Josh Healey

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Josh Healey

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|7|12}}

| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lb = 196

| position = Defence

| shoots = Left

| league = AHL

| team = Free agent

| prospect_league =

| prospect_team =

| former_teams = Stockton Heat
Milwaukee Admirals
Chicago Wolves
San Diego Gulls
Rockford IceHogs

| ntl_team =

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2017

| career_end =

}}

Josh Healey (born July 12, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL). He is also the founder of The Sports Aux hockey recruiting platform.{{cite web |title=The Sports Aux |url=https://www.thesportsaux.com/ |access-date=March 26, 2023}}

Playing career

Healey began his career in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), playing parts of three seasons for the Sherwood Park Crusaders between 2010 and 2013. While Healey went unselected in the NHL Entry Draft, he attracted American college interest and committed to Ohio State University to play for the Buckeyes beginning with the 2013–14 Division I season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ajhl.ca/media-centre/news-archives.html?rYear=&nID=2197|title=AJHL {{!}} League News Archives|website=www.ajhl.ca|access-date=2018-07-15|archive-date=July 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715210929/http://www.ajhl.ca/media-centre/news-archives.html?rYear=&nID=2197|url-status=dead}}

Healey played with Ohio State for four years, emerging as one of the top players on the Big Ten team. He was named to the Big Ten's year-end all-star teams twice: to the first team in 2015–16 Division I season, and to the second team in 2016–17. During his final season with the team, on February 13, 2017, Healey was suspended two games by the Big Ten for a high hit against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. One NHL scout remarked of Healey that he "hits too hard for college hockey," but that "his game will be better suited for pro."{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/healey-stands-out-in-thin-college-free-agent-class-1.670748|title=Healey stands out in thin college free agent class - Article - TSN|date=2017-02-13|work=TSN|access-date=2018-07-15}} Just over a month later, Healey turned professional by signing a two-year entry-level deal with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/flames-closing-deal-college-defenceman-josh-healy/|title=Flames sign college defenceman Josh Healey to entry-level deal - Sportsnet.ca|work=Sportsnet.ca|access-date=2018-07-15|language=en-US}}

At the conclusion of his entry-level deal with the Flames, Healey was not tendered a qualifying offer on June 25, 2019, enabling him to become a free agent.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flames-provide-qualifying-offers-to-eight-players/c-308057818 | title = Flames provide qualifying offers to eight players | publisher = Calgary Flames | date = June 25, 2019 | access-date = June 25, 2019}} He was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals, affiliate to the Nashville Predators on August 2, 2019.{{cite web| url = https://twitter.com/mkeadmirals/status/1157305250434490375 | title = Admirals sign Josh Healey to one-year AHL contract | publisher = Milwaukee Admirals | date = August 2, 2019 | access-date = August 2, 2019}}

Healey continued to play through Predators affiliations, joining the Chicago Wolves for the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season. After 20 regular season contests, Healey was signed by the Nashville Predators to add depth to the blueline on a two-way contract for the remainder of the year on April 11, 2021.{{cite web| url = https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/predators-josh-healey-signs-two-way-contract/ | title = Predators' Josh Healey signs two-way contract | work = CBS Sports | date = April 11, 2021 | access-date = April 11, 2021}}

With the AHL season completed, Healey continued within the Predators organization, returning to the Milwaukee Admirals on a one-year AHL contract on May 19, 2021.{{cite web| url = https://www.milwaukeeadmirals.com/news/ads-sign-healey-to-ahl-deal/ | title = Josh Healey inks deal for 2021-22 | publisher = Milwaukee Admirals | date = May 19, 2021 | accessdate = May 19, 2021}}

Moving to the San Diego Gulls for the 2022–23 season, Healey made 12 appearances as an alternate captain with the club before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

On July 4, 2023, Healey continued his tenure in the AHL, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Rockford IceHogs, the primary affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, for the 2023–24 season.{{cite web| url = https://theahl.com/icehogs-sign-healey-to-ahl-deal | title = IceHogs sign Healey to AHL deal | publisher = American Hockey League | date = July 4, 2023 | accessdate = July 4, 2023}} He appeared in 48 games for the team, recording 1 assist.

Personal life

Healey was born to Tim and Pam Healey and has a younger sister, Jess. Jess is a former professional ice hockey player. His grandfather, Rich Healey, is a former professional ice hockey player who played one NHL game for the Detroit Red Wings.{{cite web |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/healey-josh/5494 |title=Josh Healey |website=ohiostatebuckeyes.com |access-date=October 17, 2024}}