Alexander Kerfoot
Alexander Kerfoot | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 11, 1994 Canada |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey forward |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Known for | NHL player for Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Arizona Coyotes, Utah Mammoth (alternate captain) |
Alexander Douglas Kerfoot (born August 11, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently serving as an alternate captain for the Utah Mammoth in the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 150th overall by the New Jersey Devils during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Kerfoot has previously played with the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Arizona Coyotes.
Amateur
Although picked 254th overall by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft, Kerfoot opted to compete in midget hockey with the Vancouver NorthWest Giants within the BC Hockey Major Midget League (BCMML). There, he led the league in assists (72) and total points (108) during 2011, earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Telus Cup. Subsequently, he joined the Coquitlam Express of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), returning for the 2011–12 season while completing his studies at Collingwood School.
In that same season, Kerfoot represented Team Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge, scoring the overtime goal in the semifinals en route to winning gold. Over 51 games with Coquitlam, he tallied 25 goals and 44 assists (69 points), which garnered him Coastal Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie Team, and First All-Star Team distinctions. Additionally, he was awarded the Bob Fenton Trophy as BCHL’s most sportsmanlike player.
Following his selection by New Jersey in 2012, Kerfoot committed to Harvard University’s NCAA hockey program beginning in fall 2013. After an abbreviated final BCHL campaign due to injury, he started his collegiate career at Harvard, contributing 14 points across 25 games as a freshman. His production increased consistently throughout college, posting 30 points in 27 games as a sophomore and leading Harvard with 30 assists during his junior year. These achievements earned him spots on the Second All-Ivy and ECAC Third All-Star Teams.
In his senior season, Kerfoot was appointed co-captain and played a pivotal role in guiding Harvard to its first Frozen Four appearance since 1994. He tied for team lead with 45 points over 36 games, received Harvard’s MVP award (John Tudor Memorial Cup), was named to the ECAC First Team, and ranked among the top ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. He concluded his collegiate tenure with a total of 123 points in 121 contests.
Professional
Upon completing his college career, Kerfoot chose not to sign with the New Jersey Devils who had drafted him, thereby becoming an unrestricted free agent. Despite interest from several NHL teams—including his hometown Vancouver Canucks—due to New Jersey’s depth at center position, he ultimately inked a two-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche on August 23, 2017.
Kerfoot impressed during Avalanche training camp and earned a roster spot for the opening night of the 2017–18 season. Making his NHL debut alongside Matt Duchene and Nail Yakupov, he recorded his first NHL point with an assist in a 4–2 victory over the New York Rangers. His inaugural NHL goal came on October 11 against the Boston Bruins.
On July 1, 2019, Kerfoot was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Tyson Barrie and a sixth-round draft pick in exchange for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosén, and a third-round pick. As a restricted free agent following that season, he agreed to a four-year contract worth $14 million with Toronto, extending through the 2022–23 campaign.
After four seasons with Toronto, Kerfoot entered free agency and signed a two-year deal valued at $7 million with the Arizona Coyotes on July 1, 2023.
Subsequent to the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, following suspension of the Coyotes franchise and transfer of its assets to the expansion Utah Hockey Club, Kerfoot became part of this newly established Utah team.
Personal
Alexander Kerfoot's father, Greg Kerfoot, holds the majority ownership of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a team competing in Major League Soccer (MLS). He is married to Marissa Balleza, who distinguished herself as a record-holder in Harvard's field hockey program. Alexander completed his studies in economics at Harvard University. As the oldest among three siblings, he has two younger brothers, Colton and Daniel, both of whom are also engaged in hockey; notably, Colton attended Harvard as well and played alongside Alexander during his captaincy in the 2016–17 season.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2009–10 | Vancouver NW Giants | BCMML | 26 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Vancouver NW Giants | BCMML | 38 | 36 | 72 | 108 | 58 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 6 | ||
| 2010–11 | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | 51 | 25 | 44 | 69 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 2012–13 | Coquitlam Express | BCHL | 16 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Harvard University | ECAC | 25 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Harvard University | ECAC | 27 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 12 | — | — | — | ||||
|
2015–16 |
Harvard University |
ECAC |
33 |
4 |
30 |
34 |
16 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— | ||||
|
2016–17 |
Harvard University |
ECAC |
36 |
16 |
29 |
45 |
18 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— | ||||
|
2017–18 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
79 |
19 |
24 |
43 |
28 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 | ||||
|
2018–19 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
78 ||15 ||27 ||42 ||38 | 12 ||0 ||3 ||3 ||6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |
2019–20 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
65 |
9 |
19 |
28 |
32 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
2020–21 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
56 |
8 |
15 |
23 |
12 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
4 | ||||
|
2021–22 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
82 |
13 |
38 |
51 |
20 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 | ||||
|
2022–23 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
82 |
10 |
22 |
32 |
30 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
4 | ||||
|
2023–24 |
Arizona Coyotes |
NHL |
82 |
13 |
32 |
45 |
26 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— | ||||
| 2024–25 | Utah Hockey Club | NHL | 81 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 605 | 98 | 194 | 292 | 200 | 48 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 22 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards and distinctions
| Honour | Year |
|---|---|
| BCMML | |
| MVP of the Telus Cup | 2011 |
| BCHL | |
| Coastal First All-Star Team selection | 2012 |
| Most Sportsmanlike Player – Coastal Division | 2012 |
| Coastal Rookie of the Year accolade | 2012 |
| Named to All-Rookie Team | 2012 |
| College | |
| Selected for All-ECAC Third Team | 2016 |
| Earned All-Ivy League Second Team honours | 2016 |
| Included in East Second All-American Team | 2017 |
| Named to New England Division I All-Stars | 2017 |
| Achieved All-Ivy League First Team recognition | 2017 |