Hayden Hodgson

{{Infobox ice hockey biography

| name = Hayden Hodgson

| image = Hayden Hodgson (9525013400).jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Hodgson with the Erie Otters in 2013

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|3|2}}

| birth_place = Windsor, Ontario, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 207

| position = Right wing

| shoots = Right

| league = NHL

| team = Ottawa Senators

| prospect_team = Belleville Senators

| prospect_league = AHL

| former_teams = Philadelphia Flyers

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2017

}}

Hayden Hodgson (born March 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Early life

Hodgson was born on March 2, 1996, in Windsor, Ontario,{{cite web |title=Hayden Hodgson Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/hayden-hodgson-8478173 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=March 24, 2022}} to Christine and Todd Hodgson. He grew up playing ice hockey, baseball, and golf in Leamington, Ontario, and spent most of his adolescence deciding whether he would pursue hockey or baseball professionally.{{cite news |last=Sager |first=Neate |title=Erie Otters' Hayden Hodgson has daily affirmation for choosing hockey over baseball |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/buzzing-the-net/erie-otters-hayden-hodgson-daily-affirmation-choosing-hockey-160203756.html |work=Buzzing the Net |via=Yahoo! Sports |date=October 4, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2022}} Despite collecting several awards for golf, he abandoned that sport when his golf swing negatively impacted his baseball batting.{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Jim |title=Bruising battle |url=https://pressreader.com/article/281505043191232 |work=Windsor Star |date=April 4, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=PressReader}} Hodgson spent the 2011–12 season playing minor ice hockey for the Sun County Panthers of the Alliance Hockey organization, scoring 21 goals and recording 41 points in 28 games, while pitching for the Windsor Selects under-16 team.{{cite news |author=Jeff |title=OHL Draft see seven local players selected |url=https://windsorstar.com/sports/hockey/ohl-draft-sees-five-local-players-selected |work=Windsor Star |date=April 7, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2022}}

Playing career

=Junior=

The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) drafted Hodgson in the third round, 44th overall, of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.{{cite news |title=Follow the 2012 OHL Priority Selection here! |url=https://ottershockey.com/otters-select-15-players-in-2012-ohl-priority-selection |publisher=Erie Otters |date=April 7, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=CHL.ca}} His first OHL goal came on October 24 as part of the Otters' 7–1 rout of the Saginaw Spirit.{{cite news |title=Otters dominate Spirit in 7–1 win |url=https://ottershockey.com/otters-dominate-spirit-in-7-1-win |publisher=Erie Otters |date=October 24, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=CHL.ca}} He did not score again until November 23, when he recorded the first goal in the Otters' 3–2 loss to the Guelph Storm.{{cite news |title=Otters lose in Guelph, 3–2 |url=https://ottershockey.com/otters-lose-in-guelph-3-2 |publisher=Erie Otters |date=November 23, 2012 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=CHL.ca}} On February 24, Hodgson collided with Henri Ikonen of the Kingston Frontenacs. He was assessed a major interference penalty and was ejected from the game,{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Patrick |title=Frots end road trip with win in Erie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98323175/ |work=The Kingston Whig-Standard |page=13 |date=February 25, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} while Ikonen, who was leading the Frontenacs at that point with 48 points, sustained a concussion.{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Doug |title=Generals too much for Frontenacs |url=https://www.thewhig.com/2013/02/27/generals-too-much-for-frontenacs |work=The Kingston Whig-Standard |date=February 27, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2022}} The OHL issued Hodgson a ten-game suspension for the hit, and as the suspension came with only seven games left in the 2012–13 season, Hodgson's rookie year ended early. He recorded eight goals and 12 points in 60 games.{{Cite news |title=Express break losing streak against Jazz |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98323390/ |work=Windsor Star |page=B3 |date=February 28, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Hodgson recorded the first goal of his sophomore OHL season on November 11, 2013, in a 5–3 win over the Niagara IceDogs.{{cite news |last=Potrecz |first=Bill |title=Late rally sinks Dogs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98323589/ |work=The St. Catharines Standard |page=1C |date=November 12, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} After acquiring four goals, nine points, and 45 penalty minutes in 34 games with Erie during the 2013–14 season, Hodgson was traded to the Sarnia Sting on January 10, 2014, in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2015 OHL priority selection draft.{{cite news |title=Sting acquire Hodgson from Otters |url=https://sarniasting.com/sting-acquire-hodgson-from-otters |publisher=Sarnia Sting |date=January 10, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=CHL.ca}} In his first game with his new team, Hodgson was assessed a major penalty for an illegal check to the head of Plymouth Whalers skater Liam Dunda. After review, he was suspended for another 10 games.{{cite news |title=Spitfire out for 8 games |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98323964/ |work=Windsor Star |page=B4 |date=January 17, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} After the trade, Hodgson recorded five goals, nine points, and 19 penalty minutes in 18 games with Sarnia.{{cite web |title=Hayden Hodgson |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/188193/hayden-hodgson |website=Elite Prospects |access-date=March 24, 2022}}

