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Alex Killorn

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Alex Killorn
Killorn with the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2014
Born (1989-09-14) September 14, 1989 (age 35)
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position Centre / Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Anaheim Ducks
Tampa Bay Lightning
National team  Canada
NHL draft 77th overall, 2007
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 2012–present

Alexander Joseph Killorn (born September 14, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round, 77th overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Killorn won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.

Early life

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Although born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he grew up in Beaconsfield, Quebec, with two sisters.[1][2][3] He attended Loyola High School in Montreal and played Lakeshore minor hockey. He played midget AAA hockey for the Lac St. Louis Lions before attending Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts for two seasons.[1][2]

Playing career

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Collegiate

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Killorn was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in the third round, 77th overall, during the summer before his senior year at Deerfield.[2] He then played collegiate hockey in the United States with Harvard University in the NCAA Men's Division I ECAC Hockey conference. In his senior year, Killorn's outstanding play was recognized when he was selected to the 2011–12 ECAC Hockey First Team.[4]

Professional (2012–present)

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Tampa Bay Lightning (2012–2023)

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After finishing his senior season with Harvard, Killorn was assigned to the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) at the end of the 2011–12 campaign.[5] Killorn turned out to be a key player for the Admirals as they went on to win the Calder Cup.[6]

On May 19, 2012, Killorn signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[7] During the 2012 NHL lockout, Killorn played for the Lightning's American Hockey League top affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch then came up to the NHL for the Lightning after the lockout ended in January 2013. On February 10, 2013, he recorded his first career NHL assist and point on a goal scored by captain Vincent Lecavalier, against the New York Rangers. On February 16, Killorn scored his first goal on José Théodore in a 6–5 overtime win against the inner-state rival Florida Panthers. Killorn finished his rookie year, the 48-game lockout-shortened 2012–13 season with seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points in 38 games, while the Lightning as a team finished second-to-last in the Eastern Conference and third-to-last in the league altogether.[8]

Killorn during his tenure with the Tampa Bay Lightning in October 2013

Killorn had a breakout season during the 2013–14 season, his second in the NHL, finishing the season with 17 goals, 24 assists and 41 points recorded in all 82 games played, helping the Lightning qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2011 as the team finished third in the East. Killorn made his Stanley Cup playoff debut on April 16, 2014, in the first game in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs, which ended in a 5–4 loss against the Montreal Canadiens, recording a goal on Carey Price and an assist on a goal scored by captain Steven Stamkos.[9] The Lightning would eventually get swept in four games by the sixth-seeded Canadiens and Killorn finished his first playoff year and series with a goal and an assist for two points in all four contests played.

On June 19, 2014, the Lightning announced that they had re-signed Killorn to a two-year $5.1 million contract extension for $2.55 million annually.[10] Killorn played 71 games in the 2014–15 season, recording 15 goals, 23 assists and 38 points. During the 2015 playoffs, Killorn had a successful post season run with the Lightning, as the team would defeat the Detroit Red Wings in seven games in the opening round (erasing a 3–2 series deficit in doing so) before defeating the Montreal Canadiens in six games in the second round and the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers in seven games in the third round to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, where the Lightning ended up falling to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.[11] During the run, Killorn posted several records for former players from Harvard. In the Finals, Killorn's game 1 goal on Corey Crawford on June 3, 2015, was the first goal scored by a Harvard alum in a Stanley Cup Finals game. Killorn added a second goal in game four of the series on Crawford a week later on June 10 to become the first Harvard alum with multiple goals and/or assists in a Stanley Cup Finals series. His 2015 postseason scoring totaled (nine goals and assists for 18 points in all 26 games played), which are all single-post season records among the twelve Harvard alumni who have played in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Killorn's ten goals over two post seasons is second only to Dominic Moore (11 goals) on the Harvard all-time list, which was achieved in only 30 playoff games (in the opening round in 2014 and all four rounds in 2015 combined) to Moore's 88.[12]

In the 2015–16 season, Killorn appeared in 81 games with the team, recording 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points. In the 2016 playoffs, Killorn and the Lightning would go on another deep playoff run as they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the first round for the second consecutive time, this time in five games before defeating the New York Islanders in five games in the second round and falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round in seven games, one win short from a second consecutive appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals and erasing a 3–2 series lead in the process. Killorn skated in all 17 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring five goals, and eight assists for 13 points.

