Mathew Barzal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mathew Barzal |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Barzal with the New York Islanders in March 2018
|
|||
| Born | May 26, 1997 Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada |
||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team | New York Islanders | ||
| National team | .svg){kind=small} 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 picked Barzal in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, as the 16th overall player. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in the 2017–18 season. This award goes to the NHL's best rookie player. Barzal was the fifth Islander to win this special award.
Contents
Mathew Barzal's Hockey Journey
Starting in Amateur Hockey
Mathew Barzal began his hockey journey at a young age. He played in the 2010 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with his youth team. This is a big tournament for young players.
Later, in 2012, the Seattle Thunderbirds picked him first overall in the WHL Bantam Draft. The WHL is the Western Hockey League, a major junior league in Canada. In his first full season with the Thunderbirds (2013–14), Barzal 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 chose Barzal as the 16th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Soon after, he signed his first professional contract with the team.
Barzal made his NHL debut on October 15, 2016. After a short time with the Islanders, he went back to play for the Seattle Thunderbirds. He helped them win the 2017 WHL championship. Barzal was named the WHL Playoff MVP because he scored 25 points in just 16 playoff games.
First NHL Goals and Records
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 against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.
He quickly started setting records. On November 5, he made five assists in one game against the Colorado Avalanche. This set a new team record for most assists by a rookie in a single game. It also tied the record for most points by a rookie in one game.
On December 23, 2017, Barzal scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) against the Winnipeg Jets. He became one of only a few players in NHL history to have two five-point games before turning 21. He was also the first NHL rookie since 1918 to have three five-point games in a single season.
Winning the Calder Memorial Trophy
Barzal had an amazing rookie season. On April 7, 2018, he tied the Islanders' record for most assists by a rookie with 63. Because of his outstanding performance, he was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy. This award goes to the best rookie in the NHL. On June 20, 2018, Mathew Barzal proudly won the award.
Leading the Team and All-Star Games
After John Tavares left the Islanders in 2018, Barzal became a key player for the team. He centered the top line, playing with Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey. On December 29, 2018, he scored another hat-trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Barzal was chosen to play in the NHL All-Star Game in 2019, 2020, and 2024. At the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition, he won the "Fastest Skater" challenge, showing off his incredible speed.
Playoff Success and New Contracts
In the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Barzal scored his first playoff overtime winning goal against the Washington Capitals. The Islanders had a good playoff run, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On January 11, 2021, Barzal signed a new three-year contract with the Islanders. Then, on October 4, 2022, he signed a big eight-year contract extension, showing he will be with the Islanders for a long time. On January 1, 2023, in his 400th NHL game, he scored his 100th career goal.
Playing for Team Canada
Mathew Barzal has also represented Canada in international hockey tournaments.
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Canada |
||
| Ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 2022 Finland | |
| Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament | ||
| Gold | 2014 Czech Republic | |
| IIHF World U18 Championship | ||
| Bronze | 2014 Finland | |
| Bronze | 2015 Switzerland | |
| IIHF World U20 Championship | ||
| Silver | 2017 Canada | |
He helped Canada's U18 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 Championship.
In 2017, Barzal was an alternate captain for Canada at the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped the team win a silver medal and was one of the top scorers in the tournament. In 2018 and 2022, he played for Canada's senior team at the World Championships, winning a silver medal in 2022.
Personal Life and Interests
Mathew Barzal speaks French! He learned it through a program called French immersion in school. Because of this, he became very good friends with his former Islanders teammate, Anthony Beauvillier, who is also a French speaker. They first met when they played for Team Canada at the 2015 World U18 Championship.
Awards and Achievements
Mathew Barzal has won many awards throughout his hockey career:
- Minor Hockey Awards
- Brick Super Novice Tournament Top Scorer (2007)
- BC Hockey Player of the Year (2013)
- BCMML Most Points (2013)
- BCMML All-Star Team (2013)
- Western Hockey League (WHL) Awards
- WHL West First All-Star Team (2016, 2017)
- WHL Playoff MVP (2017)
- National Hockey League (NHL) Awards
- Rookie of the Month, January (2018)
- Calder Memorial Trophy (2018)
- NHL All-Star Game (2019, 2020, 2024)
See also
In Spanish: Mathew Barzal para niños
