Justin Danforth

Justin Danforth (born March 15, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who plays for HC Vityaz in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He had previously played for the Rochester Americans and Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the American Hockey League and won the ECHL Rookie of the Year in 2018 with the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Prior to turning professional, Danforth played four years at Sacred Heart University where he was honoured as AHA Rookie of the Year and selected for the AHA First All-Star Team, AHA Second All-Conference Team, and AHA All-Rookie Team.
Internationally, he has represented Canada at the 2011 and 2012 World Junior A Challenge.
==Playing career==
=== Amateur===
Danforth began skating at the age of four and played hockey around his hometown through the Oshawa Minor Hockey Association and later the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). Standing at 5 foot 8 as a youth, Danforth stated he was constantly told he was too short to play hockey, although this did not deter him. Before joining the OJHL, Danforth played for the Oshawa Minor Generals in the Oshawa Minor Hockey Association. 
After finishing his Midget AAA years with the Oshawa Minor Generals, Danforth played in the OJHL with the Cobourg Cougars starting in the 2009–10 season. In 2012, Danforth participated in the Central Canada Cup where he led the OJHL East Division All-Star Team to a tournament title and was subsequently named tournament MVP. He was named to the OJHL Second All-Star Team at the conclusion of the 2013–14 season.
On June 3, 2013, Danforth committed to play NCAA Division 1 ice hockey for Sacred Heart University while studying sports management. He stated that playing in the OJHL with the Cougars was critical to him earning an NCAA scholarship.
===Collegiate===
Danforth began his rookie season at Sacred Heart during the 2013–14 season. He played in 36 games and led the team with 29 total points during the season. He recorded his first two collegiate points on October 16 in a 3–1 win over Bentley University. He helped the team qualify for the 2014 Atlantic Hockey Tournament where they lost in the first round to Canisius College. At the conclusion of the season, Danforth was named to the AHA All-Rookie Team and AHA Rookie of the Year.
In his sophomore year, Danforth played in 38 games and recorded 22 points. He helped Sacred Heart qualify for the 2015 Atlantic Hockey Tournament where they lost in the Quarterfinals to Canisius. He was named to the 2014–15 Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team for having a 3.0 grade point average or higher while competing.
In his junior season, Danforth picked up productivity and recorded 41 points in 36 games which set a new career high. He recorded his first collegiate hat trick in a 6–4 win over the Mercyhurst Lakers on January 16, 2016, and was subsequently named Atlantic Hockey Player of the Month for January after tying for third in the nation in points. He ended the season being selected for the Atlantic Hockey All-Conference Second Team and the Atlantic Hockey All-Academic Team.
In June 2016, Danforth was invited to the Florida Panthers development camp which ran from June 11–15. He returned to the Pioneers for his senior year where he was named an assistant captain and led the team with 32 points. He recorded his 100th collegiate point on November 22, 2016, becoming the 13th Pioneer player to reach that milestone and concluded the season being named to the Atlantic Hockey All-Conference First Team. 
===Professional===
After graduating, Danforth signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Reading Royals of the ECHL. However, after three games with the Royals, Danforth signed another amateur tryout with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL). A few days later, Danforth signed another amateur tryout with an AHL team, the Rochester Americans. His amateur tryout converted into an AHL contract for the 2017–18 season on April 22, 2017.
Danforth spent the 2017–18 season moving between the AHL and ECHL. He was named to Team Central at the ECHL All-Star Game after leading all rookies with 37 points. He was also named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team, All-ECHL Second Team and eventually ECHL Rookie of the Year at the conclusion of the season. Despite him spending almost two months in the AHL, he still ranked third amongst all ECHL rookies with 59 points. 
On May 8, 2018, Danforth left North America and joined Lukko of the Finnish Liiga. He signed a contract extension with the team on February 27, 2019. Prior to the 2019–20 season, he was named an alternate captain. In the 2019–20 season, Danforth's 27 goals scored were second in Liiga, behind just Julius Nättinen.
As a free agent, Danforth left Finland for Russia, agreeing to a one-year contract with HC Vityaz of the KHL, on May 2, 2020.
==International play==
In November 2011, Danforth was selected to Team Canada East at the 2011 World Junior A Challenge where he helped the team win a silver medal. He was again selected the following year for the 2012 World Junior A Challenge, where the team placed fourth in the tournament.
==Personal life==
Danforth's father Kent played lacrosse as a youth and Danforth followed in his footsteps until the age of 15. His older brother Brandon also played hockey and lacrosse growing up.
==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
2009–10 	Oshawa Generals Midget AAA	ETAHL 		— 	— 	— 	— 	— 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2009-10 	Cobourg Cougars 	OJHL 		3 	0 	0 	0 	2 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2010-11 	Cobourg Cougars 	OJHL 		47 	13 	23 	36 	26 		10 	2 	1 	3 	3
2011-12 	Cobourg Cougars 	OJHL 		41 	22 	27 	49 	40 		5 	2 	3 	5 	4
2012-13 	Cobourg Cougars 	OJHL 		43 	22 	34 	56 	42 		9 	3 	11 	14 	8
2013–14 	Sacred Heart University 	AHA 		36 	5 	24 	29 	24 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2014–15 	Sacred Heart University 	AHA 		38 	7 	15 	22 	26 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2015–16 	Sacred Heart University 	AHA 		36 	20 	21 	41 	22 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	Sacred Heart University 	AHA 		37 	10 	22 	32 	53 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	Reading Royals 	AHL 		3 	1 	2 	3 	2 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	Bridgeport Sound Tigers 	AHL 		1 	0 	0 	0 	0 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2016–17 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 		5 	2 	0 	2 	4 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2017–18 	Rochester Americans 	AHL 		15 	2 	3 	5 	12 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2017–18 	Cincinnati Cyclones 	ECHL 		44 	28 	31 	59 	40 		2 	0 	0 	0 	2
2018–19 	Lukko 	Liiga 		59 	18 	34 	52 	73 		7 	2 	2 	4 	0
2019–20 	Lukko 	Liiga 		56 	27 	33 	60 	26 		— 	— 	— 	— 	—
Liiga totals	Liiga totals 	Liiga totals		115 	45 	67 	112 	99 		7 	2 	2 	4 	0
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 		 	 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	Result 		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011 	Canada East 	WJAC 	 		4 	1	0	1 	4
2012 	Canada East 	WJAC 	4th 		5 	1	0	1 	18
Junior totals	Junior totals	Junior totals	Junior totals		9 	2	0	2 	22
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 		 	 	 	 	
==Awards and honours==
Award 	Year 	Ref
OJHL 	OJHL 	OJHL
Central Canada Cup All-Star Challenge MVP	2012 	
OJHL Second All-Star Team 	2013 	
College 	College	College
AHA All-Rookie Team 	2014 	
NCAA (AHA) Rookie of the Year 	2014 	
AHA Second All-Conference Team 	2016 	
AHA First All-Star Team 	2017 	
ECHL 	ECHL 	ECHL
ECHL All-Rookie Team 	2018 	
ECHL Rookie of the Year 	2018 	
ECHL Second All-Star Team 	2018 	
ECHL All-Star Game 	2018 	
==References==
== External links ==
Category:1993 births
Category:Canadian ice hockey right wingers
Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario
Category:Bridgeport Sound Tigers players
Category:Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) players
Category:Lukko players
Category:Reading Royals players
Category:Rochester Americans players
Category:Sacred Heart Pioneers men's ice hockey players