After joining the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Detroit Red Wings' rookie camp on a free agent tryout,{{cite news |title=Vipers improve to 3–0 with win over Rockets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98325189/ |work=Windsor Star |page=B3 |date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}} Hodgson returned to the Sting for the 2014–15 season.{{cite news |last=Borody |first=Dave |title=Sting lose 4–2 in Home Opener |url=https://sarniasting.com/sting-fall-to-colts-in-home-opener |publisher=Sarnia Sting |date=October 3, 2014 |access-date=March 24, 2022 |via=CHL.ca}} He began the 2015–16 season with Sarnia. On January 12, 2016, the Sting sent Hodgson to the Saginaw Spirit in exchange for centre Devon Paliani and four draft picks in the 2016 draft. Hodgson had struggled to that point with the Sting, with only five goals in 36 games.{{cite news |last=Bridge |first=Terry |title=Sarnia Sting flip Hayden Hodgson to the Saginaw Spirit on deadline day |url=https://www.theobserver.ca/2016/01/12/sarnia-sting-flip-hayden-hodgson-to-the-saginaw-spirit-on-deadline-day |work=Sarnia Observer |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=March 25, 2022}}

=Professional=

Hodgson went undrafted by NHL teams.{{cite web |url=https://www.inquirer.com/flyers/flyers-hayden-hodgson-journey-echl-nhl-20220415.html |title='Where have you been? Lost?' How Hayden Hodgson finally fulfilled his dream of making it to the NHL |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |last=Han |first=Giana |date=April 15, 2022 |access-date=October 4, 2024 |url-access=subscription}} On March 23, 2017, Hodgson signed a contract with the Cleveland Monsters, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets.{{cite news |last=Bernreuter |first=Hugh |title=Spirit forward Hayden Hodgson signs with Columbus AHL affiliate |url=https://www.mlive.com/spirit/2017/03/spirit_forward_hayden_hodgson.html |work=MLive.com |date=March 23, 2017 |access-date=March 24, 2022}} He played one season with Cleveland, but it went poorly and Hodgson spent the next two years splitting time between three teams in the ECHL, the Florida Everblades, Manchester Monarchs, and Wichita Thunder. He then went to Europe, playing with HC 07 Detva in Slovakia. He returned to North America for the 2019–20 season, playing in the ECHL with the Reading Royals. However, he suffered a serious cut to his leg during play and missed two months. The Royals chose not to resume play during the pandemic in the 2020–21 season, but Hodgson wanted to play and he was first sent to the Wheeling Nailers and then the Utah Grizzlies. He returned to the Royals for the 2021–22 season, but tried out for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, the affiliate of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers. He earned a two-way contract with the Phantoms.

