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. "Sharks Prospect Named to Second Team All-USHL". NHL.com. May 31, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
4. "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.

External links

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

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Mark MacMillan	NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year 2015–16	Succeeded by Dominic Toninato