in a 4–2 win over the Seattle Kraken.[6]

Personal life

Spence was born in Manly, New South Wales to a Canadian father, Adam, and a Japanese mother, Kyoko, before moving to Osaka, where he first played baseball, as well as hockey under the tutelage of his father at the age of five, before moving to Cornwall, Prince Edward Island at the age of 13 not knowing any English.[7][8] Before his 20th birthday he was a dual citizen of Canada and Japan and is fluent in English, French, and Japanese.[9][10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Summerside Western Capitals MJAHL 5013385116 124131718
2018–19 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 686434918 41340
2019–20 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 609435228 —————
2020–21 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 135111614 —————
2020–21 Val d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 19519240 15218206
2021–22 Ontario Reign AHL 464384228 —————
2021–22 Los Angeles Kings NHL 242682 30000
2022–23 Ontario Reign AHL 564414534 20112
2022–23 Los Angeles Kings NHL 60110 —————
NHL totals 302792 30000
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place2021 Canada

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 Canada U18 4th 7 1 2 3 0
2021 Canada WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2 1 0 1 0
Junior totals 9 2 2 4 0

Awards and honours
Award Year
MJAHL
Rookie All-Star Team 2018
Rookie of the Year 2018
QMJHL
Raymond Lagacé Trophy 2019
All-Rookie Team 2019
Rookie of the Year 2019
Emile Bouchard Trophy 2020 [11]
First All-Star Team 2020, 2021
AHL
All-Rookie Team 2022 [12]
First All-Star Team 2022 [13]

References
  1. "Jordan Spence at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com.
  2. Yarr, Kevin. "Cornwall's Jordan Spence drafted by LA Kings". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  3. Harris, Jack (June 3, 2020). "Kings sign 2019 draft picks Arthur Kaliyev and Jordan Spence". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  4. Greenspan, Dan. "Hertl helps Sharks defeat Kings in OT, end three-game skid". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  5. Simmonds, Jason. "Prince Edward Islander makes NHL history". SaltWire Network. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  6. Dooley, Zach. "FINAL – Kings 4, Kraken 2 – Spence, Vilardi, McLellan". LA Kings Insider. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  7. Dillman, Lisa. "Kings prospect Jordan Spence 'will find a way to make an NHL roster'". The Athletic. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  8. "Living the island life". www.hockeycanada.ca. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  9. "Introducing: Jordan Spence". LA Kings Insider. June 22, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  10. "Getting to Know: LA Kings No. 95 Draft Pick Jordan Spence". NHL.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  11. "Well-traveled Spence on a mission to excel". American Hockey League. February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  12. "2021-22 AHL All-Rookie Team named". American Hockey League. April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  13. "2021-22 AHL First, Second All-Star Teams unveiled". American Hockey League. April 28, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
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