Brandt Clarke

Brandt Clarke (born February 9, 2003) is a Canadian junior ice hockey defenceman for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a prospect for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted eighth overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. In November 2021, Brandt was named Captain of the Barrie Colts for the 2021–22 OHL season, becoming the 22nd captain in Colts history.[1]

Brandt Clarke
Born (2003-02-09) February 9, 2003
Nepean, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Los Angeles Kings
Barrie Colts (OHL)
HC Nové Zámky
NHL Draft 8th overall, 2021
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2020–present

Playing career

On April 6, 2019 and marking the end of his high-profile minor hockey career,[2] Clarke was drafted in the first round, fourth overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection to play major junior hockey with the Barrie Colts.[3] Playing as a rookie for the Barrie Colts in what turned out to be the COVID-19-shortened 2019–20 season, Clarke led all rookie OHL defensemen, scoring six goals and 32 assists and he was considered a lock to go in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[4] At the conclusion of the 2019–20 season, Clarke was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team, as selected by the OHL's General Managers.[5]

In the following season (2020–21) when the entire OHL regular season was cancelled due to COVID-19, Clarke was able to continue his development by playing professional men's hockey in Slovakia, on loan to HC Nové Zámky of the Tipsport Liga, scoring five goals with ten assists while playing a partial season of only 26 games.[6][7][8]

On July 23, 2021, Clarke was selected in the first-round, eighth overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.[9] Clarke was soon signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Kings on August 10, 2021.[10][11][12]

In the 2022–23 NHL season, Clarke made his NHL regular-season debut for the Los Angeles Kings in a home game against the Seattle Kraken on October 13, 2022.[13] Clarke collected his first career NHL point, an assist, during a road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 20, 2022, making Clarke the seventh youngest defenceman and 18th youngest player in Kings history to record a point.[14] When in Los Angeles, Clarke – then the NHL's second-youngest defenseman during the 2022–23 season – billeted at the home of Jonathan Quick, the Kings' goaltender and oldest player at that time.[15] During the 2022–23 season, Clarke played 21 competitive games, split between the Kings (9 NHL games), Ontario Reign (5 AHL games) and Team Canada (7 IIHF World Junior Championship games), on top of 12 exhibition games at a variety of elite levels, before being re-assigned on January 6, 2023 by the Los Angeles Kings to the Barrie Colts for the remainder of the 2022–23 OHL season.[16][17] Clarke earned 61 points in just 31 regular-season games with the Barrie Colts and he tied the franchise record for regular-season goals in a single season by a defenceman (23 goals) while also becoming the franchise's all-time regular-season scoring leader amongst defencemen (158 points).[18][19][20]

Clarke is a high-quality defensive player with excellent defensive stick control and tactical positioning; however, he is a new-era defenseman best known for his offensive capabilities and his eagerness and creativity while breaking out of the defensive zone and while participating actively in the offensive zone.[21][22][23][24]

International play
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Canada
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place2021 Canada

Clarke won Gold playing for Team Canada in the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, averaging a point-per-game.[25] The tournament was held in Frisco, Texas, USA from April 26, 2021 to May 6, 2021. Clarke was named to the tournament All-Star team, as selected by the media.[26][27]

Clarke was selected to participate in Hockey Canada's National Junior Team Summer Camp (held in Calgary, Alberta from July 23-27, 2022) for the 2023 National Junior Team that participated in the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships that was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada from December 26, 2022 to January 5, 2023.[28][29] On December 7, 2022, it was announced that the L.A. Kings loaned Clarke to Canada’s world junior hockey team ahead of its Selection Camp for the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[30][31]

On December 12, 2022, Clarke was named to Team Canada to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[32] During the tournament, Clarke scored two goals and recorded six assists in seven games, including an assist on the final game-winning goal in overtime.[33] Team Canada won the Gold medal in overtime against Czechia on January 5, 2023.[34]

Personal life

Clarke is the younger brother of New Jersey Devils prospect Graeme Clarke.[35][36] Clarke's father, Chris Clarke, played junior hockey in Southern Ontario, Canada.[37]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2018–19 Don Mills Flyers GTHL 3319355422 —————
2019–20 Barrie Colts OHL 576323838 —————
2020–21 HC Nové Zámky Slovak 265101541 —————
2021–22 Barrie Colts OHL 5511485929 —————
2022–23 Los Angeles Kings NHL 90226 —————
2022–23 Ontario Reign AHL 51122 —————
2022–23 Barrie Colts OHL 3123386128 127162313
NHL totals 90226 —————

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 Canada Black U17 8th 51562
2021 Canada U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 72570
2023 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 72686
Junior totals 19516218

