Alex Newhook

Alex Newhook (born January 28, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 16th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL entry draft and won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022, becoming the third player from Newfoundland and Labrador to do so, following Daniel Cleary (2008) and Michael Ryder (2011).

Playing career

Early years

As a youth, Newhook left his native Newfoundland to play hockey for St. Andrew's College, a boarding school located in Aurora, Ontario. Thereafter, he joined the York Simcoe Express of the Eastern AAA Hockey League (ETAHL) where he served as team captain and was named as the U16 AAA Player of the Year across the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) in 2017.

Junior

Newhook joined the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for the 2017–18 season where he finished second in team scoring with 66 points in 45 games played. He also recorded nine points through 12 postseason games and was named as team captain thereafter.

Early into the 2018–19 season, Newhook signed his ''Letter of Intent'' to join Boston College of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning in the 2019–20 NCAA season. After leading all BCHL skaters in scoring during his final year, he earned the Vern Dye Memorial Award as the league's most valuable player (MVP). Similarly, he was also recognized as the MVP across the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). Following the season, Newhook was selected in the first round, 16th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Collegiate

Newhook had an impressive freshman campaign with the Boston College Eagles, posting 19 goals and 23 assists for 42 points in 34 games. Collectively, he led all Hockey East freshmen in points and goals, all NCAA freshman in goals, and tied for seventh in scoring among all NCAA skaters. For his efforts, Newhook was named recipient of the Tim Taylor Award, becoming the first such player in Boston College history, as well as the Hockey East Rookie of the Year. He likewise earned Hockey East Second Team All-Star honors and would be named to the conference All-Rookie Team.

Due to participation in the 2021 World Juniors tournament and underlying quarantine requirements prior thereto, Newhook missed the start of his sophomore campaign at Boston College. After returning to campus following a silver medal result with Team Canada, he was injured in his Eagles season debut. Collectively, Newhook would be limited to just 12 games over the course of the 2020–21 season, posting a total seven goals and 16 points.

Professional

Colorado Avalanche (2021–2023)

On March 31, 2021, Newhook ended his collegiate career by agreeing to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche. He was initially assigned by the Avalanche to begin his professional career with American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. After producing at the AHL level, collecting five goals and nine points through eight games played, Newhook was called up to the Avalanche's taxi squad on May 2, 2021. He made his NHL debut three days later in a 3–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Appearing in six total games with the Avalanche during the 2020–21 season, he scored his first NHL goal in the ensuing Stanley Cup playoffs during Game 3 of the team's opening round series against the St. Louis Blues on May 21. He ultimately skated in eight playoff games before Colorado was ousted in the second round by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Securing an opening night roster spot ahead of the 2021–22 season, team head coach Jared Bednar would reassign Newhook to the Eagles after a single game, citing his need for "more confidence with the puck." Returning to the NHL ranks after ten games, he would register 33 points over the remainder of the regular season. After sporadic use in both the Avalanche's first and second round series against the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues respectively, Newhook then played the entirety of the Western Conference Final against the Edmonton Oilers and championship-clinching Stanley Cup Finals over the Tampa Bay Lightning, contributing four assists in 12 total games. With the victory, he effectively became the third player from Newfoundland and Labrador to win the Stanley Cup, following Daniel Cleary (2008) and Michael Ryder (2011).

The 2022–23 season was poised at the outset to be a significant opportunity for Newhook, as the departure of longtime second line centreman Nazem Kadri left a positional vacancy that the team would give him the opportunity to fill. Newhook later said that the departing Kadri had encouraged him of his ability to handle this task. He soon experienced difficulties in this endeavour, not aided by an array of injuries to other Avalanche players, and was soon supplanted by J.T. Compher. As well, coach Bednar frequently preferred to play him as winger. On December 5, Newhook skated in his 100th career NHL game, a 5–3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring a goal. He finished the regular season with 14 goals and 16 assists in 82 games. The Avalanche were unexpectedly upset in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs by the Seattle Kraken, with Newhook registering only one assist in seven games and seeing his ice-time decline. By season's end, it was widely assessed that he had not been able to take the next step the team had been hoping he would, raising questions as to his future with the team. Newhook himself would subsequently say "there were times that I maybe could have got a bit more opportunity and definitely could have done better with the opportunity I was given at times. For whatever reason, I didn't have as good a year as I wanted to."

Montreal Canadiens (2023–present)

As an impending free agent following the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Avalanche, Newhook was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for both a first and second round pick in 2023 and prospect Gianni Fairbrother on June 27, 2023. The trade reunited him with his former agent, Kent Hughes, with the foregoing now serving as the Canadiens' general manager. On July 11, 2023, Newhook was re-signed by the Canadiens to a four-year, $11.6 million contract extension.

Newhook played his first game with the Canadiens on October 11, 2023, scoring two goals in the team's season opener. Initially, he had been placed on the team's second line with Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovský, a pairing that received strong initial assessments prior to the former sustaining a long-term injury in only the team's second game of the 2023–24 season. As a result, head coach Martin St. Louis announced that Newhook would be shifted back to the centre position to replace Dach. After struggling at the centre position, Newhook would be placed back to the wing following Christian Dvorak's return to the lineup in early November. Enjoying more success in that role, he registered seven goals and six assists, ranking fourth on the team in points, before sustaining a high ankle sprain in a November 30 game against the Florida Panthers which resulted in a prolonged absence. Newhook would ultimately return after missing a total of 27 games on February 10, 2024 versus the Dallas Stars. He then reached a series of career milestones over the remainder of the campaign. On March 19, he skated in his 200th career NHL game in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers whereas he recorded his 100th career NHL point on April 16 against the Detroit Red Wings.

International play

Internationally, Newhook firstly represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada Black at the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. The following year, he participated in the annual World Junior A Challenge earning a bronze medal along with team Canada West. Newhook was then was named to the national under-18 team for the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships where he shared Canada’s scoring lead (10 points) along with teammate Peyton Krebs despite their country being unable to secure a podium finish.

In December 2020, Newhook was selected to the national junior team for the World Junior Championships held in Edmonton, Alberta. He recorded three goals and registered six points at the tournament, helping Canada capture silver after falling to rival United States whom featured fellow Boston College linemate Matthew Boldy as well as Eagles goaltender Spencer Knight.

Personal life

Newhook was born to parents Paula and Shawn in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and began skating at the age of 4. As a child, he idolized fellow Newfoundlander and Stanley Cup champion Daniel Cleary, describing him as "a guy that I...dreamt of being like him when I grew up."

Newhook's younger sister Abby is also a hockey player. In a questionnaire for the NHL, he responded to the prompt ''"not a lot of people know that I..."'' with: "have a sister who is better than me at hockey." The foregoing initially played at Tabor Academy as well as for the Bay State Breakers, before, like her brother, joining the Boston College Eagles.

During his time at St. Andrew's College, he played the trombone, winning a national band competition during his tenth-grade year.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honours

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Newhook, Alex
2001 births
Living people
Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey players
Canadian ice hockey centres
Colorado Avalanche draft picks
Colorado Avalanche players
Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Colorado Eagles players
Montreal Canadiens players
NHL first-round draft picks
Ice hockey people from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stanley Cup champions
Victoria Grizzlies players
Aurora Tigers players
21st-century Canadian sportsmen