Feb 13, 2025
By Nick Nollenberger (@NickNollen)
Rising up simply exterior Ottawa, in Orleans, Ontario, Scott Sabourin had a hockey stick in his hand earlier than he may even stroll. That’s not unusual for a child rising up north of the forty ninth parallel.
As his minor hockey profession unfolded and the competitors grew to become fiercer, Sabourin—affectionately referred to as “Sabs”—continued to climb the ranks. However making hockey his occupation was a far-fetched dream. He simply cherished the sport, and because the years glided by, he received higher and higher. He grew to six-foot-four and over 200 kilos. Regardless of that, he went undrafted into the Ontario Hockey League. He was minimize from the Oshawa Generals‘ coaching camp as a 17-year-old earlier than making the crew the next yr.
“Hockey was simply one thing you probably did in Canada as a child as a result of it was enjoyable,” mentioned Sabourin. “Years glided by, and it received just a little extra aggressive and sort of weeded itself out. I performed determined from a younger age. It was sort of like, make it via this season and attempt to get higher, get via this subsequent sport.”
That desperation has been the hallmark of his now 12-year skilled profession and one of many principal causes he celebrated his five hundredth AHL sport on January thirty first. It’s additionally why, at 32, he’s taking part in among the greatest hockey of his profession.
A season in the past, his first with the Barracuda, he set a private greatest in targets (18), power-play targets (5), game-winning targets (3), pictures (140) and penalty minutes (192). He additionally fought eight instances and completed third within the AHL in PIMS. Moreover, he skated in three video games with the Sharks.
Being an expert grew to become extra of a actuality for Sabourin when he reached the OHL, however he by no means heard his identify referred to as within the NHL Draft, leaving his future at a crossroads. In his closing season of junior, he scored 30 targets and had 143 penalty minutes. He knew he may play on the subsequent stage, however would an NHL group consider the identical? Following his breakout overage yr, he received his alternative in April 2013, signing a two-year take care of the Manchester Monarchs, then the AHL affiliate of the LA Kings.
Nonetheless a longshot for a prolonged professional profession, he continued to impress along with his hard-nosed type via growth camp, rookie camp, and NHL coaching camp, incomes a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings in 2013.
“I suppose it sort of taught me for a very long time now, should you simply work arduous and put your head down, good issues can occur. I’ve been lucky sufficient to pave out a fairly good path for myself.”
Though he didn’t seem in any playoff video games in 2014-15, his second season as a professional, he was a part of a Manchester Monarchs crew that went on to win the Calder Cup.
The next season, his third with the Kings org, Sabourin cut up time between the AHL’s Ontario Reign and the now-ECHL Monarchs. Within the spring, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild in a deal that introduced former San Jose Jr. Shark Brett Sutter to LA, reuniting him along with his father, then-Kings head coach Darryl Sutter.
Nonetheless but to see NHL motion, the commerce to the Wild started a stretch of one-year contracts {and professional} instability—a actuality for a lot of gamers attempting to ascertain themselves in professional hockey. With out a contract provide from the Wild the next season, Sabourin signed a one-year AHL take care of the San Diego Gulls earlier than the 2016-17 season. That yr with the Gulls, he dropped the gloves 9 instances and completed third within the league in penalty minutes (147). Once more, his gritty and decided type earned him a one-year NHL contract with the Ducks the next season.
After two seasons with the Gulls, he was not re-signed. With restricted choices, he attended Stockton Warmth coaching camp on an expert tryout (PTO). He spent all the yr dwelling in a resort, taking part in on a PTO that was prolonged a number of instances all through the season.
The following season, he landed within the Ottawa Senators‘ coaching camp on one other tryout. He impressed a lot in preseason—famously going after Toronto’s Auston Matthews—that he earned a one-year, two-way take care of the Sens and made Ottawa’s opening night time roster, seemingly out of skinny air. The transfer additionally reunited the then-27-year-old, eight-year professional, along with his former junior head coach in Oshawa, DJ Smith, who was behind Ottawa’s bench on the time.
