Sean Kuraly

Lore & Background

As a youth, Kuraly played in the 2005 and 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with minor ice hockey teams from Ohio. After early years with the Tier 1 Ohio AAA Blue Jackets, Kuraly played four games in the U.S. National Development Team Program before joining the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League (USHL). After his first full rookie season with the Ice, Kuraly was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round, 133rd overall, of the 2011 NHL entry draft. During the 2011–12 season, Kuraly was fourth in the league with 70 points and 32 goals in 54 regular-season games. This earned him Second-Team All-USHL honors. After completing his USHL junior career with the Ice, Kuraly embarked on a collegiate career, in joining Miami University in Ohio. In his freshman year playing for the Miami RedHawks ice hockey team, Kuraly played in 40 games and earned 12 points. He missed two games due to the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He helped guide the RedHawks to the 2013 CCHA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, where he scored the game-winning goal to defeat Michigan State University in the quarterfinals. The RedHawks later lost to the University of Michigan in the semifinals. The following season, Kuraly played in 38 games and ended with a new career-high 29 points. Upon completing his junior season with the RedHawks in 2014–15 season, Kuraly's NHL rights were traded by the Sharks (along with a first-round pick) to the Boston Bruins in exchange for goaltender Martin Jones on July 1, 2015. In the 2015–16 season, Kuraly was unable to match the production of his previous two seasons, contributing with 6 goals and 23 points in his senior and final collegiate season. Despite this, he was named NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year and a member of the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team due to his 3.13 GPA. On June 30, 2016, Kuraly signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a two-year, entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins. After attending the Bruins' training camp, he was reassigned to make his professional debut in the 2016–17 season, with Boston's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Providence Bruins. On November 1, 2016, he received his first NHL recall on an emergency basis with the Bruins.

Reader's Guide

Sean Kuraly is a forward for the Boston Bruins. He was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in 2011 and later traded to Boston. He played college hockey at Miami University (Ohio) and turned professional in 2016. After five seasons with the Bruins, he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021, then returned to Boston in 2025.

Did You Know?

• Kuraly scored his first two NHL goals, including the double overtime winner, in Game 5 of the 2017 Eastern Conference First Round against the Ottawa Senators.
• Kuraly's father Rick is the Miami RedHawks all-time leading goal-scorer and was inducted into the Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.