Hayden Hodgson Bio
Hayden Hodgson (born March 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 188 centimeters tall and weighing 94 kilograms, he plays a power-forward style built on physical play and finishing around the net. He previously skated for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and remains an active pro entering the 2025 calendar.
Early Life and Background
Hodgson was born on March 2, 1996, in Windsor, Ontario, to Christine and Todd Hodgson. He grew up in nearby Leamington, Ontario, where he split his youth between ice hockey, baseball, and golf. For most of his adolescence he weighed competing in two sports, spending hours each week training in both arenas before settling on a single path forward.
As a young multi-sport athlete, Hodgson collected several awards for golf and pitched for the Windsor Selects under-16 baseball team. He eventually abandoned golf because his swing mechanics were affecting his batting average, an early sign that he was preparing to focus on a single sport. He spent the 2011–12 season playing minor hockey for the Sun County Panthers of Alliance Hockey, where he scored 21 goals and recorded 41 points in 28 games while still balancing baseball commitments.
Path to Professional Hockey
The Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) selected Hodgson in the third round, 44th overall, of the 2012 OHL Priority Selection. His first OHL goal came on October 24 as part of the Otters’ 7–1 rout of the Saginaw Spirit. He finished his rookie year with eight goals and 12 points in 60 games, but his season ended early after a ten-game suspension for a collision with Henri Ikonen of the Kingston Frontenacs.
After a mid-season trade in January 2014, Hodgson joined the Sarnia Sting, where he posted five goals and nine points in 18 games. He later split his final OHL campaign between the Sting and the Saginaw Spirit. Although he attended the Detroit Red Wings’ rookie camp on a free-agent tryout, Hodgson went undrafted by NHL teams and signed his first professional contract with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL on March 23, 2017.
Hayden Hodgson Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Hodgson’s first full professional season with the Cleveland Monsters did not unfold as planned, and he spent the following two years bouncing through the ECHL with the Florida Everblades, Manchester Monarchs, and Wichita Thunder. He later took his game overseas, suiting up for HC 07 Detva in Slovakia to gain additional experience before returning to North America.
Back in the ECHL, Hodgson joined the Reading Royals for the 2019–20 season and played well before a serious leg cut sidelined him for two months. When the Royals opted out of the pandemic-affected 2020–21 season, he kept playing with the Wheeling Nailers and the Utah Grizzlies, sharpening his game while waiting for a higher opportunity.
AHL Breakthrough and NHL Debut (2021–2023)
Hodgson returned to the Reading Royals for the 2021–22 season and earned a tryout with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. He produced well enough to earn a two-way contract, recording 16 goals and 29 points in 44 games before receiving the call he had long chased.
On March 22, 2022, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Hodgson to an NHL contract for the remainder of the 2021–22 season at an average annual value of $750,000. Two nights later he made his NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues, filling in for an injured Oskar Lindblom, and scored his first NHL goal and assist in a 5–2 Flyers road win at the Enterprise Center. He skated for the Flyers organization through the 2022–23 season before being moved in a three-team trade on June 6, 2023, that sent him to the Los Angeles Kings.
Ottawa Senators Era (2024–Present)
After spending the 2023–24 season with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, Hodgson signed with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent on July 2, 2024, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract. He cleared waivers and was assigned to the Belleville Senators to begin the 2024–25 season, where he has continued to provide veteran scoring and physicality on the wing.
Hodgson’s two-way deal is scheduled to run through the 2024–25 campaign, leaving his next contract as a storyline to watch in 2025. The Ottawa organization has kept him as depth at right wing, a role he has handled with the steady pro experience he built across the AHL and ECHL.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hodgson is best known as a power right winger who brings size, finishing touch, and physical play to every shift. He drives the net, wins board battles, and plays with an edge that disrupts opposing defenses, while his skating and shot have continued to improve through each AHL stop.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most memorable milestone came on NHL debut night, when he scored his first NHL goal and assist against the St. Louis Blues on March 24, 2022, helping Philadelphia win 5–2 on the road. Reaching the NHL as an undrafted free agent remains the defining accomplishment of his career path.
Hayden Hodgson Career Wins
Across junior, minor-league, and NHL competition, Hodgson has steadily accumulated wins at every level he has played. His most celebrated victories include NHL debut success with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022, productive seasons with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Belleville Senators, and key wins during his OHL years with the Erie Otters and Sarnia Sting.
OHL and AHL Highlights
Hodgson’s most notable OHL win came in his first game back with the Sting after the trade from Erie, helping Sarnia push forward in the standings. In the AHL, his breakthrough run with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2021–22 produced 16 goals and 29 points in 44 games, directly leading to his NHL opportunity with the Flyers. He has continued to post strong offensive numbers with the Belleville Senators since joining Ottawa.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the AHL and OHL, Hodgson posted double-digit goal totals with ECHL clubs including the Florida Everblades and Reading Royals, and he contributed offensively during his time abroad with HC 07 Detva in Slovakia. Those seasons helped him stay on a professional track and positioned him for his eventual NHL breakthrough.
Hayden Hodgson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Hodgson was raised in Leamington, Ontario, by his parents, Christine Hodgson and Todd Hodgson. His multi-sport childhood and early competitive experiences were supported by his family, who backed his switch from a baseball-and-hockey dual path to a single focus on ice hockey.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Hodgson has kept his personal life largely private, and public records of long-term partners or children have not been confirmed. He continues to focus on his professional hockey career with the Belleville Senators and Ottawa Senators organization.
2025 Season Performance
Hayden Hodgson is skating the 2024–25 season with the Belleville Senators in the AHL, where he has provided scoring and physicality on the right wing. His two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators runs through the end of the campaign, positioning him as a depth forward who can step up if injuries strike at the NHL level.
The 2025 calendar will be pivotal for Hodgson, as his current deal expires and he is eligible to negotiate a new contract. Strong production in Belleville, combined with another NHL opportunity, could lead to a multi-year offer or a fresh two-way deal in Ottawa.
Looking ahead, Hodgson remains a steady AHL contributor with NHL experience, and his combination of size, scoring touch, and right-wing versatility should keep him on professional rosters. Whether he earns another NHL stint or settles into a leading Belleville role, 2025 offers him a clear chance to extend his professional career.