Justin Dowling

Last updated

Justin Dowling
M2k7427jpg 42656843871 o (41215835060).jpg
Dowling with the Texas Stars in 2018
Born (1990-10-01) October 1, 1990 (age 34)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
New York Rangers
Dallas Stars
Vancouver Canucks
New Jersey Devils
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2011present

Justin Dowling (born October 1, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Contents

Early life

Dowling was born on October 1, 1990, in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada [1] to parents Glen and Sherry. He also grew up alongside his brother Jaeden. [2] Growing up in Alberta, he played one season with the Airdrie Xtreme before joining the UFA Bisons from 2005 to 2007. [3] Dowling attended Bow Valley High School. [4]

Playing career

Not selected in any NHL Entry Draft, Dowling played major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Swift Current Broncos. In his final season with the Broncos in 2010–11, he served as team captain and contributed 20 goals and 67 points in 63 games. Unable to lead the Broncos to the playoffs, Dowling made his professional debut in the American Hockey League (AHL) after initially signing an amateur try-out contract with the Abbotsford Heat on March 25, 2011. [5]

Dowling with the Texas Stars in 2013 Justin Dowling - Texas Stars (2).jpg
Dowling with the Texas Stars in 2013

Dowling started the 2012–13 season in the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads, [6] but midway through the season, the AHL's Texas Stars signed Dowling to a standard AHL contract. [7]

In his first full season with Texas, Dowling continued to impress at the AHL level and was rewarded with a two-year contract with the team's NHL affiliate, the Dallas Stars, on March 26, 2014. [8] Dowling cemented his offensive role with Texas, contributing amongst the teams leaders with 50 and 46 points over the tenure of his initial contract with the Stars. While on the team Brandon Defazio is contributed as the vessel accountable for Dowlings NHL career.

On May 31, 2016, Dowling signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Dallas. [9] He began the 2016–17 season in the AHL, but after an offensive flourish in his first five games, he received his first NHL call-up by Dallas on October 25, 2016. [10] He made his NHL debut that same night, contributing one assist in a 3–2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. [11] After two games with Dallas, Dowling was returned to Texas on October 29, 2016.

On May 8, 2017, Dowling signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with Dallas. [12] He scored his first career NHL goal on November 13, 2019 in a 3–1 win over the Calgary Flames. [13]

As a free agent from the Stars after completing his ninth season within the organization, Dowling was signed to a two-year, $1.5 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 28, 2021. [14]

Leaving the Canucks as a free agent, Dowling was signed by the New Jersey Devils to a one-year, two-way contract on July 1, 2023 for the 2023–24 season. [15] In his Devils debut on January 25, 2024, a 3–2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Dowling recorded a goal. [16]

After two seasons with the Devils, Dowling left out of contract and agreed to a two-year, $1.55 million deal with the New York Rangers on July 1, 2025. [17]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2006–07 Swift Current Broncos WHL 3033010000
2007–08 Swift Current BroncosWHL71721284124372
2008–09 Swift Current BroncosWHL712244661672460
2009–10 Swift Current BroncosWHL723246781942242
2010–11 Swift Current BroncosWHL6320476718
2010–11 Abbotsford Heat AHL 81342
2011–12 Utah Grizzlies ECHL 2661824630002
2011–12 Abbotsford HeatAHL221126
2012–13 Idaho Steelheads ECHL3413334616
2012–13 Texas Stars AHL38161430491342
2013–14 Texas StarsAHL74123547814410144
2014–15 Texas StarsAHL652426502230000
2015–16 Texas StarsAHL521135461042130
2016–17 Texas StarsAHL49820288
2016–17 Dallas Stars NHL 90222
2017–18 Texas StarsAHL651328411822413172
2018–19 Texas StarsAHL6213405312
2018–19 Dallas StarsNHL110110130220
2019–20 Dallas StarsNHL29336820000
2019–20 Texas StarsAHL30332
2020–21 Dallas StarsNHL271456
2021–22 Vancouver Canucks NHL222242
2021–22 Abbotsford Canucks AHL155914020110
2022–23 Abbotsford CanucksAHL561135461860330
2023–24 Utica Comets AHL5714264020
2023–24 New Jersey Devils NHL21010
2024–25 Utica CometsAHL72240
2024–25 New Jersey DevilsNHL52257650000
NHL totals1529172624200220

Awards and achievements

AwardsYearRef
AHL
Calder Cup champion 2014 [18]

References

  1. "Justin Dowling". Elite Prospects. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  2. "Justin Dowling debuts in Dallas as family cheers on at home". Cochrane Today. October 27, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  3. Edey, Nicole (August 19, 2021). "Former Xtreme is now a Vancouver Canuck". DiscoverAirdrie.com. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  4. "Justin Dowling is a big hit with Dallas affiliate". Cochrane Today. June 26, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  5. "Dowling signs in AHL with the Abbotsford Heat". Swiftcurrentonline.com. March 25, 2011. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  6. "Texas Stars Report: Keeping An Eye On Justin Dowling". Defending Big D. December 29, 2012. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2013.]
  7. "Stars call up two players from Idaho". Texas Stars. February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on January 13, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  8. "Stars sign Dowling to two-year deal". Dallas Stars. March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  9. "Stars sign forwards Justin Dowling and Brendan Ranford". Dallas Stars. May 31, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
  10. "Stars recall Justin Dowling from Texas". Dallas Stars. October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  11. "Niemi makes 28 saves as Stars beat Jets". CBS Sports . October 25, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  12. "Stars sign forward Justin Dowling to two-year extension". Dallas Stars. May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  13. Vickers, Aaron (November 14, 2019). "Pavelski scores twice for Stars in win against Flames". nhl.com. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  14. "Canucks sign Dowling, Keeper and Hunt". Vancouver Canucks. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  15. "Criscuolo, Dowling join Devils on two-way contracts". NHL.com. New Jersey Devils. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  16. "Devils fall to Hurricanes after coach Lindy Ruff hit in the face by a puck. Oilers win 15th straight". sports.yahoo.com. The Canadian Press. January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  17. "Rangers agree to terms with Justin Dowling". New York Rangers. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  18. "Dallas Stars' affiliate wins AHL Calder Cup". Dallas Stars. June 18, 2014. Retrieved June 18, 2014.