Jake O'Brien (ice hockey)

Jake O'Brien
Born (2007-06-16) June 16, 2007
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Right
OHL team Brantford Bulldogs
NHL draft 8th overall, 2025
Seattle Kraken

Jake O'Brien (born June 16, 2007) is a Canadian junior ice hockey forward who plays for the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He was selected eighth overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Personal life

O'Brien was born on June 16, 2007, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Dan O'Brien and Amy Turek.[1] He was born into a hockey playing family as his mother played for the Toronto Aeros while his father played collegiate hockey at Clarkson University.[2]

Playing career

O'Brien started his junior ice hockey journey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). In the 2022–23 season, he captained the team and posted 16 goals and 17 assists over 34 games. At the 2023 OHL Cup, he led the team in scoring with seven goals and ten assists in seven games, setting a new franchise record for points in the tournament. His standout performance earned him the Tim Adams Memorial Trophy as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.[3]

O'Brien was selected eighth overall by the Brantford Bulldogs in the 2023 OHL Draft[4] and officially signed with the team on May 4, 2023.[5] In his rookie campaign during the 2023–24 season, he tallied 13 goals and 51 assists over 61 games, setting new franchise records for assists and total points by a rookie. He led all first-year players in the OHL in points, assists, power-play goals, power-play assists, and points per game. His outstanding performance earned him the Emms Family Award for OHL Rookie of the Year,[6][7] along with selections to both the CHL All-Rookie Team and the OHL First All-Rookie Team.[8][9]

On January 9, 2025, O'Brien was appointed as the captain of the Eastern Conference team for the first-ever Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game.[10][11] He tallied three assists during the game and earned MVP honors for Team East.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2022–23 Toronto Jr. Canadiens OJHL 34 16 17 33 6 — — — — —
2023–24 Brantford Bulldogs OHL 61 13 51 64 10 6 1 4 5 4
2024–25 Brantford Bulldogs OHL 66 32 66 98 18 11 3 8 11 6
OHL totals 127 45 117 162 28 17 4 12 16 10

Awards and honours

Honours Year Ref
CHL
All-Rookie Team 2024 [13]
OHL
First All-Rookie Team 2024 [14]
Emms Family Award 2024 [15]

References

  1. ^ "Jake O'Brien". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  2. ^ Baker, Geoff (June 27, 2025). "Top Kraken Draft Pick Had Hockey Star Mom's Help". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  3. ^ Sweetland, Josh (April 3, 2023). "Jr. Canadiens' Jake O'Brien named 2023 OHL Cup MVP". CHL.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  4. ^ Stockl, Joely (January 13, 2024). "Rookie Scouting Report: Jake O'Brien". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  5. ^ "Bulldogs Sign 2023 8th Overall Selection Jake O'Brien". CHL.ca. May 4, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  6. ^ "Reflecting With a Record Breaking Rookie – Jake O'Brien Wins Rookie of the Year". CHL.ca. April 19, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  7. ^ Stockl, Joely (April 20, 2024). "Jake O'Brien Wins the Emms Family Award; OHL Rookie of the Year". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  8. ^ "Accolades Continue for O'Brien! Named to CHL All-Rookie Team". CHL.ca. June 2, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  9. ^ Smiley, Brian (May 28, 2024). "Bulldogs' O'Brien named to OHL's all-rookie team". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  10. ^ Smiley, Brian (January 9, 2025). "Jake O'Brien, Lucas Karmiris named OHL Top Prospects captains". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "Misa, O'Brien named captains for inaugural Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game presented by Enbridge Gas". CHL.ca. January 9, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  12. ^ Smiley, Brian (January 16, 2025). "Brantford Bulldogs' Jake O'Brien earns MVP at Top Prospects game". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  13. ^ Séguin, Christopher (June 2, 2024). "CHL Announces 2023-24 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams presented by CCM". CHL.ca. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "Jake O'Brien Named to OHL First All-Rookie Team". CHL.ca. May 28, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  15. ^ "Bulldogs' O'Brien claims Emms Family Award as OHL Rookie of the Year". CHL.ca. April 19, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
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