# Dawson Mercer

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dawson_Mercer
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Dawson_Mercer.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson_Mercer
> Source revision: 1354961152
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox ice hockey biography
| name = Dawson Mercer
| image = Dawson Mercer (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Mercer with the [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils) in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|10|27}}
| birth_place = [Carbonear](/source/Carbonear), Newfoundland, Canada
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 179
| position = [Forward](/source/Forward_(ice_hockey))
| shoots = Right
| league = [NHL](/source/National_Hockey_League)
| team = [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils)
| prospect_team = 
| prospect_league = 
| ntl_team = CAN
| draft = 18th overall
| draft_year = 2020
| draft_team = [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils)
| career_start = 2021
| career_end = 
}}
'''Dawson Mercer''' (born October 27, 2001) is a Canadian professional [ice hockey](/source/ice_hockey) player who is a [forward](/source/Forward_(ice_hockey)) for the [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils) of the [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League) (NHL). He was drafted 18th overall by the Devils in the [2020 NHL entry draft](/source/2020_NHL_entry_draft).<ref>{{cite web |last1=ROUMELIOTIS |first1=CHARLIE |title=2020 NHL Draft Profile: RW Dawson Mercer |date=September 29, 2020 |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/blackhawks/2020-nhl-draft-profile-rw-dawson-mercer |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref>

==Early life==
Mercer was born on October 27, 2001, in [Carbonear](/source/Carbonear), Newfoundland,<ref name="EP">{{cite web |title=Dawson Mercer |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/320305/dawson-mercer |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=October 19, 2021}}</ref> to parents Charlotte and Craig.<ref name="Mccarthy">{{cite web |last1=Mccarthy |first1=Brendan |title=NHL debut for Newfoundlander Dawson Mercer was a family affair |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/sports/nhl-debut-for-newfoundlander-dawson-mercer-was-a-family-affair-100646435/ |publisher=Saltwire |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> His father is a powerline technician while his mother manages a convenience store.<ref name="Kennedy">{{cite web |last1=Kennedy |first1=Ryan |title=New Jersey Gets a Beauty in Dawson Mercer |url=https://www.si.com/hockey/news/new-jersey-gets-a-beauty-in-dawson-mercer |publisher=Sports Illustrated |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> His father also coached in the Conception Bay North area and had a tryout with the [American Hockey League](/source/American_Hockey_League)’s [St. John's Maple Leafs](/source/St._John's_Maple_Leafs).<ref name="Mccarthy"/> Besides his father, both of his younger siblings also play ice hockey; his brother [Riley Mercer](/source/Riley_Mercer) is a goaltender while his sister [Jessica Mercer](/source/Jessica_Mercer) is a defenceman.<ref name="MacLaren">{{cite web |last1=MacLaren |first1=Will |title=Mercer brothers keeping tradition of strong Newfoundlanders in the "Q" alive and well |url=https://theqmjhl.ca/video/mercer-brothers-keeping-tradition-of-strong-newfoundlanders-in-the-q-alive-and-well |publisher=Quebec Major Junior Hockey League |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=December 31, 2020}}</ref> His cousin Zachery Bennett also plays ice hockey.<ref name="cousin">{{cite web |title=Les cousins Mercer et Bennett : comme des frères |url=https://voltigeurs.ca/article/les-cousins-mercer-et-bennett-comme-des-freres |publisher=Drummondville Voltigeurs |access-date=October 19, 2021 |language=French |date=September 11, 2019}}</ref>

