Justin Hryckowian Bio
Justin Hryckowian is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on February 23, 2001, in L’Île-Bizard, Quebec, he plays as a centre and left winger and shoots left. He went undrafted and signed with Dallas as a free agent after a standout college career with the Northeastern Huskies.
After three productive seasons in Hockey East, Hryckowian turned professional in 2024 and quickly rose through the Dallas organization. He has split time between the Dallas Stars and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Texas Stars, establishing himself as a reliable two-way forward.
Early Life and Background
Justin Hryckowian was born on February 23, 2001, in L’Île-Bizard, Quebec, a suburban island community in the City of Montreal. He is the son of Wojtek Hryckowian and Tina Dandurand, and he grew up alongside his younger brother Dylan, who is also an ice hockey player. The brothers developed their game together on outdoor rinks, an environment that helped shape Hryckowian’s comfort with the puck from a young age.
Hryckowian began playing organized ice hockey at the age of two. He moved through the local minor hockey system in the Lac St-Louis region, eventually joining the Lac St-Louis Lions of the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League. During the 2017–18 season, he recorded 34 goals and 75 points in 40 games and earned the Outstanding Player Award, the Sylvain Turgeon/CCM award as the league’s leading scorer, and the Patrice Bergeron Trophy for the most gentlemanly player.
Path to Hockey
Rather than entering the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Hryckowian chose to pursue a college pathway in the United States. He spent a year at the Salisbury School in Connecticut before joining the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the 2019–20 season. He recorded four goals and 14 points in 17 games before his development was disrupted by an off-ice event.
When the August 2020 Midwest derecho damaged ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, Hryckowian was reassigned to the Sioux City Musketeers for the 2020–21 USHL season. He served as captain and broke out with 17 goals and 38 points in 44 games, a performance that drew the attention of NCAA programs.
Justin Hryckowian Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Hryckowian joined the Northeastern Huskies for the 2021–22 college season and scored his first collegiate goal on October 26 against the UConn Huskies. Appearing in 24 games, he led all Northeastern freshmen with six goals and 20 points and was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
In his sophomore season, Hryckowian notched his first collegiate hat-trick on November 4 in a 6–2 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats. He was named Hockey East Player of the Month for November after recording six goals and 13 points in seven games, including three game-winning goals, and he finished the year with 14 goals and 29 points while earning Hockey East Best Defensive Forward and All-Hockey East Second Team honours.
Northeastern Captaincy and Breakout (2023–2024)
Named captain of the Huskies for the 2023–24 season, Hryckowian continued to anchor the team on both ends of the ice. On February 12, he was named Hockey East Player of the Week after a three-point performance against the Harvard Crimson in the Beanpot semifinals. He recorded his 100th career point with an assist on his brother Dylan’s goal in the Hockey East quarterfinals on March 16, a milestone moment in a 4–2 loss to the Boston University Terriers.
Hryckowian finished the 2023–24 season with 13 goals and 42 points in 32 games, repeating as Hockey East Best Defensive Forward and earning Third Team All-Star recognition. He concluded his three-year college career with 35 goals and 101 points in 94 games for Northeastern.
Dallas Stars Era (2024–Present)
On March 20, 2024, the Dallas Stars signed Hryckowian to a two-year entry-level contract. He closed the 2023–24 season with the Texas Stars on an amateur tryout, recording one goal and three points in 12 regular season games and adding two goals and four points in seven postseason contests.
He opened the 2024–25 season with Texas, leading all AHL rookies with 26 points in his first 27 games, including 12 goals. Called up to Dallas on December 30, 2024, he made his NHL debut in a 5–1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks and registered his first NHL point on January 20, 2025, assisting on a goal by Matěj Blümel. He went on to lead AHL rookies with 60 points in 67 games and received the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the Year, in addition to a selection to the AHL All-Rookie Team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hryckowian is valued as a versatile, defence-first forward who can play centre or left wing. He reads the game well, earns coach trust on lower lines, and contributes in penalty-kill situations, an attribute reflected by his repeated Hockey East Best Defensive Forward honours and his smooth transition to professional hockey.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key moments in Hryckowian’s career include his first NHL goal on November 2 against the Florida Panthers, his 100th collegiate point assisted on his brother’s goal, and his Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award in 2025. The January 7, 2026 two-year, $1.9 million contract extension underscored Dallas’s long-term commitment to his development.
Justin Hryckowian Career Wins
Justin Hryckowian’s win record is defined by individual awards and team achievements across collegiate, junior, and professional hockey. His recognition includes league-leading scoring honours in Quebec Midget AAA, the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the Year, and multiple Hockey East distinctions for defensive play and all-star status.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
At the junior level, Hryckowian won the Outstanding Player Award, the Sylvain Turgeon/CCM leading scorer award, and the Patrice Bergeron Trophy during the 2017–18 Quebec Midget AAA season. With the Sioux City Musketeers, he served as captain and recorded 17 goals and 38 points in 44 games. At Northeastern, he was a Hockey East All-Rookie Team selection, repeated as Hockey East Best Defensive Forward, and earned All-Hockey East Second Team and Third Team All-Star honours.
Professional Awards and Performances
In the AHL, Hryckowian led all rookies with 60 points in 67 games during the 2024–25 season and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. He also captured the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as the league’s top rookie. His NHL debut, first NHL point, and first NHL goal each marked significant milestones in his professional journey.
Justin Hryckowian Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Justin Hryckowian is the son of Wojtek Hryckowian and Tina Dandurand. He has a younger brother, Dylan Hryckowian, who is also an ice hockey player and followed his older brother’s path through Northeastern before signing with the Dallas Stars organization in 2026.
Personal Life
Hockey has long been a family affair for the Hryckowians. Justin and Dylan trained together on outdoor rinks as children in L’Île-Bizard, an experience that built a strong bond and a shared competitive drive. The brothers later shared the ice at Northeastern, where Justin assisted on Dylan’s goal for his 100th career collegiate point.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 calendar year, Hryckowian continued his rapid rise within the Dallas Stars organization. After winning the Dudley “Red” Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the Year in 2024–25, he opened the 2025–26 NHL season on Dallas’s opening-night roster due to injuries to Jamie Benn and Oskar Bäck. He scored his first NHL goal on November 2 in a 4–3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers and continued to feature in Dallas’s lineup through December, eventually skating on a line with Benn and Matt Duchene.
On January 7, 2026, Hryckowian signed a two-year, $1.9 million contract extension with the Stars, signalling the organization’s confidence in his trajectory. The 2025 portion of his career demonstrated his ability to step into a top-six role when called upon while maintaining his trademark two-way reliability.
Looking ahead, Hryckowian enters the back half of the 2025–26 season with a stable contract and an expanded role in Dallas. Continued development of his offensive game, combined with his defensive strengths, positions him as a potential long-term fixture in the Stars’ forward group.
