Almost exactly two years after winning the 2019 Ed Chynoweth Cup with the Prince Albert Raiders, Parker Kelly made another huge splash in the hockey world.
On Wednesday, Kelly scored his first NHL career goal in his debut for the Ottawa Senators as they beat out the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 in overtime.
Kelly scored in the second period for the Senators, giving them a 3-1 advantage. Senators’ defenceman Erik Brannstrom’s shot bounced off the end boards and behind the net when Kelly scrambled to get to the puck and quickly evaded Maple Leafs goaltender Fredrik Andersson. Andersson attempted to clear the puck off the line, but it was ruled a good call after a video review.
“This is crazy. I didn’t think it would go like this. I just feel very blessed to have gotten an opportunity. Just thanks to all the people that believed in me and supported me all the way up,” Kelly said in post-game media availability. “I didn’t think my first game would go like this—I just wanted to get a win. I think it was my first time I touched the puck and it goes in. I’m just still in shock, I can’t believe it. It’s such a unique feeling, I’m just going to soak it all in.”
Kelly may have only played 7:32 in his debut, but that was enough to get under the skin of the complete Leafs’ bench as his pesky Parker Kelly self.
“For seven and a half minutes, I can guarantee guys on the other team knew he played. Whether he played seven minutes or he plays 10, he’s a guy that can be a part of this group going forward and help us win,” Senators head coach D.J Smith told the media in his conference.
While being an undrafted free agent, the Senators signed Kelly to a three-year, entry-level contract back in 2017. Kelly had seven goals and 12 points in 28 AHL games with the Belleville Senators this year before getting the call up with Ottawa in their final game of the season.
Kelly played on the Raiders from 2015-2019, winning the WHL title in his final year. He played 273 career games for the Raiders, which ranks 13th overall in franchise history. Kelly scored 93 goals and 188 points in that span.
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jeff.dandrea@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW
