Hayden Hodgson

Raised in Leamington after his birth in Windsor on March 2, 1996, Hodgson split his youth between hockey, baseball and golf before choosing to focus on hockey. He stood out early at the minor level: in 2011–12 with the Sun County Panthers of Alliance Hockey he scored 21 goals and finished with 41 points in 28 games, while also pitching for a Windsor under‑16 baseball club. That production helped lead to his selection by the Erie Otters in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection, taken in the third round, 44th overall.

His junior career passed through uneven stretches and disciplinary setbacks. After scoring eight goals in 60 games as a rookie in Erie, a ten‑game suspension ended his first OHL season prematurely. A mid‑season trade to Sarnia in January 2014 preceded another ten‑game ban for an illegal hit; afterwards he continued to move around the OHL, including a later trade to Saginaw in January 2016, contributing modest offensive totals and playoff experience with multiple clubs.

Undrafted by NHL teams, Hodgson began his professional journey through the AHL and ECHL ranks. He signed with the Cleveland Monsters on March 23, 2017, and spent time in lower pro leagues and in Europe with HC 07 Detva, where he notched seven goals and 14 points in 21 games. Returning to North America, he worked his way back to the AHL and produced a breakout season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021–22 (19 goals, 31 points in 46 games). That form earned him an NHL contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 22, 2022; two nights later he debuted and recorded both his first NHL goal and his first assist.

Subsequent years saw Hodgson involved in a three‑team trade to the Los Angeles Kings in June 2023 and a full season with their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. He signed with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent on July 2, 2024, was assigned to Belleville, and has since split time between the AHL and brief recalls to Ottawa. His game is defined by physicality and a willingness to engage along the boards and in front of the net, producing occasional offensive bursts while also attracting several suspensions for illegal checks throughout his pro career.