New Oilers Father Gets the First Goal of the Year

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Ryan Hall
September 28, 2023 (4:37)

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It's safe to say that Ryan Nugent Hopkins had the year of his life, as he experienced several breakthroughs. These milestones included his point total in the regular season standings and the arrival of his daughter this past August.

During the 2022-2023 season, the 30-year-old center played in all 82 games, scoring 37 goals with 67 assists for a total of 104 points. He also accrued 35 penalty minutes and achieved a +12 rating. In the playoffs, he almost averaged a point per game, amassing 11 points in 12 games.

Ryan also experienced a life-changing event when his daughter, Lennon Ayla Nugent Hopkins, was born on August 19th. Her arrival brought joy not only to him but also to his wife, Breanne, and the entire Oilers organization.

With all this great news, many have high hopes for him this season. Apparently, the momentum has carried over, as he scored the first goal of the year for the Oilers during a preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks.

Demonstrating excellent control of the puck, he passed it behind the net, where Leon Draisaitl then passed it back to him. He skillfully put it past the Canucks newly acquired goalie, Casey DeSmith. The Oilers are on a mission this year, and they opened their preseason with a 2-1 victory against the struggling Canucks.