Sean Kuraly

Sean Kuraly
Kuraly with the Boston Bruins in 2017
Born (1993-01-20) January 20, 1993 (age 31)
Dublin, Ohio, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Columbus Blue Jackets
Boston Bruins
NHL draft 133rd overall, 2011
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2016–present

Sean Kuraly (born January 20, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round, 133rd overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

As a youth, Kuraly played in the 2005 and 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with minor ice hockey teams from Ohio.[1] After early years with the Tier 1 Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, Kuraly played four games in the U.S. National Development Team Program before joining the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL). After his first full rookie season with the Ice, Kuraly was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round, 133rd overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.[2] During the 2011–12 season, Kuraly was fourth in the league with 70 points and 32 goals in 54 regular-season games. This earned him Second-Team All-USHL honors.[3]

After completing his USHL junior career with the Ice, Kuraly embarked on a collegiate career, in joining Miami University in Ohio.[4]

Collegiate

In his freshman year playing for the Miami RedHawks ice hockey team, Kuraly played in 40 games and earned 12 points. He missed two games due to the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped guide the RedHawks to the 2013 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, where he scored the game-winning goal to defeat Michigan State University in the quarterfinals.[5] The RedHawks later lost to the University of Michigan in the semifinals. The following season, Kuraly played in 38 games and ended with a new career-high 29 points.

Upon completing his junior season with the RedHawks in 2014–15 season, Kuraly's NHL rights were traded by the Sharks (along with a first-round pick) to the Boston Bruins in exchange for goaltender Martin Jones on July 1, 2015.[6]

In the 2015–16 season, Kuraly was unable to match the production of his previous two seasons, contributing with 6 goals and 23 points in his senior and final collegiate season. Despite this, he was named NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year[7] and a member of the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team due to his 3.13 GPA.[8] On June 30, 2016, Kuraly signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a two-year, entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins.[9]

Professional

After attending the Bruins' training camp, he was reassigned to make his professional debut in the 2016–17 season, with Boston's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins. On November 1, 2016, he received his first NHL recall on an emergency basis with the Bruins.[10] He made his NHL debut with the Bruins, skating on the fourth-line in a 4–3 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on November 3, 2016.[11]

Kuraly scored his first two career goals, including the double overtime winner, in a 3–2 win in Game 5 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Ottawa Senators. This would be followed early in the 2017–18 season with his first-ever regular season Bruins goal, the winner in a 2–1 home ice defeat of the Vegas Golden Knights on November 2, 2017.[12]

Following the 2020–21 season, his fifth with the Boston Bruins, Kuraly left the organization as a free agent and was signed to a four-year, 10 million contract with hometown club, the Columbus Blue Jackets, on July 28, 2021.[13]

On December 23, 2023, during a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kuraly took a hit from Jake McCabe and was then shot with a puck in the chest. Once he reached the bench, he dropped to one knee and collapsed, prompting a stoppage of play. He was evaluated by medical personnel at the arena, and then transported to the Grant Medical Center for treatment of an abdominal injury.[14][15]

Personal life

Kuraly's parents are Canadians from Toronto.[16] His father Rick also played hockey at Miami University (OH); he is the RedHawks all-time leading goal-scorer and ranks third in career points,[4] and was also inducted into the Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.[17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Ohio Blue Jackets 18U AAA T1EHL 37 19 30 49 24 — — — — —
2009–10 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 4 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2009–10 Indiana Ice USHL 5 1 2 3 0 — — — — —
2010–11 Indiana Ice USHL 51 8 21 29 45 5 1 1 2 4
2011–12 Indiana Ice USHL 54 32 38 70 48 6 3 3 6 4
2012–13 Miami University CCHA 40 6 6 12 41 — — — — —
2013–14 Miami University NCHC 38 12 17 29 59 — — — — —
2014–15 Miami University NCHC 40 19 10 29 38 — — — — —
2015–16 Miami University NCHC 36 6 17 23 39 — — — — —
2016–17 Providence Bruins AHL 54 14 12 26 37 6 0 1 1 23
2016–17 Boston Bruins NHL 8 0 1 1 2 4 2 0 2 4
2017–18 Boston Bruins NHL 75 6 8 14 40 12 2 2 4 2
2018–19 Boston Bruins NHL 71 8 13 21 38 20 4 6 10 8
2019–20 Boston Bruins NHL 69 6 17 23 34 10 1 2 3 4
2020–21 Boston Bruins NHL 47 4 5 9 20 11 0 0 0 6
2021–22 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 77 14 16 30 61 — — — — —
2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 71 11 9 20 68 — — — — —
2023–24 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 62 9 9 18 40 — — — — —
NHL totals 480 58 78 136 303 57 9 10 19 24

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2011 United States IH18 5 1 0 1 4
2013 United States WJC 7 1 2 3 2
Junior totals 12 2 2 4 6

Awards and honors

Award Year
USHL
Second All-Star Team 2012 [3]
College
NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year 2016 [4]
NCHC Academic All-Conference Team 2014, 2016

References

  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
  2. ^ "Two More Future RedHawks Taken in NHL Draft". miamiredhawks.com. June 25, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Sharks Prospect Named to Second Team All-USHL". NHL.com. May 31, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "SEAN KURALY". miamiredhawks.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  5. ^ "Kuraly nets pair as Miami wins deciding Game 3 against Michigan State". uscho.com. 2013-03-18. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Bruins acquire First-round pick, Kuraly from Sharks for Jones". Boston Bruins. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  7. ^ "Kuraly Named NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year". miamiredhawks.com. March 17, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  8. ^ "Fourteen RedHawks Earn NCHC Academic All-Conference Recognition". miamiredhawks.com. February 17, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  9. ^ "Bruins agree to terms with Kuraly on entry-level contract". Boston Bruins. 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  10. ^ "Bruins recall Sean Kuraly". Boston Bruins. 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  11. ^ "Bruins top Lightning in 10th round of shootout". CBS Sports. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2016-11-03.
  12. ^ Russo, Eric (November 2, 2017). "Bruins Grind It Out in Win Over Vegas". Boston Bruins. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  13. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets sign center Sean Kuraly to four-year contract". Columbus Blue Jackets. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  14. ^ "Injury causes Sean Kuraly to collapse behind Columbus Blue Jackets' bench". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  15. ^ TSN ca Staff (2023-12-23). "Columbus Blue Jackets Sean Kuraly taken to medical centre after abdominal injury". TSN. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
  16. ^ "The story of the Dublin native who made his way through the NHL and has returned home to play for the Blue Jackets". 3 February 2023.
  17. ^ Ervin, Phil (October 20, 2015). "FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS". nchchockey.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year
2015–16 		Succeeded by