On March 22, 2022, the Flyers signed Hodgson to an NHL contract for the remainder of the {{NHL Year|2021}} season, with an average annual value of $750,000.{{cite news |title=Flyers sign RW Hayden Hodgson to a NHL contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-sign-rw-hayden-hodgson-to-a-nhl-contract/c-332117680 |publisher=National Hockey League |agency=Philadelphia Flyers |date=March 22, 2022}} He made his NHL debut two nights later when the Flyers faced the St. Louis Blues, filling in for an injured Oskar Lindblom. At the time, he had recorded 16 goals and 29 points in 44 games with the Phantoms.{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Jordan |title=A winger to make his NHL debut; Flyers trade for a defenseman |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/hayden-hodgson-make-nhl-debut-vs-blues-flyers-trade-brennan-menell |work=NBC Sports Philadelphia |date=March 24, 2022 |access-date=March 24, 2022}} Hodgson recorded his first NHL goal and assist in his debut, and the Flyers won 5–2 at the Enterprise Center, their first win on the road of 2022.{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Jordan |title=A winger has big game in NHL debut, Konecny nets 2 and Flyers get rare road win |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/flyers/flyers-vs-blues-hayden-hodgson-travis-konecny-deliver-first-road-win-2022?cid=Yahoo&partner=ya4nbcs |work=NBC Sports Philadelphia |date=March 24, 2022 |access-date=March 25, 2022}}

On June 6, 2023, Hodgson was sent to the Los Angeles Kings as part of a three-team trade with Philadelphia and Columbus.{{cite news |title=Flyers participate in three-team trade with Columbus and Los Angeles |url=https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-participate-in-three-team-trade-with-columbus-and-los-angeles/c-344759244 |publisher=Philadelphia Flyers |date=June 6, 2023 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |via=NHL.com}} Hodgson played the entire 2023–24 season for the Kings' AHL affiliate Ontario Reign.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/ottawa-senators-sign-f-hayden-hodgson-to-one-year-two-way-deal/ |title=Ottawa Senators sign F Hayden Hodgson to one-year, two-way deal |work=Sportsnet |date=July 2, 2024 |access-date=October 4, 2024}}

On July 2, 2024, the Ottawa Senators signed Hodgson as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract.{{cite press release |publisher=Ottawa Senators |title=Hey, Hayden |url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/hayden-hodgson-signing |date=July 2, 2024 |access-date=July 15, 2024 |via=NHL.com}} He passed through waivers, going unclaimed, and was assigned to Belleville to start the 2024–25 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5799672/2024/10/04/nhl-waivers-tracker-preseason/ |title=NHL waiver tracker: Best players on the wire throughout 2024-25 preseason |work=The Athletic |last1=Pronman |first1=Corey |last2=Dayal |first2=Harman |date=4 October 2024 |access-date=4 October 2024}}

Career statistics

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season !! Team !! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
2011–12	Sun County Panthers U16 AAA	ALLIANCE \| 42	29	25	54	82 \|—	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2011–12	Leamington Flyers	GOJHL \| 1	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Erie Otters	OHL \| 60	8	4	12	60 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2013–14	Erie Otters	OHL \| 34	4	5	9	45 \| —	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Sarnia Sting	OHL \| 18	5	4	9	19 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2014–15	Sarnia Sting	OHL \| 59	23	15	38	62 \| 5	2	0	2	9
2015–16	Sarnia Sting	OHL \| 36	5	9	14	53 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2015–16	Saginaw Spirit	OHL \| 20	4	5	9	21 \| 4	0	3	3	4
2016–17	Saginaw Spirit	OHL \| 67	38	28	66	71 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2017–18	Cleveland Monsters	AHL \| 41	3	3	6	35 \| —	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Florida Everblades	ECHL \| 3	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2017–18	Manchester Monarchs	ECHL \| 2	0	2	2	2 \| —	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Wichita Thunder	ECHL \| 13	2	2	4	22 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2018–19	HC 07 Detva	2HL \| 21	7	7	14	43 \| 6	0	0	0	2
2019–20	Reading Royals	ECHL \| 36	12	8	20	49 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2020–21	Wheeling Nailers	ECHL \| 18	2	4	6	41 \| —	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Utah Grizzlies	ECHL \| 26	6	6	12	86 \| 3	0	1	1	12
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2021–22	Lehigh Valley Phantoms	AHL \| 46	19	12	31	70 \| —	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL \| 6	1	2	3	11 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2022–23	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL \| 1	0	0	0	0 \| —	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Lehigh Valley Phantoms	AHL \| 44	3	5	8	83 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2023–24	Ontario Reign	AHL \| 49	6	10	16	116 \| 7	1	0	1	30
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| NHL totals ! 7 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 11 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! —