Eckford makes NHL debut
Langley's Tyler Eckford made his NHL debut with the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night in Nashville.
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Updated: November 20, 2009 11:09 AM
It's been quite a week for Tyler Eckford.
First, the 24-year-old Langley native was named the American Hockey League's player of the week for Nov. 8-15 after the defenceman – who played in Surrey from 2003-2005 – registered two goals, seven assists and was a plus-6 in just three games for the Lowell Devils, the farm club of the NHL's New Jersey Devils.
That performance was enough for the National Hockey League to come calling. On Wednesday, Eckford was promoted to the New Jersey Devils and he was in the lineup Thursday night when New Jersey lost 3-2 to the Nashville Predators.
"He's playing extremely well, so we're going to take a look at him," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello told the North Jersey Record earlier this week.
Eckford saw just over nine minutes of ice time in the one-goal shootout loss, and he did pick up a hooking penalty in the second period.
The former Eagle was drafted by the Devils in the seventh round of the 2004 draft. He played three seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks before turning pro last year.
Before his call up Wednesday, Eckford had 15 points in 18 games in Lowell.
Those numbers had him tied for second on the team's scoring list and is fourth in the AHL for defencemen.
