Jack Dougherty
Jack Dougherty (born May 25, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently playing with the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL). Dougherty was selected by the Nashville Predators in the second round (51st overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Playing career. Dougherty was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, but grew up in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. He was rated as a top prospect who was projected as a possible first round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. He trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program team during the 2013–14  season, and was invited to participate in the 2013 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game. In October 2013 he committed to play for the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team of the NCAA Big Ten Conference. On July 24, 2015, Dougherty signed a three-year entry level contract with the Predators. As a result, Dougherty was sent to the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, the team which held his major junior rights. Prior to the 2018–19 season, on October 1, 2018, Dougherty was traded by the Predators to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Nicholas Baptiste . With the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, he compiled 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 56 games from the blueline. Following the conclusion of his entry-level deal with the Sabres, on June 25, 2019, Dougherty was not tendered a qualifying offer by Buffalo, releasing him to free agency. On July 10, 2019, Dougherty agreed to a one-year AHL contract with the Belleville Senators, affiliate to the Ottawa Senators, on July 10, 2019. Having left the Senators organization as a free agent, Dougherty was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Providence Bruins  on September 30, 2021, and was invited to the Boston Bruins training camp on a professional try-out. He appeared in just one game with Providence to start the 2020–21 season, before he was later returned in a trade for future considerations to former club, the Belleville Senators, on November 23, 2021. International play. As a 16-year-old he was named to the USA U17 Select team to play in the 2012 Five Nations Cup tournament held in the Czech Republic in August 2012. As a 17-year-old, Dougherty was chosen to compete with the American U-18 squad  at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where he won a silver medal, and he also helped Team USA capture the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.