# Gavin Brindley

Gavin Brindley (born October 5, 2004) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), and a prospect of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 34th overall, by the Blue Jackets in the 2023 NHL entry draft. He played college ice hockey at Michigan.

## Playing career
### Junior

Brindley spent two seasons with the Tri-City Storm. During the 2020–21 season, he recorded nine goals and 13 assists in 51 games. During the 2021–22 season, he recorded 14 goals and 28 assists in 51 games and helped the Storm win the Anderson Cup.

### College

Brindley began his collegiate career for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2022–23 season. He recorded 12 goals and 26 assists in 41 games during his freshman season and helped Michigan advance to the Frozen Four. On October 7, 2022, Brindley recorded his first career point, an assist in the season-opening game against Lindenwood. On October 14, 2022, Brindley recorded his first career goal in a game against Boston University. During the championship game at 2023 Big Ten tournament, he assisted on the game-tying and game-winning goals, as Michigan won their second consecutive tournament championship. He set the Big Ten tournament record for most assists in a single tournament with seven. After returning to the team after competing at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, he recorded 11 goals and 17 assists in the final 20 games of the season.
During the 2023–24 season, in his sophomore year, he was the Big Ten Scoring Champion, recording 12 goals and 17 assists in 23 conference games. He became the fifth Wolverine to lead the conference in scoring, and was named Big Ten Player of the Year. He led the team in scoring and finished the season with 25 goals and 28 assists in 40 games. He also ranked sixth in goals and eighth in points among all NCAA players. Following the season he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and an AHCA West First Team All-American.

### Professional

On April 15, 2024, Brindley signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He made his NHL debut for the Blue Jackets the next day in their final game of the regular season against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Brindley began the 2024–25 season on the injured reserve after suffering a broken finger in a preseason game on October 1, 2024. He was activated from the injured reserve and loaned to the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters,he is number 45. on November 14, 2024.

## International play

Brindley represented the United States at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics where he recorded one goal and one assist in four games and won a silver medal.
Brindley represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded one goal and three assists in six games and won a silver medal.
On December 12, 2022, Brindley was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded one goals and three assists in seven games and won a bronze medal.
On December 16, 2023, Brindley was again named to Team USA's roster to compete at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. During the tournament he recorded six goals and four assists in seven games and won a gold medal.
Brindley represented the United States at the 2024 IIHF World Championship where he made his senior national team debut and recorded one goal in five games.

## Personal life

Brindley's father, Ryan, played college ice hockey at Miami from 1996 to 1999 and professionally for eight years. Ryan is a native of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and founded Southeast Elite Hockey in Florida, where he currently serves as director.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2020–21 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 51 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 51 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | University of Michigan | B1G | 41 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | University of Michigan | B1G | 40 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24 | Columbus Blue Jackets | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2022 | United States | U18 | | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2023 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 2024 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
| 2024 | United States | WC | 5th | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 20 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 6 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| USHL |||
| All-Rookie Second Team | 2021 |
| College |||
| All-Big Ten First Team | 2024 |
| Big Ten Scoring Champion | 2024 |
| Big Ten Player of the Year | 2024 |
| Big Ten All-Tournament Team | 2024 |
| AHCA West First Team All-American | 2024 |