==Playing career==

===Junior===
Growing up in Newfoundland, Mercer played for the Tri Pen Ice U15 AAA in the Newfoundland Bantam AAA league.<ref name="EP"/> After recording 68 points in 24 games,<ref name="EP"/> Mercer chose to play prep hockey with the [Bishop's College School](/source/Bishop's_College_School) under-18 varsity team at the age of 15.<ref name="Short">{{cite web |last1=Short |first1=Robin |title=Bay Roberts' Dawson Mercer well-prepped to be a QMJHL first-round pick |url=https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/sports/hockey/bay-roberts-dawson-mercer-well-prepped-to-be-a-qmjhl-first-round-pick-131848/ |publisher=Saltwire |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=June 4, 2017}}</ref> He chose to leave his home province in part to increase his playing ability and join his cousin.<ref name="sacrifice">{{cite news |last1=Dubé |first1=Kevin |title=Le sacrifice de Dawson Mercer |url=https://www.journaldequebec.com/2019/11/12/le-sacrifice-de-dawson-mercer |access-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=[Le Journal de Québec](/source/Le_Journal_de_Qu%C3%A9bec) |date=November 12, 2019}}</ref> In his first season at Bishop, he finished third in scoring with 18 goals and 30 assists through 51 games to earn a high ranking by the [Quebec Major Junior Hockey League](/source/Quebec_Major_Junior_Hockey_League)'s (QMJHL) Central Scouting.<ref name="Short"/> Mercer was eventually drafted eighth overall by the [Drummondville Voltigeurs](/source/Drummondville_Voltigeurs) in the 2017 QMJHL draft.<ref>{{cite web |title=Repêchage 2017 |url=https://voltigeurs.ca/article/repechage-2017 |publisher=Drummondville Voltigeurs |access-date=October 18, 2021 |language=French |date=June 5, 2017}}</ref>

As a rookie in the QMJHL, Mercer recorded 26 points through 68 games.<ref name="EP"/> During the season, he was selected for Team Canada's Black U17 team at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.<ref>{{cite news |title=Newfoundland trio will skate for Canada in world U17 tourney |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-telegram-st-johns/20171019/281659665277476 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |publisher=The Telegram |date=October 19, 2017}}</ref> In the 2019–20 season, he finished with 60 points in 42 games and was nominated for the [Michael Bossy Trophy](/source/Michael_Bossy_Trophy).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Habashi |first1=Jonathan |title=Mercer finaliste au trophée Michael-Bossy |url=https://www.journalexpress.ca/2020/03/31/dawson-mercer-finaliste-au-trophee-michael-bossy-voltigeurs-drummondville-sagueneens-chicoutimi-lhjmq-lnh/ |publisher=Journal Express |access-date=October 19, 2021 |language=French |date=March 31, 2020}}</ref>

===Professional===
On December 24, 2020, Mercer was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils).<ref>{{cite web |title=RELEASE: Mercer Agrees to Terms on ELC |url=https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/release-mercer-agrees-to-terms-on-elc/c-319884054 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=December 24, 2020}}</ref> He made his NHL debut the following season on October 15, 2021, against the [Chicago Blackhawks](/source/Chicago_Blackhawks). During the game, he recorded his first career NHL assist on a goal by [Andreas Johnsson](/source/Andreas_Johnsson).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bogart |first1=Catherine |title=Plenty of 'Firsts' in Mercer's Debut |url=https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/plenty-of-firsts-in-mercers-debut/c-326907730 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 19, 2021 |date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> On October 19, Mercer scored his first NHL goal against the [Seattle Kraken](/source/Seattle_Kraken).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mercer Scores First NHL Goal as Devils Defeat Kraken|url=https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/mercer-scores-first-nhl-goal-as-devils-defeat-kraken/c-327012904|access-date=2021-10-20|website=NHL.com|date=2021-10-19}}</ref> He would finish his rookie season with 42 points, and led the team in games played with 82.

On April 27, 2023, Mercer scored his first NHL playoff goal against the [New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers), in a 4–0 shutout in game 5 of the [2023 playoffs](/source/2023_Stanley_Cup_playoffs).<ref>{{cite web |title=Haula leads Devils past Rangers 4-0 for 3-2 series lead |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401541597 |website=ESPN |access-date=May 18, 2023 |date=April 27, 2023}}</ref>

Following the final year of his entry-level contract in [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_NHL_season), a season in which he recorded 20 goals and 33 points while playing in all 82 games for the Devils, Mercer remained a [restricted free agent](/source/Restricted_free_agent) until training camp had already started. On September 20, 2024, after missing the first practice of camp, he was signed to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $4 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Jersey Devils sign RFA Dawson Mercer to three-year, $12M deal |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/new-jersey-devils-sign-rfa-dawson-mercer-to-three-year-12m-deal-1.2177020 |website=[The Sports Network](/source/The_Sports_Network) |access-date=September 20, 2024 |date=September 20, 2024}}</ref>

