Graeme Clarke

Graeme Clarke
Clarke with the Utica Comets in 2024
Born (2001-04-24) April 24, 2001 (age 23)
Waconia, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Minnesota Wild
Iowa Wild (AHL)
HC Nové Zámky
New Jersey Devils
NHL draft 80th overall, 2019
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2020–present

Graeme Clarke (born April 24, 2001) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

[edit]

Junior

[edit]

Clarke was selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67's in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection. He scored his first Ontario Hockey League (OHL) goal and assist in the third game of the 2017–18 season, on September 24, 2017, against the Erie Otters. On January 21, 2018, he scored a Michigan goal against the Peterborough Petes, a move he had done successfully multiple times prior to his OHL career.[1] He finished the year with 14 goals and 25 points in 63 games.[2]

Returning to the 67's for the 2018–19 season, Clarke scored his second Michigan goal at the OHL level on March 8, 2019.[3][better source needed] His regular season production increased from the previous year's, netting 23 goals and 34 points in 55 games, along with seven goals and 14 points in 18 playoff games as the 67's made the OHL finals, ultimately losing to the Guelph Storm.[4][5] Following the season, he was selected 80th overall in the third round of the 2019 NHL entry draft by the New Jersey Devils.[2]

Despite missing all but 16 games of the 2019–20 season due to a shoulder injury and the COVID-19 pandemic, Clarke still managed nine goals and 17 points, his first season above a point-per-game pace.[2][5]

Professional

[edit]

With the 2020–21 OHL season postponed and later cancelled due to the pandemic, Clarke and his brother, Brandt, began the season with HC Nové Zámky of the Slovak Extraliga.[6][7] On February 8, 2021, after six games in Slovakia over which he totaled just one assist, he signed a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Binghamton Devils, then-affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.[8][9] He would sign a three-year, entry-level contract with New Jersey less than a month later, on March 6.[10] In 31 AHL games with Binghamton, Clarke scored eight goals and 18 points.[5]

Clarke was assigned to the Utica Comets for the entirety of the 2021–22 season, scoring 24 points in 52 regular season games, as well as one point in three playoff games as the Comets received a bye to the second round, where they were eliminated by the Rochester Americans.[5][11]

The 2022–23 season saw Clarke more than double his previous year's point production, totaling 58 points in 68 games. He was named AHL player of the week for the week ending on December 25, 2022, during which he scored four goals and six points in two games.[12] In the playoffs, Clarke put up six points in as many games, as the Comets were once again eliminated in the second round, this time by the Toronto Marlies.[5][13]

Clarke made his NHL debut on January 6, 2024, in a 6–4 loss against the Vancouver Canucks.[14][15] He and Brandt were both selected for the 2024 AHL All-Star Game, the second pair of brothers to attend the game together after Peter and Chris Ferraro in 1997 and 2003.[16] He would finish the AHL season with 25 goals and 49 points in 67 games, including eight game-winning goals to lead the Comets in goals and game-winners, and rank second in points.[17]

On June 21, 2024, Clarke was traded to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Adam Beckman.[17]

International play

[edit]
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
Hlinka Gretzky Cup
Gold medal – first place 2018 Edmonton/Red Deer

Clarke represented Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, scoring three points in five games en route to a gold medal.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Clarke has two ice hockey-playing younger siblings, both defencemen. His brother Brandt was selected eighth overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft,[18] while his sister Mackenzie plays for St. Lawrence University.[19]

Career statistics

[edit]

Regular season and playoffs

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Ottawa 67's OHL 63 14 23 18 26 5 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Ottawa 67's OHL 55 23 11 34 34 18 7 7 14 10
2019–20 Ottawa 67's OHL 16 9 8 17 15 — — — — —
2020–21 HC Nové Zámky Slovak 6 0 1 1 6 — — — — —
2020–21 Binghamton Devils AHL 31 8 10 18 12 — — — — —
2021–22 Utica Comets AHL 52 10 14 24 30 3 1 0 1 0
2022–23 Utica Comets AHL 68 25 33 58 18 6 2 4 6 4
2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 67 25 24 49 30 — — — — —
2023–24 New Jersey Devils NHL 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
NHL totals 3 0 0 0 2 — — — — —

International

[edit]
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Canada HG18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 2 1 3 0
Junior totals 5 2 1 3 0

Awards and honours

[edit]
Award Year Ref
AHL
AHL All-Star Game 2024 [16]
Utica Comets
Three Stars Award 2024 [20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "67's rookie Clarke's 'Did you see that' goal was not his first". Ottawa 67s. January 22, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Davis, Hailey (April 14, 2022). "Where Are They Now: Graeme Clarke". Ottawa 67s. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  3. ^ Graeme Clarke Lacrosse Style Goal | Graeme Clarke pulled off the impressive lacrosse style goal tonight against the Frontenacs. This will never get old 😍 #67s #NoQuit | By Ottawa 67's | Facebook, retrieved November 5, 2023
  4. ^ "2018-19 OHL Playoff Results at hockeydb.com". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Graeme Clarke at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  6. ^ "Zmeny na súpiske Býkov, prichádza favorit na jednotku budúcoročného draftu NHL". HC Nové Zámky (in Slovak). December 25, 2020. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "Graeme And Brandt Clarke Loaned To Slovakia". Pro Hockey Rumors. December 26, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  8. ^ "Devils sign Graeme Clarke to AHL contract". binghamtondevils.com. February 8, 2021. Archived from the original on February 21, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Rice, Dan (April 9, 2021). "Devils Prospect Clarke's 1st Pro Season a Unique Experience". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "RELEASE: Devils Sign Graeme Clarke". NHL.com. March 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "2022 Calder Cup playoffs". theahl.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  12. ^ "GRAEME CLARKE NAMED AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK". www.uticacomets.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  13. ^ "2023 Calder Cup playoffs". theahl.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Flannery, Kristy (January 6, 2024). "Devils' Graeme Clarke Will Make NHL Debut Versus Canucks". thehockeynews.com. The Hockey News. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  15. ^ Collins, Dillon (January 7, 2024). "AHL Alumni Graeme Clarke, Lukas Cormier, Jack Thompson, and Emil Martinsen Lilleberg Make NHL Debuts on Saturday". The Hockey News American Hockey League. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Rosters announced for 2024 AHL All-Star Classic". AHL.com. American Hockey League. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Minnesota Wild Acquires Graeme Clarke from the New Jersey Devils in Exchange for Adam Beckman". www.nhl.com. Minnesota Wild. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "LA Kings Select Brandt Clarke 8th Overall in 2021 Draft". NHL.com. July 23, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  19. ^ "Mackenzie Clarke at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  20. ^ @UticaComets (April 23, 2024). "⭐️ Honda Three Stars Award: Graeme Clarke" (Tweet). Retrieved April 23, 2024 – via Twitter.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Graeme_Clarke&oldid=1252586279"