Awards and honours
Award Year
OHL
First All-Rookie Team 2020 [38]
Most Assists by Rookie 2020 [39]
Second All-Star Team 2022 [40]
International
U18 All-Star Team 2021 [41]
  • OHL Player of the Week (January 24-30, 2022)[42][43]
  • OHL Defenceman of the Month (January 2022)[44][45]
  • OHL Coaches Poll for the 2021-22 Regular Season: 1st in East for "Best Offensive Defenceman"; Tied for 1st in East for "Smartest Player"; and 3rd in East for "Best Stickhandler".[46]
  • 2021-22 Red Tilson Trophy Nominee for the OHL's Most Outstanding Player.[47]
  • OHL Defenceman of the Month (January 2023)[48][49]
  • CHL Team of the Month (January 2023)[50]
  • Most Points by a Defenceman in Barrie Colts History (158 points)[51][52][53]
  • OHL Defenceman of the Month (February 2023)[54]
  • OHL Player of the Week (March 13-19, 2023)[55]
  • Most Goals by a Barrie Colts Defenceman in a Single Season (23 goals - tied with Aaron Ekblad and Andrew Marshall)[56][57]
  • OHL Defenceman of the Month (March 2023)[58]
  • OHL Player of the Month (March 2023)[59]
  • 2022-23 Red Tilson Trophy Nominee for the OHL's Most Outstanding Player.[60]
  • OHL Coaches Poll for the 2022-23 Regular Season: 1st in East for "Best Offensive Defenceman"; and 1st in East for "Smartest Player".[61]

