Kelly Summers Explained

Kelly Summers
Birth Date:29 April 1996
Birth Place:Golden Lake, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:196
Position:Defenseman
Shoots:Right
League:EIHL
Team:Nottingham Panthers
Former Teams:Clarkson Golden Knights
Adirondack Thunder
Binghamton Devils
ETC Crimmitschau
Career Start:2014
Draft:189th overall
Draft Year:2014
Draft Team:Ottawa Senators

Kelly Summers is a Canadian ice hockey defenseman who is currently signed to the Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL. He was an All-American for Clarkson.

Playing career

Summers had a tremendous season of junior hockey as an 18-year old, averaging more than a point per game and helping the Carleton Place Canadians win the Fred Page Cup. After the season Summers was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the NHL draft. He began attending Clarkson University that fall and debuted for the ice hockey team. Summers provided steady production from the blueline and improved each season in terms of his offensive numbers. For his senior season, Summers became one of the top players in college hockey, nearly doubling his point production and helping the Golden Knights reach the ECAC championship game. That season, Clarkson made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in decade and while their appearance was short-lived, it was a huge step for the program.[1]

After graduating, Summers signed a contract with the ECHL's Adirondack Thunder and produced well as a rookie. Near the end of the year he signed a PTO (professional try-out) contract with the Belleville Senators but didn't play in any games for the squad.[2] After resigning with Adirondack, Summers finally got a shot at the AHL when he was loaned to the Binghamton Devils for 9 games.

Summers' time in the minor leagues was cut short when the COVID-19 pandemic ended the 2019–20 season prematurely and then caused the following year to be delayed.

Instead of waiting around for his chance to play, Summers travelled to Germany to play for ETC Crimmitschau, where he remained for two years - but sat out the 2021–22 season due to a shoulder injury.[3]

On 12 July 2022, Summers was revealed to be the latest signing for the Nottingham Panthers.[4]

Personal life

Summers' cousin Mike Sullivan also played college hockey. Coincidentally, he too played 4 years at Clarkson.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2009–10Ottawa Valley Titans U14 AAAHEO U1427 1 17 18 10 6 2 2 4 2
2010–11Ottawa Valley Titans U15 AAAHEO U1530 3 19 22 12 10 2 6 8 14
2011–12Ottawa Valley Titans U16 AAAOEHL U1630 9 22 31 20 8 3 6 9 6
2011–12Carleton Place CanadiansCCHL2 0 0 0 0
2012–13Carleton Place CanadiansCCHL59 13 20 33 14 12 1 1 2 4
2013–14Carleton Place CanadiansCCHL56 17 43 60 12 16 5 8 13 4
2014–15ClarksonECAC Hockey33 6 4 10 4
2015–16ClarksonECAC Hockey37 3 11 14 20
2016–17ClarksonECAC Hockey39 3 14 17 30
2017–18ClarksonECAC Hockey40 6 24 30 35
2018–19Adirondack ThunderECHL49 5 19 24 21 4 0 0 0 6
2019–20Adirondack ThunderECHL44 9 15 24 28
2019–20Binghamton DevilsAHL9 1 0 1 0
2020–21ETC CrimmitschauDEL242 6 22 28 20
2021–22ETC CrimmitschauDEL20 0 0 0 0
2022–23Nottingham PanthersEIHL54 7 20 27 18 4 0 3 3 2
CCHL totals 117 30 63 93 26 28 6 9 15 8
NCAA totals 149 18 53 71 89
ECHL totals 93 14 34 48 49 4 0 0 0 6

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-ECAC Hockey First Team2017–18[5]
AHCA East Second Team All-American2017–18[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: Clarkson Men's Hockey 2017-18 Media Guide. Clarkson Golden Knights . 2018-09-17.
  2. News: Adirondack Signs Kelly Summers for Second Pro Season . Adirondack Thunder . August 6, 2019 . January 7, 2022.
  3. Web site: Ice Pirates defender Kelly Summers ready for comeback after six-month hiatus | free press . 10 March 2022 .
  4. News: Summers Signs in Nottingham. July 12, 2022.
  5. News: ECAC All-Teams. College Hockey Historical Archives. July 6, 2013.
  6. News: Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners. NCAA.org. June 11, 2013.