On July 17, 2016, Killorn signed a seven-year, $31 million extension with the Lightning.[13][14] On March 23, 2017, Killorn recorded his 100th career assist on a goal scored by Jonathan Drouin in a 6–3 win against the Boston Bruins.[15] Killorn finished the 2016–17 season with 81 games played and 19 goals, 17 assists and 36 points recorded as the Lightning as a team finished one point out of a playoff spot, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

On November 3, 2017, the NHL Department of Player Safety fined Killorn $5,000 for an incident that occurred during a game against the New York Rangers the previous night.[16] Killorn completed the 2017–18 campaign playing in all 82 games and recording 15 goals, 32 assists and 47 points as the Lightning as a team finished as the top seed in the East to return to the playoffs. In the 2018 playoffs (after narrowly missing the playoffs the previous season), Killorn and the Lightning went on another lengthy run as they defeated the New Jersey Devils in five games in the first round along with the Boston Bruins in five games in the second round before losing in seven games in the third round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, one win short from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals once more and surrendering a 3–2 series lead in doing so. Killorn ended the run with five goals and two assists for seven points in all 17 games.

On February 19, 2019, Killorn recorded his 100th career NHL goal against Carter Hart in a 5-2 Lightning victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.[17][18] On February 28, Killorn played his 500th NHL game in a 4–1 loss over the Boston Bruins. Killorn recorded his first career NHL hat-trick against the Washington Capitals on March 16.[19] Killorn ended the 2018–19 season playing in all 82 contests once more and putting up 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points as the Lightning clinched the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history as the regular season champions. In the opening round of the 2019 playoffs, however, Killorn would be limited to one goal and no assists for one point in all four games as the Lightning would be on the receiving end of a four-game sweep by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Killorn was named alternate captain for the Lightning prior to the 2019–20 season after Ryan Callahan went into an early retirement due to a degenerative back disease caused by multiple back injuries in a short time span.[20][21] The last three weeks of the season would get canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the playoffs would get postponed until the summer, resulting in Killorn finishing the season playing in 68 games with 26 goals, 23 assists and 49 points recorded.[20][22][23] The 26 goals was a career high for Killorn as he was on pace for scoring 30+ goals for the first time in his career at the time the NHL announced the last 12 games would be canceled. On September 10, 2020, Killorn was suspended one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety for boarding New York Islanders' forward Brock Nelson during the Eastern Conference final playoff game against the Islanders the previous day.[24] Killorn and the Lightning would eventually defeat the Islanders in the third round in six games then the Dallas Stars in six games in the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals to clinch the Stanley Cup.[25] He ended the 2020 playoffs with five goals and assists for 10 points in 24 games. Killorn was nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy by the Lightning following the season but did not win it or was named a top three finalist by the NHL.[26][27]

Killorn finished the 2020–21 pandemic-shortened season playing in all 56 games with 15 goals, 18 assists and 33 points recorded. After defeating the inner-state rival Florida Panthers in six games, the Carolina Hurricanes in six games and the New York Islanders in the first three rounds of the 2021 playoffs, Killorn sustained a broken fibula on June 28, 2021, in game 1 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals when blocking a shot from Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry; he did not play the rest of the series although he tried to do so after returning to practice just days after the injury occurred.[28] In his absence, the Lightning went on to defeat the Canadiens in five games to win the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive season. He would end the playoffs with eight goals and nine assists for 17 points while playing in 19 games.[29]

On October 28, 2021, Killorn recorded his 200th NHL assist on a goal scored by Andrej Sustr in a 5–1 win over the Arizona Coyotes.[30] Killorn kept up his durability in the 2021–22 season by playing all 82 games again and putting up 25 goals, 34 assists and 59 points.[31] In the 2022 playoffs Killorn and the Lightning would defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games in the first round (erasing a 3–2 series deficit in doing so), the inner-state rival and Presidents' Trophy-winning Florida Panthers in a four-game sweep in the second round and the New York Rangers in six games in the third round to clinch a third consecutive appearance Stanley Cup Finals (fourth in Killorn's Lightning tenure) and would go on to lose in six games to the Colorado Avalanche.[32] He was held goalless in the playoffs for the first time in his career and recorded four assists for four points in all 23 games played. Following the season, Killorn was again nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy but wasn’t a top three finalist by the NHL.[33][34]

Killorn finished the 2022–23 season playing in all 82 games again and putting up career highs in goals (27), assists (37) and points (64).[31] As the Lightning opened the 2023 playoffs matched up against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round for the second consecutive season, Killorn followed up with three goals and two assists for five points in all six games as the Lightning would this time lose to the Maple Leafs in six games.

