Former Summerside Western Capitals defenceman Jordan Spence made his MHL debut Thursday night as the Los Angeles Kings played the San Jose Sharks.
Jordan Spence is making history tonight as the first skater with Japanese citizenship AND the first Australian-born player to play in the NHL. đ pic.twitter.com/d3qVvc73fI
â LA Kings (@LAKings) March 11, 2022
Spence was named the Maritime Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year in 2017-18 after posting 13 goals and 39 assists in 50 games in 2017-18 for Summerside, with 4 goals and 13 assists in 12 playoff games. He was also named to the Rookie All-Star Team in addition to Rookie of the Year honours that season.
In an article by Jason Simmonds with The Guardian, Spence credits the opportunity to join Summerside as a 16-year-old defenceman as a turning point in his career.
âAlright kiddo, lead us out there. Youâre good.â @AnzeKopitar with the wise words to @jordanjs224 as he lead us onto the ice for his first NHL warmup tonightđ„ș pic.twitter.com/KBhs7fhfdF
â LA Kings (@LAKings) March 11, 2022
He started the 2018-19 season as a 17-year-old, posting six goals, 43 assists, and a plus/minus of +11 in 68 games with the Moncton Wildcats and led all Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) rookies in assists and total points. He was also named the winner of the Raymond-Lagacé trophy as defensive rookie of the year. Spence was drafted in the 2nd round, 20th overall, in 2018 by Moncton.
As an 18-year-old, Spence was selected in the 4th Round, 95th overall, by the L.A. Kings at the 2019 NHL draft in Vancouver.
.@monctonwildcats defenseman @jordanjs224 joins the LA Kings đ pic.twitter.com/FrZVoM2IW1
â LA Kings (@LAKings) June 22, 2019
He spent the next season and a half in Moncton, compiling fourteen goals and 54 assists in 73 games before being dealt during the 2020-21 season to Val d’Or where he posted five goals and nineteen assists in nineteen games for the Foreurs.
Spence started the 2021-22 season with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, where he had four goals and 38 assists in 46 games this season prior to his callup.
The Maritime Junior Hockey League congratulates Jordan Spence on his spectacular achievements.