Graeme Clarke

Graeme Clarke
Clarke with the Utica Comets in 2024
Born	(2001-04-24) April 24, 2001 (age 23) Waconia, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams	Minnesota Wild Iowa Wild  (AHL) HC Nové Zámky New Jersey Devils
NHL draft	80th overall, 2019 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	2020–present

Graeme Clarke (born April 24, 2001) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Junior

Clarke was selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67's in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. He scored his first Ontario Hockey League (OHL) goal and assist in the third game of the 2017–18 season, on September 24, 2017, against the Erie Otters. On January 21, 2018, he scored a Michigan goal against the Peterborough Petes, a move he had done successfully multiple times prior to his OHL career. ^[1] He finished the year with 14 goals and 25 points in 63 games. ^[2]

Returning to the 67's for the 2018–19 season, Clarke scored his second Michigan goal at the OHL level on March 8, 2019. ^{[3] [ better source needed ]} His regular season production increased from the previous year's, netting 23 goals and 34 points in 55 games, along with seven goals and 14 points in 18 playoff games as the 67's made the OHL finals, ultimately losing to the Guelph Storm. ^{[4] [5]} Following the season, he was selected 80th overall in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils. ^[2]

Despite missing all but 16 games of the 2019–20 season due to a shoulder injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarke still managed nine goals and 17 points, his first season above a point-per-game pace. ^{[2] [5]}

Professional

With the 2020–21 OHL season postponed and later cancelled due to the pandemic, Clarke and his brother, Brandt, began the season with HC Nové Zámky of the Slovak Extraliga. ^{[6] [7]} On February 8, 2021, after six games in Slovakia over which he totaled just one assist, he signed a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Binghamton Devils, then-affiliate of the New Jersey Devils. ^{[8] [9]} He would sign a three-year, entry-level contract with New Jersey less than a month later, on March 6. ^[10] In 31 AHL games with Binghamton, Clarke scored eight goals and 18 points. ^[5]

Clarke was assigned to the Utica Comets for the entirety of the 2021–22 season, scoring 24 points in 52 regular season games, as well as one point in three playoff games as the Comets received a bye to the second round, where they were eliminated by the Rochester Americans. ^{[5] [11]}

The 2022–23 season saw Clarke more than double his previous year's point production, totaling 58 points in 68 games. He was named AHL player of the week for the week ending on December 25, 2022, during which he scored four goals and six points in two games. ^[12] In the playoffs, Clarke put up six points in as many games, as the Comets were once again eliminated in the second round, this time by the Toronto Marlies. ^{[5] [13]}

Clarke made his NHL debut on January 6, 2024, in a 6–4 loss against the Vancouver Canucks. ^{[14] [15]} He and Brandt were both selected for the 2024 AHL All-Star Game, the second pair of brothers to attend the game together after Peter and Chris Ferraro in 1997 and 2003. ^[16] He would finish the AHL season with 25 goals and 49 points in 67 games, including eight game-winning goals to lead the Comets in goals and game-winners, and rank second in points. ^[17]

On June 21, 2024, Clarke was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Adam Beckman. ^[17]

International play

Medal record
Representing   Canada
Men's ice hockey
Hlinka Gretzky Cup
	2018 Edmonton/Red Deer

Clarke represented Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring three points in five games en route to a gold medal. ^[5]

Personal life

Clarke has two ice hockey-playing younger siblings, both defencemen. His brother Brandt was selected eighth overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, ^[18] while his sister Mackenzie plays for St. Lawrence University. ^[19]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017–18	Ottawa 67's	OHL		63	14	23	18	26		5	0	0	0	0
2018–19	Ottawa 67's	OHL		55	23	11	34	34		18	7	7	14	10
2019–20	Ottawa 67's	OHL		16	9	8	17	15		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	HC Nové Zámky	Slovak		6	0	1	1	6		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Binghamton Devils	AHL		31	8	10	18	12		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Utica Comets	AHL		52	10	14	24	30		3	1	0	1	0
2022–23	Utica Comets	AHL		68	25	33	58	18		6	2	4	6	4
2023–24	Utica Comets	AHL		67	25	24	49	30		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	New Jersey Devils	NHL		3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				3	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2018	Canada	HG18			5	2	1	3	0
Junior totals					5	2	1	3	0

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
AHL
AHL All-Star Game	2024	[16]
Utica Comets
Three Stars Award	2024	[20]

References

1. "67's rookie Clarke's 'Did you see that' goal was not his first". Ottawa 67s. January 22, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
2. Davis, Hailey (April 14, 2022). "Where Are They Now: Graeme Clarke". Ottawa 67s. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
3. Graeme Clarke Lacrosse Style Goal | Graeme Clarke pulled off the impressive lacrosse style goal tonight against the Frontenacs. This will never get old 😍 #67s #NoQuit | By Ottawa 67's | Facebook , retrieved November 5, 2023
4. "2018-19 OHL Playoff Results at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
5. "Graeme Clarke at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
6. "Zmeny na súpiske Býkov, prichádza favorit na jednotku budúcoročného draftu NHL". HC Nové Zámky (in Slovak). December 25, 2020. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
7. "Graeme And Brandt Clarke Loaned To Slovakia". Pro Hockey Rumors. December 26, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
8. "Devils sign Graeme Clarke to AHL contract". binghamtondevils.com. February 8, 2021. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
9. Rice, Dan (April 9, 2021). "Devils Prospect Clarke's 1st Pro Season a Unique Experience". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
10. "RELEASE: Devils Sign Graeme Clarke". NHL.com. March 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
11. "2022 Calder Cup playoffs". theahl.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
12. "GRAEME CLARKE NAMED AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". www.uticacomets.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
13. "2023 Calder Cup playoffs". theahl.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
14. Flannery, Kristy (January 6, 2024). "Devils' Graeme Clarke Will Make NHL Debut Versus Canucks". thehockeynews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
15. Collins, Dillon (January 7, 2024). "AHL Alumni Graeme Clarke, Lukas Cormier, Jack Thompson, and Emil Martinsen Lilleberg Make NHL Debuts on Saturday". The Hockey News American Hockey League. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
16. "Rosters announced for 2024 AHL All-Star Classic". AHL.com. American Hockey League. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
17. "Minnesota Wild Acquires Graeme Clarke from the New Jersey Devils in Exchange for Adam Beckman". www.nhl.com. Minnesota Wild. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
18. "LA Kings Select Brandt Clarke 8th Overall in 2021 Draft". NHL.com. July 23, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
19. "Mackenzie Clarke at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
20. @UticaComets (April 23, 2024). "⭐️ Honda Three Stars Award: Graeme Clarke" (Tweet). Retrieved April 23, 2024– via Twitter.

External links

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