Anaheim Ducks (2023–present)

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Killorn (right) with the Anaheim Ducks lining up for a faceoff against Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen in March 2024

On July 1, 2023, after 11 seasons with the Lightning, Killorn signed a four-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks.[31] After missing the first ten games of the 2023–24 season due to a broken finger in a preseason game against the San Jose Sharks, Killorn made his season and Ducks debut on November 5, in a 4–2 Ducks win over the Vegas Golden Knights.[35] Killorn scored his first goal for Anaheim in a 5–2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on November 24.[36] On December 2, Killorn recorded his 200th NHL goal on goaltender Ivan Prosvetov in a 4–3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.[37] Killorn ended the 2023–24 season playing in 63 games with 18 goals, 18 assists and 36 points recorded.

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2017 Germany/France

On April 19, 2017, Killorn was named to Canada's men's national ice hockey team for the 2017 IIHF World Championship.[38] On May 21, 2017, Killorn earned a silver medal with Team Canada when they were defeated by Team Sweden 2–1.[39]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2005–06 Lac Saint-Louis Lions QMAAA 43 18 34 52 94 10 9 6 15 8
2006–07 Deerfield Academy USHS 25 18 14 32 22 — — — — —
2007–08 Deerfield Academy USHS 24 28 27 55 18 — — — — —
2008–09 Harvard University ECAC 30 6 8 14 48 — — — — —
2009–10 Harvard University ECAC 32 9 11 20 26 — — — — —
2010–11 Harvard University ECAC 34 15 14 29 36 — — — — —
2011–12 Harvard University ECAC 34 23 23 46 47 — — — — —
2011–12 Norfolk Admirals AHL 10 2 4 6 2 17 3 9 12 8
2012–13 Syracuse Crunch AHL 44 16 22 38 32 — — — — —
2012–13 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 38 7 12 19 14 — — — — —
2013–14 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 17 24 41 63 4 1 1 2 4
2014–15 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 71 15 23 38 36 26 9 9 18 12
2015–16 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 81 14 26 40 44 17 5 8 13 42
2016–17 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 81 19 17 36 66 — — — — —
2017–18 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 15 32 47 45 17 5 2 7 12
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 18 22 40 45 4 1 0 1 6
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 68 26 23 49 20 24 5 5 10 27
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 56 15 18 33 37 19 8 9 17 6
2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 25 34 59 66 23 0 4 4 12
2022–23 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 82 27 37 64 45 6 3 2 5 0
2023–24 Anaheim Ducks NHL 63 18 18 36 54 — — — — —
NHL totals 868 216 286 502 535 140 37 40 77 121

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2006 Canada Quebec U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 1 1 2 8
2017 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 0 0 0 8
Junior totals 6 1 1 2 8
Senior totals 10 0 0 0 8

