Determination of Hodgson inspiring as Leamington native earns NHL deal with Flyers

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The determination of Leamington’s Hayden Hodgson should provide an inspiration to anyone aspiring to play pro hockey.

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Hodgson spent five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with three teams and despite going to prospects camp with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings was never able to earn a contract at that time.

“I remember playing in the OHL and not getting drafted,” the 26-year-old Hodgson said. “I made it my goal to get there the hard way.”

Turning pro five seasons ago, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound winger has played for six ECHL teams and spent time in Slovakia before arriving in Allentown, PA this season and making his second stop in the American Hockey League on a tryout with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

“The last couple years have been a wild road,” Hodgson said. “Just from being in the ECHL, everyone has their different route. I needed a little more time to develop.”

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He turned his tryout into a roster spot with the Phantoms and then a two-year contract extension in January.

“He’s been our biggest surprise,” Phantoms’ head coach Ian Laperriere said in a release. “He came out of nowhere.

“He came to our training camp and I didn’t know about him. Nobody knew about him. I was like, ‘Who is this kid?’ and he came on the ice and I saw what he can do.”

Hodgson is tied for the team lead in goals for the Phantoms with former Windsor Spitfire Cal O’Reilly with 18 in 44 games and has 29 points and is tied for the team lead with a plus five.

When the Philadelphia Flyers traded forwards Derick Brassard and Justin Braun at Monday’s NHL trade deadline, the club had a roster room to add a player and Hodgson finally got that coveted NHL contract as he signed on for the remainder of this season.

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“I got an AHL contract to start and it turned into an NHL contract,” Hodgson said. “I’m happy to live out a dream signing an NHL contract. It’s huge. I’m ecstatic.

For now, he remains with the Phantoms. However, in his post-trade deadline media session, Flyers’ general manager Chuck Fletcher hinted there could be a chance for Hodgson and others to play in Philadelphia before the season ends.

“At some point here, there might be a few other young players that get a chance to play and audition,” Fletcher said.

A once promising left-handed pitcher before turning to hockey full time, Hodgson has taken nothing for granted to get to this point and will take nothing for granted going forward.

“Things are good,” Hodgson said. “I had a wild day, but I’m not in the lineup. I haven’t been recalled. I just signed with them for the rest of the year and I’m on an NHL (two-way)

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contract. It just means there’s an option to be recalled.”

Since turning pro, Hodgson has had to battle COVID-19 shutdowns to find a place to play and also overcame a serious calf injury just to get to this point.

“It’s a love of the game,” Hodgson said. “It’s been a grind, but the love of the game keeps you motivated. You take the opportunity and getting a shot and having an organization and a coach that believes in you. Ian Laperriere has given me nothing, but a shot.

“I’m happy for that and grateful to get that chance. In junior, I was taught to play a certain way and structure. Once you get to (the pro) level, it’s about being detailed and structured and playing three zones and able to process the game. Every year’s more competitive and faster and I think my game’s come a hell of a long way from junior and my first year of pro.”

An NHL contract is a dream come true, but a chance to play in the NHL remains a dream still yet to be fulfilled for Hodgson, but one Laperriere believes it is possible.

“Sky’s the limit for him,” Laperriere said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the next couple years, he plays at the next level.”

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