Last Saturday, New Jersey Devils rookie Seamus Casey received a phone call and confirmation that he would go to Prague, Czechia, to start his professional hockey career participating in the 2024 NHL Global Series.
The 20-year-old did it.
In a training camp filled with competition and opportunity, Casey stood tall. He forced the Devils’ coaching staff to send him to Europe to start the 2024-25 season.
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This Saturday, he saw his childhood dream come true at O2 Arena on a global stage.
With eight minutes remaining in the second period, Casey was on the ice quarterbacking his team’s second power-play unit with Erik Haula, Stefan Noesen, Tomas Tatar, and Dawson Mercer.
Haula moved the puck back to Casey, who skated toward opposing netminder Devon Levi. His wrist shot hit the back of the net, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Within seconds, the Miami, Florida, native was swarmed by his teammate as they celebrated his first career NHL goal.
“This whole week has been a blast,” Casey said after the game. “The guys have been great welcoming me in. (This is) not your normal first experience in the NHL, but it has been super fun. To get two wins has been awesome. Awesome way to start.”
The rookie blueliner has been excellent offensively and defensively, as he hasn’t let his smaller stature hinder him.
“If you’re going to play in this league at his size, on defense especially, you got to have (a combination of skill, intelligence, and confidence),” Keefe said of Casey. “You have to be a competitor as well, and he has that. He has shown that he has gotten better each day.
“An opportunity has presented itself here, and he has taken advantage of it.”
The young defenseman averaged nearly 13 minutes of ice time through two NHL games. He has one goal on two shots.
In addition to messages from family, friends, and former University of Michigan teammates, Casey received a new Rolex from Patrik Elias for being the game’s first star.
Paul Cotter and Timo Meier joined Casey as the Devils’ goal scorers as they beat the Buffalo Sabres 3-1 in the 2024 NHL Global Series finale.
The 5-foot-9 defenseman will leave Prague with two NHL games under his skates, one goal, and a brand-new watch. Not bad, Seamus, not bad at all.
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