Awards and honours

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Award Year
College
All-ECAC Hockey First Team 2011–12 [40]
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2011–12
All-Ivy League First-Team 2011–12
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team 2012 [41]
AHL
Calder Cup champion 2012 [42]
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2020, 2021 [43]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rowe, Daniel J. (August 6, 2021). "Beaconsfield boy Alex Killorn bringing Stanley Cup to Montreal's West Island". CTV News. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Cowan, Stu (May 1, 2015). "Parents taught Lightning's Killorn how to use hockey to get a Harvard degree". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "Harvard grad Killorn seeks Stanley Cup degree". Fox Sports. May 22, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Samuels, Robert S. (March 17, 2012). "Men's Hockey Players Earn ECAC Awards". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Lightning recall Killorn from Syracuse, assign Tyrell". National Hockey League. February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "They led a record-breaking title team for the Norfolk Admirals. Now, coach Jon Cooper, 3 players are Stanley Cup champs". The Virginian-Pilot. Associated Press. July 8, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  7. ^ "Alex Killorn: The road less traveled". NHL.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2014.
  8. ^ Skenderian, Tanner (April 23, 2013). "Killorn '12 Continues To Shine as Rookie for Tampa Bay Lightning". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Weise scores in overtime as Habs beat Lightning to take 1-0 series lead". CTV News. The Canadian Press. April 16, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "Lightning re-sign Alex Killorn". NHL.com. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014.
  11. ^ "Blackhawks claim third Stanley Cup in six seasons with shutout of Lightning – Recap". ESPN. June 16, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  12. ^ Ledecky, Michael (June 19, 2015). "Alex Killorn Makes Harvard History with Finals Rune". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  13. ^ "Lightning Sign Forward Alex Killorn to Seven-Year Contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 17, 2016. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  14. ^ "Alex Killorn to sign for 7 years, $31.15M with Lightning". ESPN. Associated Press. July 17, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Kalman, Matt (March 23, 2017). "Lightning defeat Bruins, gain wild—card race". NHL.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.[dead link]
  16. ^ @NHLPlayerSafety (November 3, 2017). "Killorn fined $5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct in game against New York Rangers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ^ @TBLightning (February 19, 2019). "Congrats on 100, Alex Killorn!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Miller leads Lightning past Flyers for seventh straight win". USA Today. Associated Press. February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  19. ^ Nearhos, Diana C. (February 16, 2019). "Alex Killorn powers Lightning past Capitals". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Alex Killorn '12 Wins Stanley Cup With NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning". Harvard University. September 28, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  21. ^ Josh Beneteau (June 20, 2019). "Lightning's Ryan Callahan suffers career-ending back injury". sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  22. ^ Clipperton, Joshua (March 12, 2020). "NHL suspends season in response to COVID-19 pandemic". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  23. ^ Monga, Vipal (August 7, 2020). "NHL's Playoff Challenges: Coronavirus and the Summer Heat". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  24. ^ @NHLPlayerSafety (September 10, 2020). "Tampa Bay's Alex Killorn has been suspended for one playoff game for Boarding NY Islanders' Brock Nelson" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Bennett, Dean (September 28, 2020). "Lightning secure 2nd Stanley Cup in franchise history after defeating Stars". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  26. ^ Nearhos, Diana C. (June 9, 2020). "Lightning's Alex Killorn nominated for Masterton Trophy". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  27. ^ "Senators' Bobby Ryan named winner of 2020 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy". Sportsnet. September 7, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  28. ^ Daniels, Tim (July 8, 2021). "Lightning's Alex Killorn wanted to play games 6, 7 after surgery on Broken Leg Injury". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  29. ^ "Lightning defeat Canadiens in Game 5 to clinch Stanley Cup". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Long, Corey (October 28, 2021). "Killorn scores twice to help Lightning deny Coyotes first victory". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c "Ducks sign Killorn to four-year contract". Anaheim Ducks. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  32. ^ Whyno, Stephen (June 26, 2022). "Avalanche dethrone Lightning to win 1st Stanley Cup in 21 years". CBC Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  33. ^ Faiello, Mari (April 25, 2022). "Perseverance personified: Lightning's Alex Killorn nominated for Masterton Trophy". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  34. ^ "Canadiens' Carey Price named 2022 Masterton Trophy winner". Sportsnet. June 3, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  35. ^ "Ducks' Alex Killorn: Removed from IR". CBS Sports. November 5, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  36. ^ "Fiala, Kopitar lead the LA Kings' 5-2 rout of Anaheim in the first Freeway Faceoff of the season". ESPN. Associated Press. November 24, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  37. ^ "Ducks' Alex Killorn: nets 200th career goal". CBS Sports. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  38. ^ "Hockey Canada Confirms First 18 Players on Worlds' Roster". Hockey Canada. April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  39. ^ "Sweden defeats Canada in shootout to win 2017 IIHF world title". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. May 21, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  40. ^ "League Announces Regular-Season Awards". ECAC Hockey. March 15, 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  41. ^ "All-Tournament Honors" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
  42. ^ "Norfolk Admirals Official Website". Norfolkadmirals.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
  43. ^ "Lightning win Stanley Cup by smothering Stars in Game 6". NBC Sports. September 28, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
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