Justin Dowling

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Justin Dowling

| image = {{CSS image crop | Image = M2k7427jpg 42656843871 o (41215835060).jpg | bSize = 380 | cWidth = 230 | cHeight = 300 | oTop = 15 | oLeft = 20 | Location = center}}

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Dowling with the Texas Stars in 2018

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|10|01}}

| birth_place = Cochrane, Alberta, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 180

| position = Centre

| shoots = Left

| league = NHL

| team = New Jersey Devils

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league = AHL

| former_teams = Dallas Stars
Vancouver Canucks

| draft = Undrafted

| career_start = 2011

| career_end =

}}

Justin Dowling (born October 1, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Early life

Dowling was born on October 1, 1990, in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada{{cite web |title=Justin Dowling

|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/23320/justin-dowling |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=November 9, 2021}} to parents Glen and Sherry. He also grew up alongside his brother Jaeden. {{cite news |title=Justin Dowling debuts in Dallas as family cheers on at home |url=https://www.cochranetoday.ca/local-sports/justin-dowling-debuts-in-dallas-as-family-cheers-on-at-home-1452731 |access-date=November 9, 2021 |publisher=Cochrane Today |date=October 27, 2016}} Growing up in Alberta, he played one season with the Airdrie Xtreme before joining the UFA Bisons from 2005 to 2007.{{cite web |last1=Edey |first1=Nicole |title=Former Xtreme is now a Vancouver Canuck |url=https://www.discoverairdrie.com/local-sports/former-xtreme-is-now-a-vancouver-canuck |website=DiscoverAirdrie.com |access-date=November 9, 2021 |date=August 19, 2021}} Dowling attended Bow Valley High School.{{cite news |title=Justin Dowling is a big hit with Dallas affiliate |url=https://www.cochranetoday.ca/opinion/justin-dowling-is-a-big-hit-with-dallas-affiliate-1448788 |access-date=November 9, 2021 |publisher=Cochrane Today |date=June 26, 2014}}

Playing career

Not selected in any NHL Entry Draft, Dowling played major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Swift Current Broncos. In his final season with the Broncos in 2010–11, he served as team captain and contributed 20 goals and 67 points in 63 games. Unable to lead the Broncos to the playoffs, Dowling made his professional debut in the American Hockey League (AHL) after initially signing an amateur try-out contract with the Abbotsford Heat on March 25, 2011.{{cite web | url = http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13809&Itemid=34 | title = Dowling signs in AHL with the Abbotsford Heat | publisher = Swiftcurrentonline.com | date = 2011-03-25 | access-date = 2011-03-25 | archive-date = October 31, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161031024230/http://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13809&Itemid=34 | url-status = dead }}

File:Justin Dowling - Texas Stars (2).jpg

Dowling started the 2012–13 season in the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads,{{cite web | url = http://www.defendingbigd.com/2013/3/28/4154634/texas-stars-report-keeping-an-eye-on-justin-dowling | title = Texas Stars Report: Keeping An Eye On Justin Dowling | publisher = Defending Big D | date = 2012-12-29 | access-date = 2013-03-28 | archive-date = October 30, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030205953/http://www.defendingbigd.com/2013/3/28/4154634/texas-stars-report-keeping-an-eye-on-justin-dowling | url-status = dead }}] but midway through the season, the AHL's Texas Stars signed Dowling to a standard AHL contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.texasstarshockey.com/articles/stars-call-up-two-forwards-from-idaho |title=Stars call up two players from Idaho |publisher=Texas Stars |date=2013-02-01 |access-date=2012-10-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113085638/http://www.texasstarshockey.com/articles/stars-call-up-two-forwards-from-idaho |archive-date=January 13, 2013 }}

In his first full season with Texas, Dowling continued to impress at the AHL level and was rewarded with a two-year contract with the team's NHL affiliate, the Dallas Stars, on March 26, 2014.{{cite web| url = http://stars.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=711403 | title =Stars sign Dowling to two-year deal | publisher = Dallas Stars | date = 2014-03-26 | access-date = 2014-03-26}} Dowling cemented his offensive role with Texas, contributing amongst the teams leaders with 50 and 46 points over the tenure of his initial contract with the Stars. While on the team Brandon Defazio is contributed as the vessel accountable for Dowlings NHL career.

On May 31, 2016, Dowling signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Dallas.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-sign-forwards-justin-dowling-and-brendan-ranford/c-884577 | title = Stars sign forwards Justin Dowling and Brendan Ranford | publisher = Dallas Stars | date = 2016-05-31 | access-date = 2016-05-31}} He began the 2016–17 season in the AHL, but after an offensive flourish in his first five games, he received his first NHL call-up by Dallas on October 25, 2016.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-recall-forward-justin-dowling-from-texas/c-283043260 | title = Stars recall Justin Dowling from Texas | publisher = Dallas Stars | date = 2016-10-25 | access-date = 2016-10-25}} He made his NHL debut that same night, contributing one assist in a 3–2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.{{cite web| url = http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20161025_WPG@DAL | title = Niemi makes 28 saves as Stars beat Jets | work = CBS Sports | date = 2016-10-25 | access-date = 2016-10-25}} After two games with Dallas, Dowling was returned to Texas on October 29, 2016.

