There have been a few superstars drafted in recent years to the NHL, but one has consistently been atop leaderboards year-in and year-out.
Connor McDavid, the No. 1 pick of the 2015 draft, has arguably been the league’s best player since his sophomore season. He’s racked up three Hart Trophies, awarded to the league’s MVP, in eight years.
His ninth season has been one of his best, as the 27-year-old is playing in his first Stanley Cup Finals and is a finalist for the 2023-24 Hart Trophy. McDavid led the NHL with 100 assists in 76 games and added 32 goals for a 132-point season.
McDavid’s ridiculous annual highlight reel and league-leading stats are widely known, but how about his upbringing? The Sporting News takes a look back at where the Oilers captain grew up and his journey through junior hockey.
MORE: Sergei Bobrovsky shuts out Oilers in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Finals
Where is Connor McDavid’s hometown?
McDavid is from Newmarket, Ont., a town outside of Toronto. The NHL features many stars from the United States’ northern neighbors, and McDavid is one of them.
The suburb, which is relatively close to the Maple Leafs’ arena, will be temporarily naming Riverwalk Commons after McDavid to cheer him on in the Stanley Cup Finals. “Connor McDavid Square” will be the town’s spot for a watch party of the Finals.
“Connor McDavid has been a part of the Newmarket community virtually his entire life and he continues to have many friends and fans that are cheering for him as he pursues the Stanley Cup,” Mayor John Taylor said. “Connor is an amazing ambassador for the Town of Newmarket, and I couldn’t be more excited to cheer him and the Oilers on in their quest for the Cup.”
MORE: Where does Connor McDavid rank among players in the Stanley Cup Final?
Where did Connor McDavid play junior hockey?
McDavid played three years of junior hockey for the Erie Otters from 2012-15 in Erie, Penn.
The NHL differs from some professional leagues, as players don’t need to go to college to enter the pro scene. Some instead play junior hockey before becoming draft-eligible.
McDavid joined the OHL’s Erie Otters as a 15-year-old, becoming just the third underage player to receive an exemption. He played in 166 games before the Oilers drafted him first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft.
McDavid bypassed college and went straight from the OHL to the NHL. He was just 18 when Edmonton selected him with the first pick in the 2015 draft. The best players often enter the league at this age, so this wasn’t shocking for the phenom.
Connor McDavid junior hockey stats
| Season | Team | GP | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- |
| 2012-13 | Erie Otters | 63 | 25 | 41 | 66 | -24 |
| 2013-14 | Erie Otters | 56 | 28 | 71 | 99 | +47 |
| 2014-15 | Erie Otters | 47 | 44 | 76 | 120 | +60 |
Connor McDavid career stats
| Season | Team | GP | Goals | Assists | Points | +/- | MVP? |
| 2015-16 | Oilers | 45 | 16 | 32 | 48 | -1 | No |
| 2016-17 | Oilers | 82* | 30 | 70* | 100* | +27 | Yes |
| 2017-18 | Oilers | 82* | 41 | 67 | 108* | +20 | No |
| 2018-19 | Oilers | 78 | 41 | 75 | 116 | +3 | No |
| 2019-20 | Oilers | 64 | 34 | 63 | 97 | -6 | No |
| 2020-21 | Oilers | 56 | 33 | 72* | 105* | +21 | Yes |
| 2021-22 | Oilers | 80 | 44 | 79 | 123* | +28 | No |
| 2022-23 | Oilers | 82 | 64* | 89* | 153* | +22 | Yes |
| 2023-24 | Oilers | 76 | 32 | 100* | 132 | +35 | TBD |
*Led league
