Brandon Montour

Brandon Montour Bio

Brandon Montour is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the Seattle Kraken in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 55th overall, by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Montour has recently gained attention for winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and displaying exceptional skills that led to a significant contract with the Kraken.

Early Life and Background

Brandon Montour was born on April 11, 1994, in Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. He is of Mohawk descent and spent part of his childhood in Ohsweken, a village in the reserve of Six Nations of the Grand River. His father is First Nations, while his mother is not. Montour spent eight years living in Tilbury, Ontario, where he completed his elementary education. He later moved back to Ohsweken and attended Assumption College School in Brantford, Ontario. In addition to hockey, Montour grew up playing minor lacrosse in Windsor and with the Six Nations Rebels of the Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League, where he won a Minto Cup with the Six Nations Arrows.

Path to Hockey

Montour started his ice hockey journey playing minor ice hockey in Cambridge, Ontario, before joining the Brantford Eagles in the 2010-11 season. He then played for the Caledonia Corvairs for one season in 2012-13. Following this, Montour played with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and spent one season with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He became the highest NHL draft pick in the school’s history when he was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Brandon Montour Career

Early Career (2015-2016)

Montour began his professional career at age 21 with the Anaheim Ducks’ affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL), towards the end of the 2014-15 season. He played the entire 2015-16 season with the Ducks’ relocated AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. Montour was selected to the 2017 AHL All-Star game for the second consecutive year, amassing 21 points in only 25 games despite not playing the entire season for the Gulls.

Breakthrough (2016-2019)

Montour spent the first half of the 2016-17 season with San Diego before being called up to the Anaheim Ducks on December 28, 2016. He made his NHL debut the following day against the Calgary Flames and scored his first NHL goal in his sixth game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 6, 2017. He finished the season with four assists and two goals in 27 games, contributing seven more assists in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. Montour continued with the Ducks for the entirety of the 2017-18 season, achieving a personal best of 32 points in 80 games.

Notable Works and Milestones

Montour was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Brendan Guhle and a 2019 first-round pick on February 24, 2019. He later joined the Florida Panthers, where he experienced a breakout season in 2022-23, scoring 16 goals and 73 points, tying for fifth among defencemen in the league. During the 2024 playoffs, Montour played a crucial role in helping the Panthers win their first Stanley Cup.

Brandon Montour Award Nominations

Throughout his career, Brandon Montour has received recognition for his performances, particularly during the playoffs and his contributions to his teams.