Zach Dean (ice hockey) explained

Zach Dean
Birth Date:4 January 2003
Birth Place:Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:176
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:St. Louis Blues
Prospect Team:Springfield Thunderbirds
Prospect League:AHL
Draft:30th overall
Draft Year:2021
Draft Team:Vegas Golden Knights
Career Start:2023

Zachary Dean (born January 4, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Springfield Thunderbirds of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the first round, 30th overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Dean played minor ice hockey in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador. On August 19, 2019, Dean signed with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).[1] During the 2019–20 season he was named to the QMJHL All-Rookie Team. Dean was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights with the 30th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, and signed a three-year, entry-level contract on December 2, 2021.[2] While playing with the Olympiques in the 2022–23 season, Dean was traded by the Golden Knights to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Ivan Barbashev on February 26, 2023.[3]

During the 2022–23 season of the QMJHL, Dean was a finalist for the Guy Carbonneau Trophy as defensive forward of the year.[4]

International play

Dean appeared for the Canada Black team at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, recording five points in seven games.

On December 12, 2022, Dean was named to Team Canada to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded one goal and two assists in seven games and won a gold medal.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2019–20Gatineau OlympiquesQMJHL57 18 28 46 22
2020–21Gatineau OlympiquesQMJHL23 10 10 20 204 1 1 2 2
2021–22Gatineau OlympiquesQMJHL47 21 31 52 507 2 5 7 6
2022–23Gatineau OlympiquesQMJHL50 33 37 70 5313 10 16 26 10
2023–24Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL49 9 5 14 24
2023–24St. Louis BluesNHL9 0 0 0 6
NHL totals9 0 0 0 6

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2019Canada BlackU178th5 3 4 7 0
2023CanadaWJC7 1 2 3 33
Junior totals12 4 6 10 33

Notes and References

  1. OlympiquesGAT . 1163442120709087233 . August 19, 2019 . En rappel, à la suite du match de dimanche, les Olympiques ont confirmé que @zachdean1414 s'est taillé un poste avec l'équipe en vue de la prochaine saison! . fr-CA . February 27, 2023.
  2. Web site: Vegas Golden Knights Sign Forward Zach Dean To Entry-Level Contract. National Hockey League . December 2, 2021. August 22, 2022.
  3. Web site: Blues acquire Dean from Vegas for Barbashev . . February 26, 2023 . February 26, 2023.
  4. Web site: A Remparts forward wins the Guy-Carbonneau Trophy . . April 21, 2023 . April 21, 2023.
  5. Web site: 2023 World Junior Championship rosters . NHL.com . Adam . Kimelman . December 12, 2022 . December 12, 2022.