==International play==
{{MedalTableTop|name=}} 
{{MedalSport|Men's [ice hockey](/source/ice_hockey)}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ih|CAN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[World Championships](/source/Ice_Hockey_World_Championships)}}
{{MedalSilver|[2022 Finland](/source/2022_IIHF_World_Championship)|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[World Junior Championships](/source/IIHF_World_Junior_Championship)}}
{{MedalGold|[2020 Czech Republic](/source/2020_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships)|}}
{{MedalSilver|[2021 Canada](/source/2021_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships)|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Mercer made his international debut with the [Canadian national junior team](/source/Canada_men's_national_junior_ice_hockey_team) at the [2020 World Junior Championships](/source/2020_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships), winning a gold medal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Masters |first1=Mark |title=Touted as Newfoundland's 'Next One,' Mercer aims to emulate Bergeron |date=June 4, 2020 |url=https://www.tsn.ca/touted-as-newfoundland-s-next-one-dawson-mercer-aims-to-emulate-patrice-bergeron-1.1483220 |website=[TSN](/source/The_Sports_Network) |access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref> He rejoined Canada for [2021 World Junior Championships](/source/2021_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships), held in a [bubble](/source/bio-secure_bubble) in [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton) as a result of the onset of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic). They reached the final for a second consecutive year, but were defeated by the [United States](/source/United_States_men's_national_junior_ice_hockey_team). Mercer reflected that the experience of a tournament with no fans in the arena was a "unique situation," one that he felt was "going to be remembered in history."<ref>{{cite web |title=Newhook, Mercer reflect on representing Canada at world junior hockey tournament |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/newhook-mercer-team-canada-1.5867836 |website=[CBC Sports](/source/CBC_Sports) |date=January 10, 2021 |access-date=May 7, 2024}}</ref>

Following the [2021–22 NHL regular season](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_NHL_season), with the Devils failing to qualify for the [2022 Stanley Cup playoffs](/source/2022_Stanley_Cup_playoffs), Mercer accepted an invitation to make his [senior national team](/source/Canada_men's_national_ice_hockey_team) debut at the [2022 World Championship](/source/2022_IIHF_World_Championship). He was one of the most effective [faceoff](/source/faceoff) men in the tournament, helping Canada reach the event final.<ref>{{cite web |title=7 truths about Finland vs. Canada |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2022/wm/news/36555/7_truths_to_ponder_about_canada_vs_finland |last=Aykroyd |first=Lucas |website=IIHF.com |date=May 28, 2022 |access-date=May 7, 2024}}</ref> They were defeated by [Finland](/source/Finland_men's_national_ice_hockey_team), taking the silver medal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Finland Wins 2022 Men's World Hockey Championship Gold|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/finland-wins-2022-mens-world-hockey-championship-gold|last=Ellis|first=Steven|magazine=[The Hockey News](/source/The_Hockey_News)|date=May 29, 2022|access-date=May 7, 2024}}</ref> Two years later, Mercer rejoined Canada for the [2024 World Championship](/source/2024_IIHF_World_Championship).<ref>{{cite web|title=Bedard, Celebrini highlight Canada's roster at the World Championship|url=https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/connor-bedard-macklin-celebrini-highlight-canada-s-roster-at-the-world-championship-1.2114972|website=[TSN](/source/The_Sports_Network)|date=May 3, 2024|access-date=May 7, 2024}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|[Regular season](/source/Regular_season)
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|[Playoffs](/source/Playoffs)
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [Season](/source/Season_(sports))
! Team
! League
! GP !! [G](/source/Goal_(ice_hockey)) !! [A](/source/Assist_(ice_hockey)) !! [Pts](/source/Point_(ice_hockey)) !! [PIM](/source/Penalty_(ice_hockey))
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| [2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_QMJHL_season)
| [Drummondville Voltigeurs](/source/Drummondville_Voltigeurs)
| [QMJHL](/source/Quebec_Major_Junior_Hockey_League)
| 61 || 11 || 15 || 26 || 25
| 10 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 0
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_QMJHL_season)
| Drummondville Voltigeurs
| QMJHL
| 68 || 30 || 34 || 64 || 50
| 16 || 5 || 11 || 16 || 8
|-
| [2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_QMJHL_season)
| Drummondville Voltigeurs
| QMJHL
| 26 || 18 || 24 || 42 || 21
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20
| [Chicoutimi Saguenéens](/source/Chicoutimi_Saguen%C3%A9ens)
| QMJHL
| 16 || 6 || 12 || 18 || 4
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [2020–21](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_QMJHL_season)
| Chicoutimi Saguenéens
| QMJHL
| 23 || 19 || 17 || 36 || 6
| 9 || 6 || 11 || 17 || 4
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [2021–22](/source/2021%E2%80%9322_NHL_season)
| [New Jersey Devils](/source/New_Jersey_Devils)
| [NHL](/source/National_Hockey_League)
| 82 || 17 || 25 || 42 || 28
| — || — || — || — || —
|- 
| [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_NHL_season)
| New Jersey Devils
| NHL
| 82 || 27 || 29 || 56 || 14
| 12 || 3 || 4 || 7 || 2 
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_NHL_season)
| New Jersey Devils
| NHL
| 82 || 20 || 13 || 33 || 29
| — || — || — || — || —
|- 
| [2024–25](/source/2024%E2%80%9325_NHL_season)
| New Jersey Devils
| NHL
| 82 || 19 || 17 || 36 || 16
| 5 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 8 
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [2025–26](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_NHL_season)
| New Jersey Devils
| NHL
| 82 || 20 || 22 || 42 || 33
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals
! 410 !! 103 !! 106 !! 209 !! 120
! 17 !! 5 !! 4 !! 9 !! 10
|}

