Jay O'Brien (born November 4, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing with the Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL while under contract with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
| Jay O'Brien | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
November 4, 1999 Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| AHL team (P) Cur. team |
Charlotte Checkers Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL) | ||
| NHL draft |
19th overall, 2018 Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Playing career | TBD–present | ||
Early life
editO'Brien was born in Hingham, Massachusetts. Before his senior year of high school, O'Brien was given the option to leave Thayer Academy early and join the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League.[1] O'Brien chose to stay at Thayer Academy and put up 80 points in 30 games, a new career high, during the 2017–18 season. Following the 2017–18 season, O'Brien was awarded United States High School All-USA Hockey Player of the Year and was named to the USHS All-USA Hockey First Team.[2] Although O'Brien spent the majority of the season playing high school league hockey, he did play one game for the Phantoms and joined the United States under-18 team for seven exhibition games.[3]
Playing career
editFollowing graduation from Thayer Academy, O'Brien joined the Providence College Friars in the Hockey East of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).[4] As a freshman with the Friars in the 2018–19 season, O'Brien struggled to define a role for himself, struggling through injury he was limited to 25 games, totalling just two goals and five points.
Opting to enter the NCAA transfer system and end his tenure with Providence, O'Brien agreed to join Canadian junior team, the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), for the 2019–20 season.[5] He later agreed to join fellow Hockey East competitor in Boston University for the 2020–21 season prior to his tenure in the BCHL.[6]
On August 15, 2023, O'Brien became a free agent when the Flyers opted not to sign him.[7] He was later signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, the primary affiliate to the Toronto Maple Leafs, on August 25, 2023.[8] However, O'Brien was unable to make his professional debut with the Marlies, missing the entirety of the 2023–24 season through injury.
As a free agent from the Marlies, O'Brien was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers on July 2, 2024.[9]
International play
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  United States
| ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 |
2019 Canada | |
After playing 10 games for the Friars, O'Brien was loaned to the United States national junior team to compete at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[10]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2014–15 | Dexter School | USHS | 31 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Dexter School | USHS | 29 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Thayer Academy | USHS | 30 | 24 | 41 | 65 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Thayer Academy | USHS | 30 | 43 | 37 | 80 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Youngstown Phantoms | USHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Providence College | HE | 25 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | Penticton Vees | BCHL | 46 | 25 | 41 | 66 | 51 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Boston University | HE | 16 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Boston University | HE | 24 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Boston University | HE | 39 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NCAA totals | 104 | 28 | 47 | 75 | 98 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | United States | WJC | 
|
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
References
edit- ^ Mark Divver (November 16, 2017). "Mark Divver: Staying home is working out well for PC recruit Jay O'Brien". Providence Journal. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ "With the 19th Overall Selection the Flyers select Jay O'Brien". NHL.com. June 22, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ "Prospect Of Interest: The 411 on Jay O'Brien". sportsnet.ca. June 22, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ "JAY O'BRIEN". friars.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- ^ Dusak, Mike (April 23, 2019). "Report: Flyers prospect Jay O'Brien enters NCAA transfer portal, to leave Providence College". Broad Street Hockey. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "Boston University lands Jay O'Brien". hockeyjournal.com. June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ Elvin, Gustav (August 16, 2023). "Flyers are awarded draft pick for not signing former first-rounder Jay O'Brien". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ "Marlies sign former first-rounder O'Brien". American Hockey League. August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ "Checkers add seven via AHL contracts". Charlotte Checkers. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ "United States finalizes roster for World Junior Championship". NHL.com. December 23, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database