Dakota Joshua
{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox ice hockey biography
| name = Dakota Joshua
| image = {{CSS image crop |Image=DakotaJoshua2022.jpg |bSize=500 |cWidth=230|cHeight=280 |oTop=30 |oLeft=165 |Location=center}}
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Joshua with the Springfield Thunderbirds in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|5|15}}
| birth_place = Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 206
| position = Forward
| shoots = Left
| league = NHL
| team = Vancouver Canucks
| prospect_team =
| prospect_league = AHL
| former_teams = St. Louis Blues
| draft = 128th overall
| draft_year = 2014
| draft_team = Toronto Maple Leafs
| career_start = 2019
}}
Dakota Joshua (born May 15, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 128th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 NHL entry draft. While he did not play for the Maple Leafs, he previously played for the St. Louis Blues.
Early life
Joshua was born on May 15, 1996, in Dearborn, Michigan.{{cite web |title=Dakota Joshua |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/194948/dakota-joshua |website=eliteprospects.com |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=March 5, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Dakota Joshua - 2018-19 - Men's Ice Hockey |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/joshua-dakota/7184 |website=Ohio State |access-date=November 21, 2024}} Growing up, his mother played ice hockey and competed in the Michigan Senior Women's Hockey League.{{cite web |last1=Loggins |first1=Caitlin |title=Dakota Joshua: From OSU To The Show-Me State |url=https://medium.com/@caitlinloggins55/dakota-joshua-from-osu-to-the-show-me-state-7283be11a3d9 |website=medium.com |access-date=March 5, 2021 |date=March 2, 2021}} His younger brother, Jagger, is also an ice hockey player.{{Cite web |title=Former Buckeye Dakota Joshua, brother of Michigan State player subjected to racial slurs, speaks |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/nhl/2022/11/24/former-buckeye-dakota-joshua-slurs-used-by-osu-player/69674589007/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=The Columbus Dispatch}} Growing up in Michigan, Joshua played junior ice hockey for the Honeybaked under-16 midget team and was invited to the USA Hockey select national team evaluation camp.{{cite web |title=Dakota Joshua |url=https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/dakota-joshua/ |access-date=March 6, 2021 |website=hockeysfuture.com |publisher=Hockeys Future}}
Playing career
=Junior=
Following the 2011–12 season, Joshua was drafted by the Sioux Falls Stampede in the third round of the United States Hockey League (USHL) draft.{{cite web |last1=Mackinder |first1=Matt |title=Michigan well represented at USHL Futures Draft |url=http://mihockey.com/2012/05/michigan-well-represented-at-ushl-futures-draft/ |website=mihockey.com |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=May 2, 2012}} After splitting the 2012–13 season between Honeybaked and the USHL, Joshua was drafted 156th overall by the Plymouth Whalers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection.{{cite web |title=Twenty-five Michigan players selected during OHL Priority Selection |url=http://mihockey.com/2013/04/twenty-five-michigan-players-selected-during-ohl-priority-selection/ |website=mihockey.com |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=April 6, 2013}} Despite being drafted in the OHL, he continued to play in the USHL for the 2013–14 season.
