EX-OJHLER FRIEDMAN NETS FIRST NHL GOAL FOR PITTSBURGH
It was quite the night for a former award-winning Ontario Junior Hockey League defenceman.
On Thursday, Mark Friedman - scored his first NHL goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team that drafted him in 2014 and put him on waivers last month.
Penguins general manager Ron Hextall, ex of the Flyers, claimed Friedman Feb. 24.
Later in Thursday’s game, Friedman was slammed into the boards by Nolan Patrick, who was penalized on the play.
Friedman would later his head hit on the ice attempting to hit Patrick. He left the game and did not return.
Friedman got his first point of the season, an assist on Tuesday night against Philadelphia during his debut with the Penguins.
In 13 career games in the NHL, Friedman has one other assist.
The 25-year-old played for the OJHL Rangers for one full season (2011-12) after being called up as an affiliate from the Don Mills Flyers U16 squad the previous year. He was voted to the OJHL’s All-Prospect Second Team in 2012.
Friedman, who played four seasons of NCAA Division 1 hockey at Bowling Green, was selected by the Flyers in the third round of the NHL Draft in 2014.
Friedman could be back in the lineup for the Penguins in their game Sunday, team officials said.
Here’s Friedman’s first NHL goal:
To view his NHL game log:
