Mathew Barzal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mathew Barzal
Barzal with the New York Islanders in March 2018
Born	(1997-05-26) May 26, 1997 (age 28) Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position	Centre/right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team	New York Islanders
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	16th overall, 2015 New York Islanders
Playing career	2016–present

Mathew Barzal (born May 26, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a forward for the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Islanders chose Barzal in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 16th player picked overall. In the 2017–18 season, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the NHL's best rookie player. Barzal was the fifth player from the Islanders to win this special award.

Mathew Barzal's Hockey Journey

Early Playing Days

Mathew Barzal started playing hockey at a young age. In 2010, he played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. This is a big event for young hockey players. Later, in 2012, the Seattle Thunderbirds picked him first overall in the WHL Bantam Draft. The Western Hockey League (WHL) is a major junior league in Canada.

Barzal with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2015

In his first full season with the Thunderbirds (2013–14), Barzal showed his talent. He scored 14 goals and made 40 assists, totaling 54 points. Before the 2015 NHL Draft, he was ranked as one of the top young players.

Joining the New York Islanders

The New York Islanders selected Barzal in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 16th player chosen overall. Soon after, on September 10, he signed his first professional contract with the team.

Barzal made his NHL debut on October 15, 2016. After a short time, he returned to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds. He helped them win the 2017 WHL championship. Barzal was named the WHL Playoff MVP for his amazing performance. He scored 25 points in just 16 playoff games.

First NHL Moments

Barzal earned his first NHL point on October 15, 2017. He assisted on a goal by his teammate, Josh Bailey. A few days later, on October 19, he scored his first NHL goal. It was against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.

On October 26, 2017, Barzal had his first game with multiple points. He scored a goal and had an assist against the Minnesota Wild. His first power play goal came on October 30 against the Vegas Golden Knights. This was also his first goal scored at home.

Barzal set a new team record for rookies on November 5. He made five assists in one game against the Colorado Avalanche. This also tied the team record for most points by a rookie in a single game.

Making History

On December 23, 2017, Barzal scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game). This happened in a 5–2 win against the Winnipeg Jets. On January 13, 2018, he had another five-point game. This made him only the fifth player in NHL history to have two five-point games before turning 21.

Barzal continued to make history on February 9, 2018. He became the first NHL rookie since the 1917–18 season to have three five-point games in one season. On April 7, he tied an Islanders record for most assists by a rookie with 63.

His incredible rookie season led to him being a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy. This award recognizes the best rookie in the NHL. On June 20, he officially won the award.

Leading the Team

After a key player left the team in 2018, Barzal stepped up. He became the center for the Islanders' top line. On December 29, he scored a natural hat-trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was a special moment, as it was the first hat-trick against the Maple Leafs by an Islander since 1986.

In January 2019, Barzal was chosen to play in the 2019 NHL All-Star Game. He finished the season leading the Islanders in both points (62) and assists (44).

Barzal also showed off his speed at the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition. He won the fastest skater competition.

Playoffs and Contracts

In the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Barzal scored his first playoff overtime winning goal. This helped the Islanders take a big lead in their series against the Washington Capitals. The Islanders went far in the playoffs that year. They beat the Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers. They eventually lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Finals.

On January 11, 2021, Barzal signed a new three-year contract with the Islanders. Later, on October 4, 2022, he signed a long-term extension. This new contract was for eight years. On January 1, 2023, Barzal played his 400th NHL regular season game. In that game, he scored his 100th career goal.

Playing for Canada

Mathew Barzal has proudly represented Canada in many international tournaments.

He helped the Canadian under-18 team win a bronze medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships. He also won a gold medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. The next year, he won another bronze medal at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championships.

Barzal was an alternate captain for Canada at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped his team win a silver medal. He was also one of the top scorers in that tournament.

In 2018, Barzal was named to Canada's senior team for the 2018 IIHF World Championship. He also won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.

Personal Life

Mathew Barzal speaks French. He learned it through a special program in school called French immersion. Because of this, he became very good friends with his former Islanders teammate, Anthony Beauvillier. Anthony is a French speaker, and they met while playing for Canada in 2015.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2014	Canada	IH18			5	2	5	7	0
2014	Canada	U18			7	3	1	4	6
2015	Canada	U18			7	3	9	12	0
2016	Canada	WJC	6th		5	2	1	3	0
2017	Canada	WJC			7	3	5	8	4
2018	Canada	WC	4th		10	0	7	7	4
2022	Canada	WC			9	2	6	8	4
Junior totals					31	13	21	33	10
Senior totals					19	2	13	15	8

Awards and Honours

See also

In Spanish: Mathew Barzal para niños