Joshua was ranked 157th overall amongst North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.{{cite web |title=NHL CSS 2014 N. American skaters final rankings |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-css-2014-n-american-skaters-final-rankings/c-712854 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=April 8, 2014}} He was not invited to the NHL draft combine.{{Cite news |last=Kuzma |first=Ben |date=December 28, 2023 |title=Canucks: How Dakota Joshua found his game, how everybody knows his name |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-how-dakota-joshua-found-his-game |access-date=May 10, 2024|work=The Province}} Joshua was eventually selected in the fifth round, 128th overall, in the 2014 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was unaware he had been drafted until he received a phone call from Toronto management while in the car.{{cite web |last1=Caples |first1=Michael |title=2014 NHL Draft: Dakota Joshua found out via telephone that he was picked by the Leafs |url=http://mihockey.com/2014/07/2014-nhl-draft-dakota-joshua-found-out-via-telephone-that-he-was-picked-by-the-leafs/ |website=mihockey.com |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=July 2, 2014}} After drafting Joshua, Maple Leafs' amateur scouting director Dave Morrison spoke highly of him as a player, saying: "He's tall, very athletic, and we saw some flashes of real good skill towards the end of the year. His coaches couldn't say enough good things about him. He's very diligent in two ways of the game, and a top nine potential player."{{cite news |last1=Hornby |first1=Lance |title=Talent rising to the top at Maple Leafs prospect camp |url=https://torontosun.com/2014/07/08/talent-rising-to-the-top-at-maple-leafs-prospect-camp |access-date=March 6, 2021 |publisher=Toronto Sun |date=July 9, 2014}}
Joshua spent two full seasons with the Stampede, during which he helped them win the 2015 Clark Cup championship.{{cite web |title=Sioux Falls Stampede Win 2015 USHL Clark Cup Championship |url=https://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/515554-sioux-falls-stampede-win-2015-ushl-clark-cup-championship |website=ushl.com |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=May 15, 2015 |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407183435/https://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/515554-sioux-falls-stampede-win-2015-ushl-clark-cup-championship |url-status=dead }}
=Collegiate=
In his freshman season at the Ohio State University, Joshua recorded 17 points in 29 games for the Buckeyes. He recorded his first collegiate goal, which turned out to be the game-winner, during a shootout against the University of Michigan on January 15, 2016.{{cite web |last1=Colman |first1=Martin I. |title=Ohio State men's hockey, Michigan split emotionally charged, high-scoring series |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2016/01/ohio-state-mens-hockey-michigan-split-emotionally-charged-series/ |website=thelantern.com |publisher=The Lantern |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=January 17, 2016}} However, four days later, he received a game suspension due to his actions during the contest against Michigan on October 17.{{cite web |title=Suspensions Announced Following Michigan-Ohio State Hockey Game |url=https://bigten.org/news/2016/1/19/Suspensions_Announced_Following_Michigan_Ohio_State_Hockey_Game.aspx?path=mhockey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521231548/https://bigten.org/news/2016/1/19/Suspensions_Announced_Following_Michigan_Ohio_State_Hockey_Game.aspx?path=mhockey |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |website=Big Ten Conference |access-date=March 5, 2021 |date=January 19, 2016}} He helped the Buckeyes qualify for the 2016 Big Ten tournament but lost to the top-seeded University of Minnesota in the semifinals.{{cite web |last1=Colman |first1=Martin I. |title=Ohio State men's hockey team's season ends with loss to top seed Minnesota |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2016/03/ohio-state-mens-hockey-teams-season-ends-with-loss-to-top-seed-minnesota/ |website=thelantern.com |publisher=The Lantern |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=March 19, 2016}} The following season, Joshua recorded 12 goals and 23 assists, earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten accolades in March 2017.{{cite web |last1=Sprague |first1=Margee |title=Men's hockey: Ohio State enters Big Ten tournament with sights on NCAA automatic bid |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2017/03/mens-hockey-ohio-state-enters-big-ten-tournament-with-sights-on-ncaa-automatic-bid/ |website=thelantern.com |access-date=March 6, 2021 |date=March 15, 2017}} As well, off the ice, he was selected for the Ohio State Scholar–Athlete while majoring in the sports industry and selected for the Academic All-Big Ten team.