===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Event
! Result
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| [2017](/source/2017_World_U-17_Hockey_Challenge)
| Canada Black
| [U17](/source/World_U-17_Hockey_Challenge)
| 7th
| 5 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [2020](/source/2020_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships)
| [Canada](/source/Canada_men's_national_junior_ice_hockey_team)
| [WJC](/source/IIHF_World_U20_Championship)
| {{gold1}}
| 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [2021](/source/2021_World_Junior_Ice_Hockey_Championships)
| Canada
| WJC
| {{silver2}}
| 7 || 2 || 4 || 6 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [2022](/source/2022_IIHF_World_Championship)
| [Canada](/source/Canada_men's_national_ice_hockey_team)
| [WC](/source/Ice_Hockey_World_Championships)
| {{silver2}}
| 10 || 0 || 5 || 5 || 0
|- 
| [2024](/source/2024_IIHF_World_Championship)
| Canada 
| WC
| 4th
| 9 || 3 || 1 || 4 || 4
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals
! 19
! 4
! 4
! 8
! 2
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Senior totals
! 19 !! 3 !! 6 !! 9 !! 4
|}

==Awards and honors==
{| class="wikitable"
! Award
! Year
! Ref
|-
! colspan="3"|[QMJHL](/source/Quebec_Major_Junior_Hockey_League)
|-
| [Guy Carbonneau Trophy](/source/Guy_Carbonneau_Trophy)
| [2021](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_QMJHL_season)
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Phillip Danault announces the 2021 Guy-Carbonneau Trophy winner |url=https://theqmjhl.ca/video/phillip-danault-announces-the-2021-guy-carbonneau-trophy-winner |website=theqmjhl.ca |access-date=September 6, 2021 |date=June 2, 2021}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Ice hockey stats}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = [Alexander Holtz](/source/Alexander_Holtz) | title = [New Jersey Devils first-round draft pick](/source/List_of_New_Jersey_Devils_draft_picks) | years = [2020](/source/2020_NHL_entry_draft) | after = [Shakir Mukhamadullin](/source/Shakir_Mukhamadullin)}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercer, Dawson}}
Category:2001 births
Category:Living people
Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen
Category:Bishop's College School alumni
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Canadian ice hockey forwards
Category:Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) players
Category:Drummondville Voltigeurs players
Category:Ice hockey people from Newfoundland and Labrador
Category:NHL first-round draft picks
Category:New Jersey Devils draft picks
Category:New Jersey Devils players

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dawson Mercer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson_Mercer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson_Mercer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
