Danforth makes NHL debut

Former Reading Royals and Cincinnati Cyclones' forward Justin Danforth became the 707th former ECHL player to reach the National Hockey League when he debuted with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday against Detroit

Danforth is the ninth former ECHL player to make his NHL debut during the 2021-22 season. He made his professional debut with the Royals in 2016-17, tallying three points (1g-2a) in three games before recording 59 points (28g-31a) in 44 games with the Cyclones in 2017-18, on his way to receiving the John A. Daley Memorial Trophy as the ECHL Rookie of the Year. Danforth represented the Cyclones in the 2018 ECHL All-Star Classic in Indy, and is the 70th player to have reached the NHL after playing in the ECHL All-Star Game, and the 54th since 2002.

A native of Oshawa, Ontario, Danforth has totaled 12 points (6g-6a) in 29 career American Hockey League games with Cleveland, Rochester and Bridgeport. Prior to returning to North America this season, he spent the previous three seasons in Europe with Lukko Rauma (SM-liiga) and Podolsk Vityaz (KHL).