Justin Azevedo

Justin Azevedo (born April 1, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward and current skills coach for the Collingwood Blues of the OJHL.

Playing career Junior Azevedo played his first OHL game on September 24, 2004 as a member of the Kitchener Rangers. During the 2007–08 OHL season, Azevedo won six awards, which included the Red Tilson Trophy for the most outstanding player in the OHL, Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy for being the top scorer in the OHL, Ed Chynoweth Trophy for being the top scorer of the Memorial Cup, CHL Player of the Year, CHL Top Scorer Award, and Wayne Gretzky 99 Award for being the most outstanding player in the OHL playoffs.

Professional Azevedo was drafted 153rd overall, in the sixth round, of the 2008 NHL entry draft by the Los Angeles Kings. As an older draft pick, Azevedo immediately turned professional and was signed by the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, on August 10, 2008. After attending the Kings' training camp on September 29, 2008, he was assigned to the Monarchs for the 2008–09 season.

Despite missing significant parts of the season with the Monarchs suffering two injuries, Azevedo scored 36 points in 49 games to earn a two-year entry-level contract with the Kings on July 20, 2009.

Azevedo was one of two players, alongside left wing Brandon Kozun, to be awarded a penalty shot in the same game during Manchester's 5–2 victory over the Providence Bruins, a franchise record for the Monarchs.

On June 7, 2012, Azevedo signed with Lukko Rauma in the Finnish SM-liiga. In his first European season in 2012–13, Azevedo made a comfortable transition with Lukko, leading the SM-liiga amongst rookies with 38 assists and 58 points. Azevedo lead the entire league in playoffs scoring with 10 goals and 18 points in only 14 games to also earn a selection in the SM-liiga All-Star Team.

On April 15, 2013, Azevedo opted to play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), signing a multi-year contract with Czech-based club HC Lev Praha for the 2013–14 season. Azevedo contributed with 9 goals and 27 assists in 48 games for Lev before stepping up in the playoffs for a second consecutive season, to post 13 goals and 20 points in 22 games.

Despite reaching the Gagarin Cup finals, Lev announced they would not continue participation due to bankruptcy. On July 1, 2014, Azevedo was transferred to fellow KHL club Ak Bars Kazan in exchange for financial compensation.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2004–05 Kitchener Rangers OHL 58 18 21 39 39 15 3 1 4 14 2005–06 Kitchener Rangers OHL 60 29 40 69 80 5 0 3 3 12 2006–07 Kitchener Rangers OHL 50 17 39 56 42 9 4 11 15 22 2007–08 Kitchener Rangers OHL 67 43 81 124 69 20 10 26 36 33 2008–09 Manchester Monarchs AHL 49 12 24 36 31 — — — — — 2009–10 Manchester Monarchs AHL 46 14 13 27 31 16 3 6 9 12 2010–11 Manchester Monarchs AHL 79 18 35 53 71 7 3 7 10 10 2011–12 Manchester Monarchs AHL 63 28 22 50 37 4 1 1 2 4 2012–13 Lukko SM-l 58 20 38 58 88 14 10 8 18 6 2013–14 Lev Prague KHL 48 9 18 27 34 22 13 7 20 6 2014–15 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 58 17 33 50 48 20 5 6 11 18 2015–16 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 59 17 36 53 26 7 1 1 2 8 2016–17 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 54 13 21 34 34 15 3 7 10 8 2017–18 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 31 15 13 28 22 19 9 15 24 6 2018–19 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 62 13 25 38 42 4 0 4 4 2 2019–20 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 57 13 24 37 43 4 1 0 1 0 2020–21 Ak Bars Kazan KHL 30 5 17 22 24 — — — — — 2021–22 ZSC Lions NL 45 8 31 39 57 18 4 7 11 8 2022–23 ZSC Lions NL 31 6 10 16 43 8 1 6 7 4 AHL totals 237 72 94 166 170 27 7 14 21 26 KHL totals 399 102 187 289 273 91 32 40 72 48

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2005 Canada Ontario U17 4th 6 2 4 6 8 2006 Canada U18 4th 7 4 4 8 20 Junior totals 13 6 8 14 28

Awards and honours Award Year OHL First All-Star Team 2008 Red Tilson Trophy 2008 Eddie Powers Trophy 2008 Wayne Gretzky 99 Award 2008 CHL First All-Star Team 2008 CHL Ed Chynoweth Trophy 2008 CHL Player of the Year 2008 Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2008 Liiga All-Star Team 2013 KHL First All-Star Team 2014, 2018 All-Star Game 2015 Gagarin Cup (Ak Bars Kazan) 2018 Playoff MVP 2018