Damon Severson
Canadian defenceman for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Damon Severson is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL. The New Jersey Devils picked him in the second round, 60th overall, during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Severson was born on August 7, 1994, in Brandon, Manitoba, to Doug Severson and Donna Dixon. He grew up in Melville, Saskatchewan, where he started skating at age two and began playing hockey at four. He also played football, baseball, basketball, and badminton. During the 2009–10 season, he played for the Yorkton Harvest in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League and the Melville Millionaires in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. His strong junior play led the Kelowna Rockets to select him in the ninth round of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft.
Severson made his major junior debut at 15 after impressing in training camp. He scored his first WHL goal on November 3, 2010, in a 5–2 win over the Kamloops Blazers. That season, he put up four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 32 games and was named to Team West at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where Canada did not medal. In his second season with the Rockets, he set career highs with seven goals and 30 assists for 37 points in 56 games, earning the team’s Most Improved Player award. Ranked 48th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, he attended the 2012 NHL Draft Combine and was taken 60th overall by New Jersey. He signed a three-year entry-level contract on September 6, 2012.
After the signing, Severson and teammate Colton Sissons weren’t invited to their NHL teams’ training camps and returned to the Rockets. He finished that season with a career-high 52 points in 71 games, winning the Rockets’ Top Defenceman Award. He then signed an amateur tryout with the Albany Devils of the AHL and played two games. Over the summer, he trained in his home province and attended Team Canada’s World Junior summer development camp. At his first Devils training camp, he played two exhibition games averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time, but the team sent him back to the Rockets for another year.
Returning for the 2013–14 season, Severson was named an assistant captain for the Rockets on November 1, 2013, alongside Myles Bell and Tyson Baillie.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1994-08-07
- Birth Place
- Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 205
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Right
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Former Teams
- New Jersey Devils
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- 60th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Severson grew up in Melville, Saskatchewan, and began skating at age two, enrolling in hockey at age four. He played for the Yorkton Harvest and Melville Millionaires during the 2009–10 season before being selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. In his second season with the Rockets, he recorded career-high seven goals and 30 assists for 37 points through 56 games, earning the team's Most Improved Player award. He made his NHL debut with the Devils in the 2014–15 season, scoring his first career goal and assist in the same game. By December of that season, he had four goals and eight assists in 32 games before a hairline fracture in his ankle sidelined him. He finished his rookie season with five goals and 17 points in 51 games. Prior to the 2020–21 season, he was named alternate captain by head coach Lindy Ruff and became the longest-tenured Devil after trades of Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac.
Reader's Guide
Damon Severson's career reflects steady development from a WHL standout to a reliable NHL defenceman. His early success as a rookie—scoring his first NHL point and goal in the same game—marked him as a promising talent. Despite an ankle injury limiting his first season, he returned to finish with 17 points in 51 games. Over subsequent seasons, he improved his offensive output, recording a career-high 28 assists and 31 points in 2016–17. His leadership role as alternate captain and status as the longest-tenured Devil underscored his importance to the organization. Internationally, he represented Canada at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and helped Canada win a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Championship. His path from a ninth-round WHL bantam pick to an NHL regular illustrates his persistence and adaptability.
Did You Know?
- Severson began skating at age two and enrolled in hockey at age four.
- He was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 60th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
- He scored his first NHL goal and first NHL assist in the same game during his rookie season.
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