Jack Eichel

Jack Eichel
Eichel in April 2016
Born	October 28, 1996 North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Center
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Buffalo Sabres
National team	United States
NHL Draft	2nd overall, 2015 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2015–present

Jack Eichel (born October 28, 1996) is an American ice hockey center. He is currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Eichel was selected second overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres.^[1]

Eichel was the recipient of the 2015 Hobey Baker Award, given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.^[2] He is the second freshman to win the award and the first since Paul Kariya.

Playing career

Amateur

Eichel played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons,^[3] and was recognized for his outstanding play during the 2013–14 season when he was named to the United States Hockey League Second All-Star Team.^[4] After his second season within the Development Program, Eichel signed a letter of intent to commit to Boston University of the Hockey East on April 29, 2014.^[5]

On April 10, 2015, Eichel became the second freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, which was previously won by Paul Kariya in 1993. In 40 games with Boston University, Eichel led the nation in scoring with 26 goals, 45 assists, and 71 points. Eichel was also the Hockey East scoring champion, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, First Team Hockey East and a member of the All-Rookie Team, and was named MVP of the conference tournament. Eichel was projected to be the second overall selection in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft behind projected first overall pick Connor McDavid.^[6]

Professional

On June 26, 2015, Eichel was selected 2nd overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. On July 1, 2015, Eichel signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Sabres.^[7]

On August 13, 2015, Eichel signed a sponsorship deal with Bauer Hockey, which states Eichel will wear its equipment exclusively and Bauer will provide him with its apparel.

Eichel scored his first NHL goal on October 8, 2015, becoming the youngest player in Sabres history to do so, in his first game in the NHL against the Ottawa Senators.^[8] He finished his rookie campaign with 24 goals and 56 points in 81 games, being the Sabres' top goalscorer and second in points (after Ryan O'Reilly) and second in both criteria among rookies, after Artemi Panarin. On October 12, 2016, Eichel suffered a severe high ankle sprain to his left ankle in practice and had to be helped off of the ice;^[9] he would miss the first two months of the season before making his season debut on December 1.

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
	2015 Czech Republic
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2014 Finland
	2013 Russia

As a 15-year-old Eichel represented the United States at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics.^[10] He won a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2013 World U-17 Hockey Challenge^[11] and a silver medal at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships.^[12] The following season he helped the USA squad capture the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships,^[13] and he competed as a 17-year-old as Team USA's youngest player at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.^[14] Eichel represented Team USA in the 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship. At the conclusion of his freshman season with the Terriers, Eichel was named to make his full international debut with Team USA at the 2015 World Championships.^[15] Eichel scored 2 goals, including a game winner in the group stage against Slovakia, and 5 assists during the tournament, where Team USA won bronze.^[16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012–13	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		58	29	23	52	30		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		53	38	49	87	28		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Boston University	HE		40	26	45	71	22		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		81	24	32	56	22		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				81	24	32	56	22		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2013	United States	U17			5	3	0	3	2
2013	United States	WJC18			7	1	1	2	6
2014	United States	WJC18			7	5	5	10	2
2014	United States	WJC	5th		5	1	4	5	0
2015	United States	WJC	5th		5	1	3	4	6
2015	United States	WC			10	2	5	7	8
2016	Team North America	WCH	5th		3	1	1	2	0
Junior totals					29	11	13	24	16
Senior totals					13	3	6	9	8

Awards and honors

Award	Year
NHL
NHL All-Rookie Team	2015–16	[17]
USHL
USHL Second All-Star Team	2013–14	[18]
College
HE All-Rookie Team	2015
HE Rookie of the Year	2015
HE First All-American Team	2015
HE First All-Star Team	2015
HE Player of the Year	2015
HE Champions	2015
HE Tournament MVP	2015
HE Scoring Champion	2015
HE Three Stars Award	2015
NCAA Rookie of the Year	2015
Hobey Baker Award	2015	[19]
International
Winter Youth Olympics	2012	[20]
World U-17 Hockey Challenge Bronze Medal	2013	[21]
IIHF World U18 Championship Silver Medal	2013	[22]
IIHF World U18 Championship Gold Medal	2014	[23]
CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game MVP	2014

References

1. "Jack Eichel could go No. 1 in 2015". Boston Herald. 2014-06-21. Retrieved 2014-06-21.
2. "Boston University's Jack Eichel wins Hobey Baker Award". Boston Globe. 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
3. "Player Feature – Eichel Uses Experience to Motivate". USA Hockey. 2014-04-15.
4. "Top 2014 prospects highlight USHL All-Star teams".
5. "Jack Eichel signs Letter of Intent to play college hockey at Boston University.". SB Nation College Hockey. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
6. Mahoney, Andrew (April 10, 2015). "Boston University's Jack Eichel wins Hobey Baker Award". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
7. "Sabres sign Eichel to entry-level contract". Buffalo Sabres. 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
8. "Sabres forward Jack Eichel scores in NHL debut".
9. "Eichel won't play for U.S. at worlds, needs rest".
10. "Eichel To Represent Team Usa At Youth Olympics". Boston Junior Bruins. 2011-11-02.
11. "Top U.S. prospect Jack Eichel serves notice at world junior".
12. USPHL: Five Alumni Invited To World Junior Camp Archived September 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
13. "U.S. captures gold medal at U-18 Worlds".
14. Reserved., . All Rights (December 30, 2013). "Age doesn't hinder American Jack Eichel at World Juniors".
15. "Jack Eichel named to Team USA for World Champs". USAToday. 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
16. Hamilton, Paul (2015-05-17). "Eichel and the U.S. win bronze". WGR 550. Retrieved 2015-05-17.
17. "NHL announces All-Rookie Team".
18. "All-USHL First and Second Teams Named for 2013–14".
19. "Boston University's Jack Eichel wins Hobey Baker Award – The Boston Globe".
20. "U.S. Youth Olympic Team Settles for Fourth – Amateur Hockey News – January 21, 2012".
21. "USA's Jack Eichel, 17, already turning heads".
22. "2014 U18 Video: Jack Eichel, USA – Hockey's Future". April 28, 2014.
23. Notebook (April 28) – Team USA Captures Gold at U18 Worlds | USA Hockey

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Jack Eichel on Twitter