By @MichaelCaples –
It’s been a long, winding hockey journey for Jack Campbell, but he crossed a major goal off his list last night.
The Port Huron native recorded his first victory as a NHL netminder yesterday, backstopping the Los Angeles Kings to a 4-1 win over the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
It was the first NHL start since October 2013 for Campell, a USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program product and Windsor Spitfires/Soo Greyhounds alum.
Check out his postgame interview right after the win:
“This one belongs to my parents, for sure. All of their sacrifices, youth hockey and coming to see me. And my sister too.”
– Jack Campbell on the emotion of his first NHL career win pic.twitter.com/v0AtiMjNlR— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 28, 2018
It hasn’t been the NHL career Campbell was expecting back during his youth hockey days. The highly-touted prospect out of the NTDP was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft, but since turning pro in 2011-2012, he has spent the majority of his career in the AHL, first with the Dallas Stars’ organization and now with the Kings’ group.
Here are the highlights from his 42-save outing Tuesday night in a game which shows off Campbell’s perseverance and drive.