References
  1. WEESE, LUKAS (November 20, 2021). "Inside the OHL: Brandt Clarke (with a C) leads the Colts and breaks the ice with the Kings". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  2. COULTER, SHANNON (December 31, 2022). "REUNITING THE DON MILLS FLYERS - They were members of the talented Don Mills Flyers team, and now minor hockey teammates Brandt Clarke, Brennan Othmann and Shane Wright are together again at the World Juniors". Hockey Canada. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  3. "2019 OHL Priority Selection First Round Recap". Ontario Hockey League. April 6, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  4. QUIGLEY, RYAN (October 8, 2020). "A way-too-early look at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft". Broad Street Hockey. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  5. "2019-20 OHL All-Rookie Teams". Ontario Hockey League. May 27, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  6. KUZMA, BEN (July 22, 2021). "Canucks: Is there a case for an offensive defenceman with ninth-overall draft pick?". The Province, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  7. "The Internet Hockey Database - Brandt Clarke". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  8. SACHDEVA, SONNY (July 14, 2021). "Prospect of Interest: Why a lost OHL season made Brandt Clarke even better". Sportsnet, a division of Rogers Media Inc. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. "LA Kings Select Brandt Clarke 8th Overall in 2021 Draft". Los Angeles Kings. July 23, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  10. "LA Kings sign defenseman Brandt Clarke to three-year contract". Los Angeles Kings. August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  11. ELLIS, STEVEN (August 11, 2021). "What the LA Kings are Getting in Brandt Clarke". The Hockey News, a division of Roustan Media Ltd. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  12. "CapFriendly.com - Brandt Clarke". CapFriendly.com. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  13. "CHL to NHL: Clarke, Johnston play first NHL game". Canadian Hockey League (CHL). October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  14. DOOLEY, ZACH (October 20, 2022). "FINAL – Kings 1, Penguins 6 – Kopitar, McLellan". LA Kings Insider, owned and/or operated by or on behalf of Anschutz Entertainment Group. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  15. STOLLER, JACOB (December 14, 2022). "Brandt Clarke Prepares to Prove Himself at World Juniors and Beyond". The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  16. "Kings re-assign defenceman Brandt Clarke to OHL's Barrie Colts". Sportsnet. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  17. DOOLEY, ZACH (January 8, 2023). "Kings General Manager Rob Blake talks Brandt Clarke, Decision To Loan Him To OHL". LA Kings Insider, owned and/or operated by or on behalf of Anschutz Entertainment Group. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  18. "Barrie Colts - All Time Regular Season Player Stats". Elite Prospects. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  19. KIMELMAN, ADAM (March 25, 2023). "CHL notebook: Kings prospect Clarke has scoring surge with Barrie - Defenseman making most of return to OHL after starting season with Los Angeles". National Hockey League (NHL). Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  20. CAMPBELL, KEN (March 28, 2023). "Brandt Clarke turned around the Barrie Colts' season. He's not your typical NHL returnee to junior hockey. -- LA Kings prospect had 23 goals and 61 points in 31 games, finishing fourth among OHL defenceman in goals and fifth in points despite playing half a season". The Toronto Star. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  21. WEESE, LUKAS (November 20, 2021). "Inside the OHL: Brandt Clarke (with a C) leads the Colts and breaks the ice with the Kings". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  22. FOLEY, GABRIEL (January 30, 2021). "2021 NHL Draft Top Prospect Brandt Clarke Could Be the Next Erik Karlsson". Last Word on Sports (LWOS). Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  23. CHASE, WILLIAM (July 1, 2021). "2021 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Brandt Clarke the next big Blue Jackets D-man?". SB Nation - The Cannon - Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  24. STANOVICH, AUSTIN (January 6, 2022). "Los Angeles Kings' Top 10 Prospects – January 2022". The Hockey Writers, owned and operated by Bruce K. Hollingdrake. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  25. SEARS, ETHAN (July 23, 2021). "Kings stay put in NHL draft and land defenseman Brandt Clarke with eighth pick". LA Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  26. JENNINGS, COLLIN (November 19, 2021). "Brandt Clarke Hockey Canada U18 Championship Ring Ceremony". Barrie Colts. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  27. "IIHF U-18 History - Media All-Star Teams". Hockey Canada. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  28. "Rosters Named for Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team Selection Camp and Canada's National Junior Team Summer Camp". Hockey Canada. June 16, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  29. "National Junior Team Summer Camp Roster". Hockey Canada. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  30. "Kings lend defenceman Brandt Clarke to Canada's world junior team". Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  31. DOOLEY, ZACH (December 7, 2022). "LA Kings loan Brandt Clarke to Team Canada's National Junior Team". LA Kings Insider, by Anschutz Entertainment Group, Inc. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  32. Kimelman, Adam (December 12, 2022). "2023 World Junior Championship rosters". NHL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  33. "IIHF 2023 World Junior Championship - Player Stats". International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  34. MCGRAN, KEVIN (January 5, 2023). "Canada prevails against Czechia in overtime to defend world junior gold". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  35. MACLENNAN, IAN (July 24, 2021). "Colts' Brandt Clarke Picked By LA Kings In Opening Round of NHL Draft". Barrie 360. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  36. LOMON, CHRIS (October 27, 2022). "Rookie Brandt Clarke Credits Older Brother Graeme For On-Ice Success". National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  37. WARREN, KEN (January 23, 2021). "OH, BROTHER: Local teens take search of competitive hockey to Slovakia". Ottawa Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  38. "Awards - OHL First All-Rookie Team". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  39. "Awards - OHL Most Assists by Rookie". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  40. "OHL Announces 2021-22 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Ontario Hockey League. June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  41. "Awards - U18 WJC All-Star Team". Elite Prospects. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  42. JENNINGS, COLLIN (January 31, 2022). "Brandt Clarke Named OHL Player of The Week". The Barrie Colts. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  43. "Colts' Brandt Clarke Named OHL Player of the Week". Ontario Hockey League. January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  44. BarrieToday Staff (February 1, 2022). "Guzda, Clarke tapped for monthly OHL honours at their positions". BarrieToday.com. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  45. "OHL Top Performers of the Month for January". Ontario Hockey League. February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  46. "2021-22 OHL Coaches Poll Winners". Ontario Hockey League. April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  47. "OHL Announces 2021-22 Red Tilson Trophy Nominees". Ontario Hockey League. April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  48. "OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for January". Ontario Hockey League. February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  49. BarrieToday Staff (February 1, 2023). "Clarke, Barlow shine as OHL performers of the month". BarrieToday.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  50. TIDCOMBE, MATT (February 1, 2023). "CHL Team of the Month: January 2023". Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  51. D'AVINO, CHRISTIAN (February 26, 2023). "Barrie Colts coach and captain set franchise records". CTV News (Barrie), owned by Bell Media Inc. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  52. "Barrie Colts - All Time Regular Season Player Stats". Elite Prospects. February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  53. PEREIRA, GENE (February 26, 2023). "Clarke Makes Colts' Franchise History in Romp of IceDogs - Captain Passes Nasato to Become All-Time Scoring Leader Among Defencemen". Barrie 360. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  54. "OHL Announces Top Performers of the Month for February". Ontario Hockey League. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  55. "Colts' Brandt Clarke Named OHL Player of the Week". Ontario Hockey League. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  56. "Thursday Highlights: Red hot Clarke scores two more in Colts win". Ontario Hockey League. March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  57. PEREIRA, GENE (March 24, 2023). "On Record-Tying Night for Clarke, Chisholm Plays Hero For Colts in Win Over Wolves". Barrie 360. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  58. "OHL Top Performers of the Month for March". Ontario Hockey League. March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  59. "OHL Top Performers of the Month for March". Ontario Hockey League. March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  60. "OHL Announces 2022-23 Red Tilson Trophy Nominees". Ontario Hockey League. April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  61. "2021-22 OHL Coaches Poll Winners". Ontario Hockey League. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
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