Jordan Spence (ice hockey) explained

Jordan Spence
Birth Date:24 February 2001
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lbs:179
Position:Defence
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:Los Angeles Kings
Prospect League:AHL
Draft:95th overall
Draft Year:2019
Draft Team:Los Angeles Kings
Career Start:2021

Jordan Spence (born February 24, 2001) is a Japanese-Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] He was drafted in the fourth round, 95th overall, in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Kings.

Playing career

After one season with the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Spence was drafted in the fourth round, 95th overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.[2] He returned to the Wildcats the following year. On June 3, 2020, the Kings signed Spence to a three-year, entry-level contract.[3]

Spence joined the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign to begin the 2021–22 season. He made his NHL debut with the Kings on March 10, 2022 as the first skater with Japanese citizenship to play in the NHL.[4] [5] On March 26, Spence scored his first career NHL goal in a 4–2 win over the Seattle Kraken.[6]

Spence became a full-time member of the Kings in the 2023-24 season, recording 24 points in 71 games. On August 1, 2024, the Kings re-signed Spence to a two-year, $3 million contract with an annual average of $1.5 million.[7]

Personal life

Spence was born in Manly, New South Wales to a Canadian father, Adam, and a Japanese mother, Kyoko, before moving to Osaka, where he first played baseball, as well as hockey under the tutelage of his father at the age of five, before moving to Cornwall, Prince Edward Island at the age of 13 not knowing any English.[8] [9] Before his 20th birthday he was a dual citizen of Canada and Japan and is fluent in English, French, and Japanese.[10] [11]

Career statistics

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2019CanadaU184th7 1 2 3 0
2021CanadaWJC21010
Junior totals 92240

Awards and honours

AwardYear
MJAHL
Rookie All-Star Team2018
Rookie of the Year2018
QMJHL
Raymond Lagacé Trophy2019
All-Rookie Team2019
Rookie of the Year2019
Emile Bouchard Trophy2020[12]
First All-Star Team2020, 2021
AHL
All-Rookie Team2022[13]
First All-Star Team2022[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jordan Spence at eliteprospects.com. www.eliteprospects.com.
  2. Web site: Yarr . Kevin . Cornwall's Jordan Spence drafted by LA Kings . . June 24, 2019.
  3. Web site: Harris . Jack . Kings sign 2019 draft picks Arthur Kaliyev and Jordan Spence . . June 3, 2020 . June 3, 2020.
  4. Web site: Greenspan . Dan . Hertl helps Sharks defeat Kings in OT, end three-game skid . . March 14, 2022.
  5. Web site: Simmonds . Jason . Prince Edward Islander makes NHL history . . March 11, 2022.
  6. Web site: Dooley . Zach . FINAL – Kings 4, Kraken 2 – Spence, Vilardi, McLellan . LA Kings Insider . March 26, 2022.
  7. Web site: LA Kings Sign Defenseman Jordan Spence to a Two-Year Contract . . August 1, 2024.
  8. Web site: Dillman . Lisa . Kings prospect Jordan Spence 'will find a way to make an NHL roster' . 2022-03-11 . The Athletic.
  9. Web site: Living the island life . 2022-03-11 . www.hockeycanada.ca.
  10. Web site: 2019-06-22 . Introducing: Jordan Spence . 2022-03-11 . LA Kings Insider.
  11. Web site: Getting to Know: LA Kings No. 95 Draft Pick Jordan Spence . 2022-03-11 . NHL.com.
  12. Web site: Well-traveled Spence on a mission to excel . . February 21, 2022 . February 21, 2022.
  13. Web site: 2021-22 AHL All-Rookie Team named . . April 27, 2022 . April 27, 2022.
  14. Web site: 2021-22 AHL First, Second All-Star Teams unveiled . . April 28, 2022 . April 28, 2022.

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