Nicholas Robertson (ice hockey)

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Nicholas Robertson
Born (2001-09-11) September 11, 2001 (age 22)
Arcadia, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 161 lb (73 kg; 11 st 7 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL Draft 53rd overall, 2019
Toronto Maple Leafs
Playing career 2020–present

Nicholas Robertson (born September 11, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 53rd overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he had 1 goal in 4 games. He is the younger brother of Dallas Stars winger Jason Robertson.

Personal life[edit]

Robertson was born on September 11, 2001, in Arcadia, California, to parents Hugh and Mercedes.[1] His mother was born in Manila, Philippines, and moved to North America as a child where she would meet her Michigan-born husband.[2] Robertson began playing minor hockey while living in Southern California before moving to Michigan at eight years old for better hockey opportunities.[3] Prior to the move, his parents owned season tickets to the Los Angeles Kings and he would often go to games with his brothers Jason and Michael.[2] His older sister Brianne is also involved in athletics and is a professional martial artist, specializing in jujitsu. [4]

Playing career[edit]

Major junior[edit]

Robertson began his hockey career in Toronto with the AAA minor hockey team Toronto Red Wings in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). He recorded 18 goals and 18 assists over 32 games for the 2016–17 season while also playing four games with the North York Rangers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). He received attention from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and was eventually drafted 17th overall by the Peterborough Petes in the 2017 OHL Draft.[5] He played with the Petes for three seasons, scoring 55 goals and 31 assists for 86 points in his last year before the OHL season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[6] He became the first Pete player to score 50 goals in a season since Jason Dawe and Mike Harding did in 1992–93.[7] As a result of his successful season, Robertson received the CHL Sportsman of the Year Award[8] and was named to the 2019–20 OHL All-Star Team.[9] He was also selected as the Petes' nominee for the Red Tilson Trophy as OHL MVP.[10]

Professional[edit]

Robertson was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs 53rd overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and signed an entry level contract with the team on September 19, 2019.[11] Upon the cancelation of the 2019–20 OHL season, he returned to Los Angeles where he continued to work out before joining the Leafs for their Return to Play initiative.[12] He participated in the Leafs training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and made his NHL debut during qualifying rounds of the playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Upon making his debut, he became the youngest player on all NHL rosters for the Qualifiers and youngest ever in the postseason since April 21, 1996, when Jarome Iginla made his professional debut.[13] A few days later, on August 6, in Game 3 of the Qualifiers versus the Blue Jackets, Robertson beat Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for his first NHL goal in a 4–3 overtime loss. In doing so, he became the third player in franchise history to record a playoff goal before their 19th birthday, the other two being Jack Hamilton in 1943 and Ted Kennedy (1944).[14] Despite Robertson's good play, the Maple Leafs were eliminated in five games by Columbus.[15]

In the following season Robertson began was subjected to a series of long-term injuries, suffering a knee injury in his season debut. In the 2021–22 season, he suffered a broken leg,[16] limiting his playing time with both Toronto and the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.[17] Robertson began the 2022–23 season with the Marlies, but after scoring two points in two games, he was recalled. Robertson made 15 appearances with the Maple Leafs, registering two goals and five points before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Kings on December 8, 2022 which required surgery.[16]

Robertson attended the Maple Leafs 2023 training camp, but was assigned to the Marlies to start the 2023–24 season.[18] He was recalled by the Maple Leafs on November 6, 2023,[19] and made his Maple Leafs season debut that night in a 6–5 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.[20]

Career statistics[edit]

Regular season and playoffs[edit]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 North York Rangers OJHL 4 0 3 3 2 — — — — —
2017–18 Peterborough Petes OHL 62 15 18 33 14 — — — — —
2018–19 Peterborough Petes OHL 54 27 28 55 24 5 1 1 2 2
2019–20 Peterborough Petes OHL 46 55 31 86 40 — — — — —
2019–20 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL — — — — — 4 1 0 1 2
2020–21 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 6 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2020–21 Toronto Marlies AHL 21 5 11 16 12 — — — — —
2021–22 Toronto Marlies AHL 28 16 12 28 8 — — — — —
2021–22 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 10 1 0 1 4 — — — — —
2022–23 Toronto Marlies AHL 2 1 1 2 2 — — — — —
2022–23 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 15 2 3 5 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 31 3 4 7 4 4 1 0 1 2

International[edit]

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 United States HG18 4th 5 4 1 5 2
2020 United States WJC 6th 5 2 3 5 2
Junior totals 10 6 4 10 4

References[edit]

  1. ^ Kwong, Evelyn (September 11, 2019). "Born premature on 9/11, they weren't sure if Leafs' prospect Nick Robertson would survive. Now he's an inspiration". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Rule, Heather (June 20, 2020). "Robertson Brothers Grew Up with NHL Aspirations, Look to Be Filipino-American Role Models". teamusa.usahockey.com. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "Inheriting the Family Work Ethic: Nick Robertson". gopetesgo.com. October 11, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  4. ^ McGran, Kevin (March 15, 2022). "The Robertson brothers, Nick and Jason, have made the most of their shots — so many shots". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  5. ^ "Nick Robertson Commits to Petes". ontariohockeyleague.com. May 22, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "Nicholas Robertson". eliteprospects.com. Elite Prospects. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  7. ^ "Petes' Nick Robertson becomes first player to score 50 goals in 2019-20". chl.ca. March 3, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "Nick Robertson wins CHL Sportsman of the Year Award presented by Cavendish Farms". ontariohockeyleague.com. June 4, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  9. ^ "2019-20 OHL All-Star Teams". ontariohockeyleague.com. May 27, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  10. ^ "OHL Announces 2019-20 Red Tilson Trophy Finalists". ontariohockeyleague.com. April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  11. ^ Morassutti, David (September 19, 2019). "Maple Leafs sign Nicholas Robertson to entry-level contract". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  12. ^ Clipperton, Joshua (July 17, 2020). "Teenager Nick Robertson doing his best to handle hype of Maple Leafs camp". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  13. ^ McCarthy, Dave (August 1, 2020). "Robertson, 18, to make NHL debut for Maple Leafs in Game 1 of Qualifiers". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  14. ^ @PR_NHL (August 7, 2020). "Nicholas Robertson (18 years, 330 days) became the third player in @MapleLeafs history to score a playoff goal before age 19. Also: Jack Hamilton (Game 1 of 1943 SF, Game 1 of 1944 SF) and Ted Kennedy (Game 4 of 1944 SF)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Clipperton, Joshua (August 9, 2020). "Blue Jackets eliminate Maple Leafs with Game 5 shutout victory". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Kloke, Joshua (January 16, 2023). "Maple Leafs' Nick Robertson has season-ending shoulder surgery, out for 6 months". The Athletic. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  17. ^ Barden, Nick (September 22, 2023). "'The Show Goes On': Nick Robertson Ready For Another Chance to Crack Maple Leafs Lineup Following Shoulder Injury". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  18. ^ "Maple Leafs send Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg to AHL". Sportsnet. October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  19. ^ Kloke, Joshua (November 6, 2023). "In need of secondary scoring, Maple Leafs turn to Nick Robertson". The Athletic. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Clipperton, Joshua (November 6, 2023). "Jarnkrok scores in OT as Maple Leafs pick up wild 6-5 win over Lightning". CP24. The Canadian Press. Retrieved December 19, 2023.

External links[edit]

Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database

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