Danforth hopes for even more in year two with the Blue Jackets

Justin Danforth was not your everyday rookie in the NHL.
In the NHL today, most players make their debuts from the ages of 18 to 22, or by their mid-20s at the latest. Most are just coming out of college or even straight out of junior hockey.
This was not the case for Danforth, who joined the Blue Jackets and made his NHL debut last year at the age of 28. As you can imagine, Danforth went through a lot of highs and lows throughout his career before he made it to the NHL -- and hopes to accomplish even more as he gets ready for his second season with Columbus.

"There are ups and downs in sports," Danforth said. "As you get older and you start playing more years of pro, you learn that it is a process and that is just how it is. It is not always going to be going well. Like right now, things are going well but things are going to go down eventually, and it's just about getting out of those slides and how you get back to playing your game. So I try to be as positive as I can and just do my job."

A native of Ontario, he started his journey to the NHL in college where he played for Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. After a successful four years at Sacred Heart, Danforth turned pro, played for numerous AHL and ECHL teams. In 2018, he earned the ECHL Rookie of the year playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones.
But even with his success in the ECHL, he decided he wanted a change. His hockey journey continued as he went overseas and played in Finland and then Russia for three outstanding seasons.
After his seasons abroad, Danforth moved one step closer to his NHL dream by signing with the Blue Jackets before the 2021-22 season. Before training camp started, Danforth helped Team Canada win gold at the World Championship in 2021.
READ MORE: OhioHealth Training Camp hub
Unfortunately for Danforth, he ended up not making the team out of training camp and was sent to play with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL at the beginning of the season. During this time, Danforth had to switch from playing center to right wing, something that had never been asked of him. He adapted, fought his way into the lineup and established himself on the team.
Finally, Danforth's NHL dream became a reality when he made his NHL debut during a win against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 11, 2021. Even with his late arrival to the Jackets, he finished the season on a high note with 10 goals and four assists in 45 games.
Going into this year's training camp, he has felt more comfortable and feels that he can just play hockey and do his job this year without the nerves, which has shown on the ice.
Danforth has "come in and looks ready," said head coach Brad Larsen, who also pointed out that sometimes Danforth's contributions get overlooked.
"He ended up with 10 goals last year," Larsen said. "Everyone forgets that. He didn't make our team (out of camp) last year, and he had to switch positions and fight his way into the lineup and establish himself. He's a tremendous story."
Danforth has played in four preseason games so far and has scored two goals and added two assists.
"He just keeps improving," associate coach Pascal Vincent said. "He wants to play the game, and it doesn't matter if it is a penalty kill, power play, he wants to play the right way."
When asked what kept him motivated to continue working toward the NHL, Danforth said it just comes down to competitiveness.
"I will always want to be doing something competitive; if it wasn't hockey, I would still be doing something that involves competing," Danforth said. "Obviously it's a dream to play in the NHL, but competing every night reminds you why you do put in the hard work and is just a lot of fun."