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Brian Halonen

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Brian Halonen
Halonen with the Utica Comets in 2023
Born (1999-01-11) January 11, 1999 (age 25)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 New Jersey Devils
Utica Comets (AHL)
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2022–present

Brian Raymond Halonen (born January 11, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for Michigan Tech.

Playing career

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Collegiate

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Halonen began his collegiate career for Michigan Tech during the 2018–19 season, where he recorded 12 goals and nine assists in 35 games. He led the Huskies and all Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) rookies with 12 goals. Following the season he was named to the All-WCHA Rookie Team and awarded the Norbert Matovich Memorial Outstanding Freshman Award.[1] During the 2019–20 season in his sophomore year, he recorded 12 goals and 10 assists in 39 games, and ranked fourth on the team with 22 points. During the 2020–21 season in his junior year, he recorded eight goals and 10 assists in 28 games, and ranked third on the team with 18 points. He ranked sixth in the nation with four game-winning goals.[2]

During the 2021–22 season in his senior year, he recorded 21 goals and 23 assists in 37 games. He led the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in points (36) and goals (16), and ranked fifth in the CCHA in assists (20) during conference games. He recorded six goals and eight assists with 45 shots on goal during the month of February. On February 11, 2022, he became the 68th player in program history to reach 100 points in a career.[3] He was subsequently named the CCHA Forward of the Month.[4]

During the regional semifinal of the 2022 NCAA tournament, Halonen was ejected from the game for a checking-from-behind penalty. The Huskies lost the game 3–0 to Minnesota Duluth, ending Halonen's collegiate career.[5] Following an outstanding season, he was named a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, becoming the fifth player in program history to be named a finalist for the award.[6] He was also named to the All-CCHA First Team, and an American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) West Second Team All-American.[7][8]

Professional

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On March 28, 2022, Halonen signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils beginning with the 2022–23 season. He was assigned to the Utica Comets, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of New Jersey, on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.[9] On April 2, he recorded his first professional goal in his second career game.[10]

Halonen started the 2023–24 season on injured reserve.[11] On December 30, 2023, he was activated from injured reserve and assigned to Utica.[12] The Devils recalled Halonen on February 23, 2024, after Nathan Bastian was placed on injured reserve,[13] and he made his NHL debut two days later, in a 4–1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[14] He finished the AHL season with 20 goals and 29 points in 35 games, leading the Comets with nine power play goals.[15]

On May 16, 2024, the Devils re-signed Halonen to a two-year, two-way contract with a $775,000 cap hit.[15]

Personal life

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Halonen has 10 siblings, an older sister and older brother, three younger sisters, and five younger brothers.[2] He is the cousin of professional ice hockey player Blake Pietila.[16]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 8 2 0 2 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 59 16 19 35 40 — — — — —
2018–19 Michigan Tech University WCHA 35 12 9 21 26 — — — — —
2019–20 Michigan Tech University WCHA 39 12 10 22 22 — — — — —
2020–21 Michigan Tech University WCHA 28 8 10 18 16 — — — — —
2021–22 Michigan Tech University CCHA 37 21 23 44 49 — — — — —
2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 12 2 1 3 4 2 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Utica Comets AHL 57 17 13 30 46 6 1 1 2 17
2022–23 Adirondack Thunder ECHL 1 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 35 20 9 29 19 — — — — —
2023–24 New Jersey Devils NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2019 [17]
All-CCHA First Team 2022 [18]
AHCA West Second Team All-American 2022 [19]

References

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  1. ^ "Brian Hockey announces 2018-19 team awards". uppermichiganssource.com. WLUC-TV. April 17, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Brian Halonen bio". michigantechhuskies.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Pietila breaks shutout record, Halonen and Bliss hit century mark". michigantechhuskies.com. February 11, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "CCHA Players of the Month: February 2022". CCHA.com. March 1, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  5. ^ Ford, Ryan (March 25, 2022). "Michigan Tech hockey loses star Brian Halonen, then loses, 3-0, in NCAA tournament". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Halonen named Hobey Baker Top-10 Finalist". michigantechhuskies.com. March 16, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  7. ^ "Four Huskies named All-CCHA, Halonen on First Team". michigantechhuskies.com. March 15, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. ^ "Brian Halonen named a CCM/AHCA All-American". michigantechhuskies.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  9. ^ "Brian Halonen Signs 2-Year ELC with Devils". NHL.com. March 28, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Utica Bested by Lehigh Valley Saturday". uticacomets.com. April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Devils Set 23-Man Opening-Season Roster". NHL.com. October 9, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Nichols, James (December 30, 2023). "Devils Activate Forward, Reassign to Utica". New Jersey Hockey Now. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Flannery, Kristy (February 23, 2024). "Devils' Bastian Placed on Injured Reserve, Halonen Recalled from Comets". The Hockey News. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Ciampa, Marc (February 25, 2024). "Devils Struck by Lightning in 4-1 Loss". NHL.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Halonen Signs Two-Year, Two-Way Contract". nhl.com. New Jersey Devils. May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Robinson, Peter (April 1, 2022). "Halonen's Big Finnish Family". NHL.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "WCHA Announces 2018–19 All-League Teams". WCHA.com. March 14, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "Six players earn All-CCHA First Team honors". CCHA.com. March 15, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "Five NCHC Players Tabbed CCM/AHCA All-Americans for 2021-22". nchchockey.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
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