Daniel Audette

Daniel Audette
Audette in 2014
Born	(1996-05-06) May 6, 1996 (age 28) Blainville, Quebec, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Centre
Shoots	Left
NL team Former teams	EHC Kloten St. John's IceCaps Laval Rocket Springfield Thunderbirds Lukko HC Vityaz Örebro HK Lausanne HC HC Ajoie
NHL draft	147th overall, 2014 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	2016–present

Daniel Audette (born May 6, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for EHC Kloten in the National League (NL). He was selected in the fifth round, 147th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

Junior

Following a stellar season with Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA), Audette was selected first overall in the 2012 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Entry Draft by the Sherbrooke Phoenix.[2] During his four seasons with the team, he amassed 237 points, setting the franchise record for most goals, assists, and points.[3]

Audette was subsequently selected in the fifth round (147th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.[4] When he signed his entry-level contract, Audette became the first Phoenix draftee to sign a professional contract in the National Hockey League (NHL).[5]

Professional

During the 2018–19 season, Audette played on multiple lines throughout the lineup for the Laval Rocket, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Canadiens. In the final year of his contract, he played first-line centre, left wing, and third-line centre throughout the season.[6] At the end of the season, the Canadiens opted not to offer him a new contract.[7] Audette eventually signed a minor league deal with the Springfield Thunderbirds on September 13, 2019.[8]

Having competed in five seasons in the AHL, Audette opted to pause his North American career and sign his first contract abroad, agreeing to a one-year contract with Finnish Liiga club, Lukko, on May 28, 2020.[9] In his debut European season, Audette enjoyed a standout 2020–21 campaign, recording a professional best with 37 assists and 50 points in 60 regular season games. He continued with four helpers in 11 postseason games to help Lukko claim their first Finnish championship.[10]

As a free agent from Lukko, Audette continued his career abroad in agreeing to a one-year contract with Russian based club, HC Vityaz of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), on June 1, 2021.[11] Despite this, Audette would leave HC Vityaz midway through the 2021–22 KHL season, signing with Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the remainder of the 2021–22 SHL season on February 15, 2022.[12]

In August 2022, Audette signed a two-year deal with Lausanne HC of the Switzerland-based National League (NL). However, following the 2022–23 season, both parties mutually agreed to part ways on June 16, 2024.[13] Audette (along with former AHL teammate Éric Gélinas) then joined HC Ajoie for the 2023–24 season.[14]

On June 12, 2024, Audette signed with EHC Kloten for the 2024–25 season.[15]

International play

Following his rookie QMJHL season in 2012–13, Audette competed in the annual Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, winning gold with Team Canada.[16] He was likewise a part of the bronze medalist Canadian team at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championship.[17]

Personal life

Audette's father, Donald, is a former professional ice hockey winger who played a total of fourteen NHL seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers.[18]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010–11	Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix	QMAAA		4	0	0	0	6		2	0	0	0	0
2011–12	Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix	QMAAA		39	25	35	60	57		13	7	16	23	20
2012–13	Sherbrooke Phoenix	QMJHL		54	10	19	29	65		4	0	2	2	6
2013–14	Sherbrooke Phoenix	QMJHL		68	21	55	76	79		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Sherbrooke Phoenix	QMJHL		60	29	44	73	64		6	2	4	6	0
2015–16	Sherbrooke Phoenix	QMJHL		52	22	37	59	53		5	1	5	6	2
2015–16	St. John's IceCaps	AHL		4	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	St. John's IceCaps	AHL		75	10	20	30	37		4	0	1	1	0
2017–18	Laval Rocket	AHL		56	13	16	29	55		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Laval Rocket	AHL		71	14	25	39	53		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Springfield Thunderbirds	AHL		58	13	25	38	37		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Lukko	Liiga		60	13	37	50	34		11	0	4	4	0
2021–22	HC Vityaz	KHL		45	17	22	39	8		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Örebro HK	SHL		11	2	4	6	4		7	0	3	3	0
2022–23	Lausanne HC	NL		42	10	11	21	12		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	HC Ajoie	NL		51	13	25	38	8		—	—	—	—	—
AHL totals				264	50	86	136	182		4	0	1	1	0
Liiga totals				60	13	37	50	34		11	0	4	4	0
KHL totals				45	17	22	39	8		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2012	Canada Quebec	U17	6th		5	0	1	1	0
2013	Canada Quebec	U17	4th		5	1	2	3	4
2013	Canada	IH18			5	1	2	3	2
2014	Canada	U18			7	2	1	3	14
Junior totals					22	4	6	10	20

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
QMAAA
Champions (Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix)	2012	[19]
First All-Star Team	2012	[20]
Top Prospect Award	2012	[21]
Liiga
Champions (Lukko)	2021	[10]

References

1. "Daniel Audette player profile". Eliteprospects.com. May 6, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
2. "Sherbrooke picks Audette first in QMJHL draft". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
3. "Where are they now: Daniel Audette". CHL.ca. December 20, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
4. "Canadiens agree to terms on a three-year contract with Daniel Audette". Montreal Canadiens. July 24, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2019 – via NHL.com.
5. "Daniel Audette Signs his First Professional Contract with the Montreal Canadiens". CHL.ca. July 25, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
6. Lévis, Marc-Antoine (May 19, 2019). "Laval Rocket season review: Daniel Audette had an up-and-down performance in a contract year". SB Nation. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
7. Labbé, Richard (July 11, 2019). "Daniel Audette espère une nouvelle chance". La Presse (in French). Retrieved October 20, 2019.
8. "Thunderbirds agree to terms with Audette". TheAHL.com. September 13, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
9. "Daniel Audette signs with Lukko Rauma". Lukko (in Finnish). May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
10. Gaudreau, Jérôme (May 12, 2021). "Daniel Audette et Thomas Grégoire champions en Finlande". La Presse (in French). Retrieved July 28, 2024.
11. "Daniel Audette signs with Vityaz". HC Vityaz (in Russian). June 1, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
12. "Welcome, Daniel Audette!". Örebro HK (in Swedish). February 15, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
13. "Daniel Audette leaves Lausanne Hockey Club". Lausanne HC (in French). June 16, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
14. "Eric Gélinas and Daniel Audette signed for one year at HC Ajoie". Le Quotidien Jurassien (in French). June 20, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
15. "Daniel Audette to EHC Kloten". EHC Kloten (in German). June 12, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
16. "Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team Wins Gold Medal at 2013 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament". Hockey Canada. August 10, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
17. "Canada's National Men's Under-18 Team wins bronze medal at 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship". Hockey Canada. April 27, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
18. "Canadiens can't resist skills of Daniel Audette, son of former NHLer". The Hockey News. June 28, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
19. "THE PHOENIXES OF ESTHER-BLONDIN COLLEGE - CHAMPIONS OF THE MIDGET AAA LEAGUE". Le Journal de Joliette (in French). April 11, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
20. "Awards - QM18AAA First All-Star Team". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.
21. "Awards - QM18AAA Top Prospect Award". Eliteprospects.com. Retrieved July 28, 2024.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database