Kellan Lain

Playing career

After his junior career ended, Lain played college hockey for the Lake Superior State Lakers. Over three seasons he recorded 21 goals, 39 points, and 210 penalty minutes in 108 games. Upon graduating, he signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks and was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. He appeared in 13 games for Chicago without registering a point. Despite that, Vancouver re-signed him in the off-season to a two-way, two-year, $1.2 million contract. Lain was considered a possible candidate for a fourth line centre role at Canucks training camp for the 2013–14 season but failed to make the team and was sent to the new AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. There he reunited with former Blades teammate Jeremy Welsh and Oakville native Brandon DeFazio. Lain played 19 games for Utica before scoring his first professional goal, a two-goal performance against goaltender Joey MacDonald that helped the Comets to a 4–3 overtime win over the Abbotsford Heat. He made his NHL debut on January 18, 2014, at home against the Calgary Flames. In that game, Lain set an NHL record for the fastest fight and fastest game misconduct to start a career at 2 seconds, during a brawl off the opening faceoff, surpassing the previous record of 12 seconds set by John Ferguson of the Montreal Canadiens in a fight with Ted Green of the Boston Bruins on October 8, 1963. Three days later, Lain scored his first and only NHL goal on his second shift, his first shot on goal, beating Ben Scrivens of the Edmonton Oilers in a 2–1 Vancouver victory. He played eight games for Vancouver before being reassigned to Utica for the Olympic break. While the Olympics were held, Canucks centre Ryan Kesler suffered a hand injury, and Lain was recalled from Utica when the Canucks returned from the break. Five days later, after playing in one game, he was again reassigned to the Comets. On November 20, 2014, the Canucks traded Lain to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for centre Will Acton. He was assigned to the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons, for the remainder of his contract.