Clark Bishop of St. John’s became the 26th player from Newfoundland and Labrador to dress in a National Hockey League game when he suited up for the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.
Bishop, a product of the Avalon-Celtics minor system, centred the Hurricanes’ fourth line, between Brook McGinn and Valentin Zykov. Wearing No. 64, he received seven minutes and 10 seconds of ice time, including 46 seconds on the penalty kill.
Carolina lost 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche, their third straight setback.
Bishop, 22, was recalled from the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers last week. Through four AHL games this season, Bishop has a goal and two assists. Last year, he registered seven goals and 21 assists in Charlotte, and he split the 2016-17 season between Florida of the ECHL and the Checkers.
He was selected by the Hurricanes in the fifth round, 127th overall, in the 2014 NHL Draft following four seasons with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Bishop was the first Newfoundland hockey player to appear on an NHL roster since Adam Pardy with the Nashville Predators during the 2016-17 season.
The list of Newfoundlanders to appear in the NHL includes those born and raised in the province, or those who were born in the province and spent a fair amount of time here before moving away (Brad Brown and Jason Morgan). It does not include players born in Newfoundland and Labrador who moved away at a very early age (Keith Brown and Dave Pichette).
Those from Newfoundland and Labrador who have played in the NHL are: Luke Adam, Clark Bishop, Brad Brown, Daniel Cleary, Ryane Clowe, Harold Druken, Alex Faulkner, Doug Grant, Bob Gladney, Colin Greening, Don Howse, Jason King, Dan LaCosta, Darren Langdon, Joe Lundrigan, Jason Morgan, Dwayne Norris, Doug O’Brien, Adam Pardy, Chad Penney, Teddy Purcell, Terry Ryan Jr., Michael Ryder, John Slaney, Tony White and Darryl Williams.
It’s interesting to note Bishop isn’t the first to skate for the Hurricanes. Both Langdon and Druken played for Carolina. In a strange twist, they were both involved in the same Carolina-Vancouver Canucks trade.
And for those of you who like trivia, it should be noted the only NHL franchise (including Dallas Stars/Minnesota North Stars; Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes; Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche; Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers) which has never had a Newfoundland-born player dress in at least one NHL game with that franchise is the New York Islanders.
