Ben Harpur Bio
Ben Harpur is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing roughly 218 pounds, the left-shot rearguard has built a journeyman career across North America before moving abroad. He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round, 108th overall, of the 2013 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft.
Born on January 12, 1995, Harpur has suited up for the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, and New York Rangers at the NHL level, while spending significant time with several American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates. Known for his size and defensive reliability, he continues to add depth and veteran presence to the Shanghai Dragons blueline.
Early Life and Background
Ben Harpur was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, on January 12, 1995. He was raised in nearby Niagara Falls, where his family provided a steady grounding throughout his youth. He is the middle child of his parents, Margery and George, and grew up in a household that blended athletic encouragement with modest means.
His father, George, introduced him to skating lessons as a bonding experience, an early step that helped spark his lifelong love of hockey. His mother, Margery, was of Australian descent and had never played the sport herself, famously putting Ben’s equipment on backwards until he learned to dress himself. This mix of supportive parenting and trial-and-error learning shaped his early introduction to the game.
Harpur attended A. N. Myer Secondary School in the Niagara Falls region, where he balanced academics with his growing commitment to competitive hockey. Originally a left-winger in his minor-hockey days, he transitioned to defence after a minor midget coach suggested the switch, a decision that ultimately redirected his career path toward the blue line.
Path to Hockey
Harpur’s competitive path began in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where the Guelph Storm selected him as a defenceman in the third round, 43rd overall, of the 2011 OHL Priority Selection. He recorded his first career OHL point, an assist, in a 10-2 win over the Erie Otters on October 1, 2011, marking an early milestone in his junior career.
He played three and a half seasons with the Guelph Storm from 2011 to 2014, gradually developing his defensive game and adding size to his frame. After the 2012-13 season, his steady progression caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Midway through the 2014-15 OHL season, Harpur was traded to the Barrie Colts to further his development. On November 6, 2014, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators, formally launching his professional career and cementing his transition from junior prospect to NHL-signed defenceman.
Ben Harpur Career
Early Career (2015-2017)
Harpur made his professional debut with the Senators’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, in 2015. During the 2015-16 season, his steady play earned him a call-up to Ottawa, and he made his NHL debut against the Minnesota Wild on March 31, 2016.
In the 2016-17 season, Harpur spent most of the year with Binghamton but rejoined Ottawa for the NHL playoffs, making his playoff debut on April 17, 2017, against the Boston Bruins. On February 9, 2018, his continued development was rewarded with a two-year, $1.45 million contract extension with the Senators, signaling the franchise’s confidence in his future.
Ottawa Senators Breakthrough (2017-2019)
Following his contract extension, Harpur carved out a regular role on the Ottawa blueline during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. On December 1, 2018, in the first game back for Erik Karlsson since his trade to the San Jose Sharks, Harpur scored his first-ever NHL goal against Sharks goaltender Martin Jones, a memorable milestone moment.
His time in Ottawa concluded on July 1, 2019, when he was traded, along with Cody Ceci, Aaron Luchuk, and a 2020 third-round draft pick, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown, and Michael Carcone. The trade signaled a new chapter for Harpur, though it proved short-lived.
Toronto Maple Leafs and Nashville Predators Era (2019-2022)
Unable to make the Maple Leafs roster heading into the 2019-20 season, Harpur was placed on waivers and reassigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. He appeared in 33 games for the Marlies, contributing one goal and 11 points from the blueline. With limited opportunity to return to the NHL in Toronto, he was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Miikka Salomäki on February 22, 2020.
Harpur spent two full seasons within the Predators organization, providing steady defensive depth at both the NHL and AHL levels. After his contract expired, he left Nashville as a free agent and went unsigned heading into the 2022-23 season, opening the door to a new opportunity.
New York Rangers Era (2022-2023)
On October 13, 2022, Harpur agreed to a professional tryout contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL. After four games with the Wolf Pack, he was signed by the NHL affiliate New York Rangers on October 27 to a one-year, two-way contract.
Harpur was quickly recalled by the Rangers and added depth to the blueline, posting four points through 17 contests. His reliable play led to a two-year, $1.575 million contract extension with the Rangers on January 26, 2023, rewarding his contributions during a transitional Rangers season.
Shanghai Dragons Era (2025-Present)
After spending time recovering and serving an AHL suspension, Harpur signed a professional tryout with the Florida Panthers ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season but was released on October 2, 2025. Shortly after, on October 19, 2025, he inked a deal for the remainder of the season with the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), embarking on his first professional chapter outside North America.
The move to Shanghai marked a fresh start for the veteran defenceman, bringing his size, defensive experience, and penalty-killing reliability to one of the KHL’s newer franchises. He joined the Dragons mid-season, ready to contribute on a competitive international stage.
Driving Style and Strengths
Harpur is recognized as a stay-at-home defenceman whose primary strengths lie in defensive zone coverage, penalty killing, and physical play along the boards. His 6-foot-6 frame allows him to win board battles and clear the front of the net, while his long reach disrupts passing lanes. Coaches have consistently praised his positional discipline and willingness to block shots, qualities that have kept him in professional lineups across multiple organizations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Harpur’s signature career moments is his first NHL goal, scored on December 1, 2018, against Sharks goaltender Martin Jones in a memorable Ottawa game. He also earned a two-year contract extension with the Rangers in January 2023 after a strong stretch of AHL and NHL appearances. His transition to the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons in October 2025 marked a notable milestone as his first professional move outside North America.
Ben Harpur Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ben Harpur was raised in a close-knit family by his parents, Margery and George, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. His father George introduced him to skating at a young age as a way to bond, while his mother Margery, of Australian descent, supported his growing passion for hockey despite having no personal background in the sport. As the middle child, Harpur grew up alongside siblings whose identities have not been publicly disclosed.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Harpur is known for keeping his personal life relatively private. There are no publicly confirmed details regarding a spouse, partner, or children based on verified sources. His career has taken him across several cities in North America, and his latest move to Shanghai represents his first extended professional stint abroad.
2025 Season Performance
Harpur’s 2025 calendar year began with rehabilitation efforts and a professional tryout opportunity with the Florida Panthers of the NHL. After being released by Florida on October 2, 2025, he quickly pivoted to the international market, signing with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL on October 19, 2025, for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
The move to Shanghai offered Harpur a fresh opportunity to reclaim a top-six defenceman role on a KHL roster, with the Dragons looking to add veteran blueline depth. His size, shot-blocking ability, and penalty-killing experience made him a logical fit for a team seeking stability on the back end.
Looking ahead, Harpur’s outlook in Shanghai centers on adjusting to the larger international ice surface, building chemistry with new teammates, and contributing to the Dragons’ playoff push. With years of professional mileage across the AHL and NHL, he brings a steady presence to a franchise still establishing its identity in the KHL.