As if reaching the NHL wasn’t sufficient of a dream come true, Sabourin scored in his first NHL sport in opposition to Maple Leafs netminder Frederik Andersen. He spent all the 2019-20 season with the Senators, skating in 35 video games, scoring twice, including 4 assists, and accumulating 33 penalty minutes. His first NHL combat got here in Vegas in opposition to heavyweight Ryan Reaves.
The following three seasons have been largely spent again within the AHL between the Belleville Senators and Toronto Marlies.
In July 2023, for the primary time since his ELC with LA, he signed a multi-year deal—a two-year, two-way contract with the Sharks. With a younger son, Leo, and daughter, Leni, the steadiness couldn’t have come at a greater time.
Sitting at 499 AHL video games performed, Sabourin acquired his first recall of the season on January 24, making his Sharks season debut just a few nights later in opposition to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. He was reassigned to the AHL a few days later. Regardless of it being only one sport, he by no means takes time within the NHL with no consideration. It meant much more that he may share it along with his spouse, Jamie, and two youngsters.
“I by no means take with no consideration a sport within the NHL. The truth that I received to have Leo, my daughter, and my spouse there’s wonderful. It’ll be a reminiscence we are able to look again on later in life. I’m unsure if it has fairly set in for him but, however sooner or later, I feel he’ll perceive the magnitude of it, so, yeah, it’s fairly cool.”
On January 31, Sabourin skated in his five hundredth AHL sport—a feat not misplaced on the now 12-year veteran whose profession practically by no means received off the bottom.
“It’s been a protracted, winding street, with ups and downs, however I’m blessed I get to play a sport for a dwelling, journey, see new locations, meet tons of individuals, and get this chance in life. So I’m undoubtedly grateful to make it to my 500, and hopefully, we’ve received just a few hundred extra in us.”
Sabourin credit his household and fogeys, Dave and Kim, for the numerous sacrifices that allowed him to stay out his dream.
“My household, my mother and father, and my entire help system again dwelling. And clearly now my spouse and youngsters. I might say undoubtedly my mother and father helped me get via it—numerous early mornings, numerous monetary dedication. They’ve at all times been there for me, at all times been my greatest supporters.”
Particular moments for the Sabourin household to rejoice 500 AHL Video games🩵 pic.twitter.com/o07u5cpMvG
— SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) February 1, 2025
That very same night time, teammate Ethan Frisch skated in his one centesimal AHL sport. For Frisch, who’s in simply his second season, the milestone places Sabourin’s longevity and perseverance into perspective.
“We experience collectively to the rink on sport days, so it was fairly humorous as a result of we have been speaking about it (500 AHL video games) on the best way to the rink,” mentioned Frisch. “I’ve completed 100, and I take into consideration the trials and tribulations I’ve been via, after which you concentrate on 500 video games within the American League—it’s rather a lot. It actually places into perspective how spectacular 500 is.”
Frisch, who like Sabourin went undrafted into the NHL, says there’s a purpose Sabourin has lasted this lengthy.
“He takes care of himself, he takes care of his physique. He’s carved out a distinct segment, he is aware of what works and what’s worthwhile for the crew. He performs arduous and aggressive, and he’s not enjoyable to play in opposition to. So to have him in your crew is fairly particular. He deserved 500 video games and plenty of extra to come back.”
As soon as a rival within the Pacific Division, Barracuda head coach John McCarthy now has an entire new respect for the participant and particular person he has coached during the last two years.
“He’s a aggressive man who performs a tough sport,” mentioned McCarthy. “He brings that aspect to the desk, and he does it effectively. As he’s aged, he’s been good with the younger guys too, instructing them tips on how to be execs. If you mix these two issues, that makes for a protracted profession.”
Sabourin’s love and fervour for the sport nonetheless burns vivid and he hopes he has many extra years and video games in his future.
“It has been a heck of a experience, and I hope I’ve just a few extra hundred in me.”
