Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright reacts after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of an NHL hockey game on December 6, 2022, in Seattle. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Stephen Brashear
SEATTLE – The NHL’s Seattle Kraken have returned top prospect Shane Wright to the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs.
Wright was captain of Canada’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2023 world junior hockey championship in Halifax and Moncton, N.B.
He had four points and three assists in seven games for Canada and scored on his 19th birthday as Canada beat Czechia 3-2 in overtime in Thursday’s tournament final.
Kraken general manager Ron Francis said on the team’s website that Wright has a bright future with the team and he is looking forward to watching the forward compete for a Memorial Cup.
Wright heads back to the OHL on a high note after facing struggles at the start of his NHL career.
The top-ranked North American skater entering the 2022 NHL draft, Wright fell to fourth before being selected by Seattle.
He had one assist over seven games with the Kraken in November and December before being assigned to the American Hockey League’s Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Four goals in five games with the Firebirds earned him a recall to the Kraken where he scored his first NHL goal in his only appearance – a 4-2 loss to Montreal in Dec. 12 – before being lent to Canada’s world junior team.
The Frontenacs were fifth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference standings at 17-15-2 heading into Friday’s games.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 6, 2023.
