Jett Luchanko Explained

Jett Luchanko
Birth Date:21 August 2006
Birth Place:London, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:180
Position:Centre
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Philadelphia Flyers
Prospect League:OHL
Prospect Team:Guelph Storm
Draft:13th overall
Draft Year:2024
Draft Team:Philadelphia Flyers
Career Start:2024

Jett Luchanko (born August 21, 2006) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) while under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers selected Luchanko in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2024 NHL entry draft.

Early life

Luchanko was born August 21, 2006, in London, Ontario.[1] A childhood fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League, his favorite ice hockey player was Mitch Marner.[2] Luchanko also idolized Nick Suzuki, who he watched play minor ice hockey.[3] While quarantined at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Luchanko's father converted their basement into a personal gym, which improved Jett's strength and fitness while he could not play hockey.[4] Luchanko spent the 2021–22 season with the London Jr. Knights of Alliance Hockey, during which he had 22 goals and 57 points in 27 regular season games, with another four goals and 16 points in eight postseason appearances.[5] He also had a brief stint with the Strathroy Rockets of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, with one goal and one assist in four games.[6]

Playing career

The Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) selected Luchanko 12th overall in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection,[7] and he signed with the team that May. Luchanko scored his first junior ice hockey goal on October 1, during Guelph's 10–6 loss to the Saginaw Spirit.[8] During the 2022–23 season he recorded five goals and nine assists in 46 games. During the 2023–24 season he led the Storm in scoring with 20 goals and 54 assists in 68 games.[9] At the end of the season, Luchanko received the William Hanley Trophy as the OHL's most sportsmanlike player.[10]

The Philadelphia Flyers selected Luchanko 13th overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft.[11] He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the organization on July 6.[12] After impressing head coach John Tortorella and general manager Daniel Brière in training camp, Luchanko was named to the Flyers' opening night roster for the 2024–25 NHL season.[13] At 18 years and 51 days old when he debuted against the Vancouver Canucks on October 7, Luchanko became the youngest player to appear in a game in Flyers history.[14] On October 26, the Flyers returned Luchanko to Guelph for the remainder of the 2024–25 OHL season. He appeared in four games for the Flyers before this return.[15]

International play

Luchanko made his first international competition appearance at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, playing for Team Canada Red.[16] He had one goal and one assist in seven tournament games,[17] capturing a silver medal with Canada Red, who lost the championship game 11–3 to the United States.[18] Luchanko then appeared with the Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships in Finland.[19] He had two goals and seven points in seven games for the gold-medal team, including an assist in the championship game against Team USA.[20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2021–22Strathroy RocketsGOJHL4 1 1 2 0
2022–23Guelph StormOHL4659 14 1060 1 1 2
2023–24Guelph StormOHL682054 74 3640 3 3 6
OHL totals1142663 88 461004 48

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2022Canada RedU177 1 1 2 2
2024CanadaU187 2 5 7 6
Junior totals14 3 6 9 8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jett Luchanko Stats and News . . October 25, 2024 . September 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240924041024/https://www.nhl.com/flyers/player/jett-luchanko-8484779 . live .
  2. News: Brown . Jared . 2024 NHL Draft Player Profile: Jett Luchanko, A Maple Leafs Fan Who Models His Game After Montreal Centerman . . . June 18, 2024 . October 25, 2024.
  3. News: Pyette . Ryan . Jett Luchanko following fellow Londoner Nick Suzuki's path to NHL draft . . June 27, 2024 . October 25, 2024.
  4. News: Kurz . Kevin . Flyers sign first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who has a 'mature game for a young player' . . . July 6, 2024 . October 25, 2024 . subscription . October 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241003172246/https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5621182/2024/07/06/philadelphia-flyers-sign-jett-luchanko/ . live .
  5. News: First round pick Jett Luchanko commits to Storm . . . May 5, 2022 . October 25, 2024.
  6. News: Saxon . Tony . Guelph Storm turns on the Jett with first pick in draft . Guelph Today . . April 29, 2022 . October 25, 2024.
  7. News: The Guelph Storm select Jett Luchanko 12th Overall . Canadian Hockey League . Guelph Storrm . April 29, 2022 . October 25, 2024.
  8. News: Guelph Storm blown out in Saginaw . Guelph Today . October 1, 2022 . October 25, 2024.
  9. Web site: Luchanko's work ethic, increased responsibilities getting noticed prior to 2024 Draft . NHL.com . Adam . Kimelman . June 22, 2024 . June 28, 2024.
  10. News: Jett Luchanko Named William Hanley Trophy Recipient . Canadian Hockey League . Guelph Storm . May 1, 2024 . November 4, 2024.
  11. News: Flyers Select Jett Luchanko with the 13th Pick in Round One of the NHL Draft . National Hockey League . . June 28, 2024 . October 25, 2024 . October 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241005102706/https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-select-jett-luchanko-with-the-13th-pick-in-round-one-of-the-nhl-draft . live .
  12. News: Flyers Sign Forward Jett Luchanko to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract . National Hockey League . Philadelphia Flyers . July 6, 2024 . October 25, 2024 . August 26, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240826224401/https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/flyers-sign-forward-jett-luchanko-to-three-year-entry-level-contract . live .
  13. News: Kurz . Kevin . Why Flyers' Jett Luchanko is about to become the youngest player in franchise history . The Athletic . The New York Times . October 7, 2024 . October 25, 2024 . subscription.
  14. News: Schram . Carol . Flyers Rookies Matvei Michkov And Jett Luchanko Had Tortorella's Trust In Their NHL Debuts . The Hockey News . Sports Illustrated . October 12, 2024 . October 25, 2024.
  15. News: Flyers Return Jett Luchanko to OHL's Guelph Storm . National Hockey League . Philadelphia Flyers . October 26, 2024 . October 26, 2024.
  16. News: 26 OHL Players to Represent Canada at 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge . Canadian Hockey League . Guelph Storm . October 19, 2022 . October 30, 2024.
  17. Web site: Jett Luchanko – Stats, Contract, Salary & More . Elite Prospects . October 30, 2024.
  18. News: Eleven OHL players win silver at World Under-17 Hockey Challenge . Canadian Hockey League . Guelph Storm . November 14, 2022 . October 30, 2024.
  19. News: Jett Luchanko named to Team Canada roster for 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship . Canadian Hockey League . Guelph Storm . April 16, 2024 . October 30, 2024 . May 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529000743/https://chl.ca/ohl-storm/article/jett-luchanko-named-to-team-canada-roster-for-2024-iihf-u18-world-championship/ . live .
  20. News: Jett Luchanko and Team Canada win gold at 2024 IIHF U18 World Championship . Canadian Hockey League . Guelph Storm . May 5, 2024 . October 30, 2024 . June 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240629015527/https://chl.ca/ohl-storm/article/jett-luchanko-and-team-canada-win-gold-at-2024-iihf-u18-world-championship/ . live .