Justin Danforth

BIOGRAPHY

Justin Danforth was born March 15, 1993, in Oshawa, Ontario. He is a forward in the NHL.

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 Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), on May 2, 2020. In the 2020–21 season, Danforth posted 23 goals and 32 assists for 55 points in 58 games to lead the club in scoring and placed sixth league wide.

Following three standout seasons abroad, Danforth returned to North America and was signed to his first NHL contract in signing a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on May 3, 2021. On November 15, 2021, Danforth made his NHL debut in 5–3 win over the Detroit Red Wings. He is the first NHL player from Sacred Heart University. Danforth scored his first NHL goal on November 19, 2021, in Columbus' 5–4 win over the Arizona Coyotes.