On May 8, 2017, Dowling signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with Dallas.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-sign-forward-justin-dowling-to-a-two-year-contract-extension/c-289332814 | title = Stars sign forward Justin Dowling to two-year extension | publisher = Dallas Stars | date = 2017-05-08 | access-date = 2017-05-08}} He scored his first career NHL goal on November 13, 2019 in a 3–1 win over the Calgary Flames.{{cite web |last1=Vickers |first1=Aaron |title=Pavelski scores twice for Stars in win against Flames |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-stars-calgary-flames-game-recap/c-311269518 |website=nhl.com |access-date=November 14, 2019 |date=November 14, 2019}}

As a free agent from the Stars after completing his ninth season within the organization, Dowling was signed to a two-year, $1.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 28, 2021.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-sign-dowling-hunt--keeper-to-one-way-deals/c-325848944 | title = Canucks sign Dowling, Keeper and Hunt | publisher = Vancouver Canucks | date = July 28, 2021 | accessdate = July 28, 2021}}

Leaving the Canucks as a free agent, Dowling was signed by the New Jersey Devils to a one-year, two-way contract on July 1, 2023 for the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/criscuolo-dowling-join-devils-on-two-way-contracts--release/c-345164450|title=Criscuolo, Dowling join Devils on two-way contracts |website=NHL.com|publisher= New Jersey Devils |date=July 1, 2023|access-date=July 1, 2023}} In his Devils debut on January 25, 2024, a 3–2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Dowling recorded a goal.{{cite web |title=Devils fall to Hurricanes after coach Lindy Ruff hit in the face by a puck. Oilers win 15th straight |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/devils-fall-hurricanes-coach-lindy-053124742.html |website=sports.yahoo.com |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=January 28, 2024 |date=January 26, 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

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2006–07

| Swift Current Broncos

| WHL

| 3

| 0

| 3

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2007–08

| Swift Current Broncos

| WHL

| 71

| 7

| 21

| 28

| 4

| 12

| 4

| 3

| 7

| 2

2008–09

| Swift Current Broncos

| WHL

| 71

| 22

| 44

| 66

| 16

| 7

| 2

| 4

| 6

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2009–10

| Swift Current Broncos

| WHL

| 72

| 32

| 46

| 78

| 19

| 4

| 2

| 4

| 2

2010–11

| Swift Current Broncos

| WHL

| 63

| 20

| 47

| 67

| 18

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2010–11

| Abbotsford Heat

| AHL

| 8

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 2

| —

2011–12

| Utah Grizzlies

| ECHL

| 26

| 6

| 18

| 24

| 6

| 3

| 0

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011–12

| Abbotsford Heat

| AHL

| 22

| 1

| 2

| 6

| —

2012–13

| Idaho Steelheads

| ECHL

| 34

| 13

| 33

| 46

| 16

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 38

| 16

| 14

| 30

| 4

| 9

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 2

2013–14

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 74

| 12

| 35

| 47

| 8

| 14

| 4

| 10

| 14

| 4

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 65

| 24

| 26

| 50

| 22

| 3

| 0

2015–16

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 52

| 11

| 35

| 46

| 10

| 4

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2016–17

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 49

| 8

| 20

| 28

| 8

| —

2016–17

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 9

| 0

| 2

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2017–18

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 65

| 13

| 28

| 41

| 18

| 22

| 4

| 13

| 17

| 2

2018–19

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 62

| 13

| 40

| 53

| 12

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018–19

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 11

| 0

| 1

| 0

| 13

| 0

| 2

| 0

2019–20

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 29

| 3

| 6

| 8

| 2

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2019–20

| Texas Stars

| AHL

| 3

| 0

| 3

| 2

| —

2020–21

| Dallas Stars

| NHL

| 27

| 1

| 4

| 5

| 6

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2021–22

| Vancouver Canucks

| NHL

| 22

| 2

| 4

| 2

| —

2021–22

| Abbotsford Canucks

| AHL

| 15

| 5

| 9

| 14

| 0

| 2

| 0

| 1

| 0

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2022–23

| Abbotsford Canucks

| AHL

| 56

| 11

| 35

| 46

| 18

| 6

| 0

| 3

| 0

2023–24

| Utica Comets

| AHL

| 57

| —

—

bgcolor="f0f0f0"

| 2023–24

| New Jersey Devils

| NHL

| 2

| —

—

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 100 !! 7 !! 12 !! 19 !! 18

! 15 !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 0

Awards and achievements

class="wikitable" ! Awards ! Year ! Ref
colspan="3"\|AHL
Calder Cup champion \| 2014 \| {{cite web\| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-ahl-affiliate-texas-stars-win-calder-cup-championship/c-722980 \| title = Dallas Stars' affiliate wins AHL Calder Cup \| publisher = Dallas Stars \| date = 2014-06-18 \| access-date = 2014-06-18}}

class="wikitable"

! Awards

! Year

! Ref

colspan="3"|AHL

Calder Cup champion

| 2014

| {{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-ahl-affiliate-texas-stars-win-calder-cup-championship/c-722980 | title = Dallas Stars' affiliate wins AHL Calder Cup | publisher = Dallas Stars | date = 2014-06-18 | access-date = 2014-06-18}}