=Professional=
On July 12, 2019, Joshua's rights were traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for future considerations.{{cite web |title=Blues acquire Dakota Joshua in trade with Maple Leafs |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/blues-acquire-dakota-joshua-trade-maple-leafs/ |website=sportsnet.ca |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=March 2, 2021 |date=July 12, 2019}} Joshua made his NHL debut on March 1, 2021, in a 5–4 win over the Anaheim Ducks, and scored a goal.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Jim |title=Blues Game Day: Joshua makes his NHL debut for Blues |url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/professional/blues-game-day-joshua-makes-his-nhl-debut-for-blues/article_7bcc98ca-3ff9-508c-94da-84dbf2491c86.html |access-date=March 2, 2021 |publisher=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=March 2, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Sanford scores 2 goals, Blues hold off Ducks 5-4 |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401272444 |website=ESPN |access-date=November 21, 2024 |date=March 1, 2021}} After scoring in his debut, Joshua said: "It was all I expected and then some. Playing in the National Hockey League is the biggest honor you can have in the sport of hockey. So, it was an unreal experience to be a part of the club today."{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Corey |title='It was all I expected and then some' Blues rookie Dakota Joshua talks about scoring in NHL debut |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/sports/nhl/blues/blues-dakota-joshua-first-nhl-goal/63-c733fc6c-69e2-4623-8e9b-bdec12815839 |website=ksdk |publisher=KSDK |access-date=March 5, 2021 |date=March 2, 2021}} He was reassigned to the taxi squad shortly after but called up again on March 5.{{cite web |title=Blues' Dakota Joshua: Recalled Friday |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/blues-dakota-joshua-recalled-friday/ |work=CBS Sports |access-date=March 5, 2021 |date=March 5, 2021}}
As a free agent from the Blues, Joshua signed a two-year, $1.65 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 13, 2022.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-agree-to-terms-with-dakota-joshua/c-334958494 | title = Canucks agree to terms with Dakota Joshua | publisher = Vancouver Canucks | date = July 13, 2022 | accessdate = July 13, 2022}} On February 13, 2024, in a 4–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, he achieved a Gordie Howe hat trick with an assist on each of Conor Garland's two goals, also scoring the Canucks' last goal of the match and fought MacKenzie Entwistle, both in the third period.{{cite web |last1=MacIntyre |first1=Iain |title=Canucks Takeaways: Joshua playing best hockey of career as third line drives win |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/canucks-takeaways-joshua-playing-best-hockey-of-career-as-third-line-drives-win/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=November 21, 2024 |date=February 14, 2024}}
On June 27, 2024, after setting career-highs in goals and assists with the Canucks, Joshua signed a four-year, $13 million contract extension to remain with the team.{{cite web |title=Canucks Agree to Terms with Forward Dakota Joshua on a Four-Year Contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-agree-to-terms-with-forward-dakota-joshua-on-a-four-year-contract |publisher=NHL |access-date=27 June 2024}} In the summer of 2024, Joshua was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which required surgery and made him miss the training camp for the 2024–25 season.{{cite web |title=Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua set for season debut after cancer treatment |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-canucks-joshua-dakota-season-debut-cancer-treatment-1.7383623 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=November 21, 2024 |date=November 14, 2024}} He returned to play on November 14, in a 5–2 loss against the New York Islanders.{{cite web |last1=Woodley |first1=Kevin |title=Joshua makes season debut for Canucks after testicular cancer recovery |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dakota-joshua-to-return-for-vancouver-after-cancer-recovery |website=NHL.com |access-date=November 21, 2024 |date=November 14, 2024}}
Career statistics
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="101" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2012–13
| U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2012–13 | USHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14
| Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | 55 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 58
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2014–15 | Sioux Falls Stampede | USHL | 52 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 74
| 11 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 38 |
| 2015–16
| B1G | 29 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 50
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | Ohio State University | B1G | 33 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 58
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18
| Ohio State University | B1G | 34 | 15 | 11 | 26 | 32
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2018–19 | Ohio State University | B1G | 32 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 67
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20
| AHL | 30 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 25
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | ECHL | 20 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 4
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21
| AHL | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2020–21 | NHL | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22
| AHL | 35 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 23
| 18 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 58 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021–22 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 30 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–23
| NHL | 79 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 60
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2023–24 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 63 | 18 | 14 | 32 | 60
| 13 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 10 |
| 2024–25
| Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 57 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 38
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 241 !! 40 !! 38 !! 78 !! 181 ! 14 !! 4 !! 4 !! 8 !! 10 |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! Ref |
| colspan="3"| USHL |
|---|
| Clark Cup champion
| 2015 |
| colspan="3"|College |
| B1G Honorable Mention All-Star Team
| 2017 |
| colspan="3"|Vancouver Canucks |
| Fred J. Hume Award |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joshua, Dakota}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:African-American ice hockey players
Category:American men's ice hockey centers
Category:Ice hockey people from Wayne County, Michigan
Category:Ice hockey players from Michigan
Category:Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey players
Category:San Antonio Rampage players
Category:Sioux Falls Stampede players
Category:Sportspeople from Dearborn, Michigan
Category:Springfield Thunderbirds players
Category:St. Louis Blues players
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs draft picks
Category:Tulsa Oilers (1992–present) players
Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players