Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy
Born	(1984-02-20) February 20, 1984 Concord, NH, USA
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Pittsburgh Penguins Anaheim Ducks
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2007–present

Benjamin N. "The Reverend" Lovejoy (born February 20, 1984 in Concord, New Hampshire) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.

Playing career

Ben Lovejoy played high school hockey for prep school Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. The program has turned out numerous Division 1 standouts over the past two decades, many of whom have gone on to continue their playing careers in the NHL.

Ben Lovejoy was offered an NHL contract by Montreal during his third year of college. Lovejoy turned down the offer so that he could finish school and grow more as a player. Undrafted, Lovejoy played one year for Boston College and three years for Dartmouth College of the NCAA. Lovejoy also played lacrosse at Dartmouth, earning All-Ivy honors in 2006. He graduated from Dartmouth with the class of 2007. He began his professional career a few days after graduation and played five games with the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League to end the 2006–07 season. That summer, Lovejoy signed an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Ben Lovejoy scored his first pro goal at home during the Saint Patrick's Day game. Lovejoy ended the season with 20 points (2 goals, 18 assists) appearing in 72 games and a plus-16 rating.

Pittsburgh Penguins

On July 7, 2008, Lovejoy signed an NHL contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[1] On December 7, 2008, when a replacement was needed for Pittsburgh blueliner Hal Gill, Lovejoy received his first recall to the Penguins. At the time of his recall, Ben was ranked in the top ten among the AHL defensemen with 14 points (4+10) and placed in the top ten among all AHL players with a +/- of 14 in 24 games. He made his NHL debut on December 8, 2008, in a 4-3 loss against the Buffalo Sabres.

Ben Lovejoy was named to the PlanetUSA squad for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic, which was held January 25-26th, 2009 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. During the Skills Competition, Ben took part in the hardest shot and breakaway.

On April 11, 2009, Ben Lovejoy received the 2nd team AHL All-Star award along with Most Valuable Defenseman. Lovejoy ended the regular 2008–09 campaign leading the entire AHL with a Plus/Minus rating of 42

Lovejoy earned his first NHL point with an assist during a 6-5 Penguins win over the Boston Bruins on November 14, 2009. His first NHL goal was scored on December 22, 2010 against Scott Clemmensen of the Florida Panthers. In the same game, he took an opposing shot off of his cheek, causing massive swelling.

Anaheim Ducks

After the commencement of the shortened 2012–13 season, he was traded by the Penguins to the Anaheim Ducks for a 5th round draft pick in 2014 on February 6, 2013.^[2]

Prior to the 2013-2014 season, Lovejoy, an unrestricted free agent, re-signed with the Ducks, inking a three year contract.

On January 3, 2014, Lovejoy celebrated the birth of his first child, Lila (born 12/31/13), by scoring two first period goals against the Edmonton Oilers. The two goals were scored less than three minutes apart, establishing a new Duck's franchise record.

On March 2, 2015, Lovejoy was traded back to Pittsburgh in exchange for defenseman Simon Despres.^[3]

Ben Lovejoy, January 2011.

Career statistics

Awards and honours

References

External links

• Ben Lovejoy's career statistics at EliteProspects.com
• Ben Lovejoy's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Ben Lovejoy's blog/weekly column
• Pens Universe interviews Ben Lovejoy