# Daniel Audette

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.

## 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. During his four seasons with the team, he amassed 237 points, setting the franchise record for most goals, assists, and points.
Audette was subsequently selected in the fifth round (147th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. When he signed his entry-level contract, Audette became the first Phoenix draftee to sign a professional contract in the National Hockey League (NHL).

### 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. At the end of the season, the Canadiens opted not to offer him a new contract. Audette eventually signed a minor league deal with the Springfield Thunderbirds on September 13, 2019.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. Audette (along with former AHL teammate Éric Gélinas) then joined HC Ajoie for the 2023–24 season.
On June 12, 2024, Audette signed with EHC Kloten for the 2024–25 season.

## International play

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

## 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.

## 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 |
| 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 | AHL totals | AHL totals | 264 | 50 | 86 | 136 | 182 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Liiga totals | Liiga totals | Liiga totals | 60 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 34 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| KHL totals | KHL totals | 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 | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 22 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| QMAAA |||
| Champions (Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix) | 2012 |
| First All-Star Team | 2012 |
| Top Prospect Award | 2012 |
| Liiga |||
| Champions (Lukko) | 2021 |