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THE FULL LOWDOWN ON ZACH O'BRIEN

THE FULL LOWDOWN ON ZACH O'BRIEN Top Image

By Jono Bullard

Canadian forward Zach O’Brien became the latest addition to Nottingham Panthers 2026/27 roster.

The 34-year-old is no stranger to the Elite League and played the 2024/25 season for Cardiff Devils, icing 67 games in all competitions, scoring 26 goals and 45 assists for 71 points, as well as being part of their Continental Cup-winning team.

Born in St. John’s, Newfoundland O'Brien played AAA hockey with the St. John's Fog Devils of the Newfoundland and Labrador Major Midget Hockey League. In his last season, he scored 176 points as Devils won the 2010 Telus Cup. He was also named the National Midget AAA Championship's MVP.

O’Brien was drafted by the Moncton Wildcats in the 2008 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft, but he chose to complete his high school education before committing to playing major junior hockey. He was acquired by Acadie-Bathurst Titan in a trade and went on to play for them for three seasons.

On 5th April 2012, O'Brien signed an amateur try-out agreement with the St. John's IceCaps of the AHL. After one game back in his hometown, he returned to Titan for the 2012/13 season.

During his QMJHL career, he played 207 games and scored 277 points, of which 132 were goals. He amassed just two penalty minutes which earned him the QMJHL’s Frank J Selke Most Sportsmanlike Player Trophy in 2011/12 and 2012/13.

After his junior career ended, O'Brien joined the ECHL’s Ontario Reign. He was loaned to the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs for the remainder of the 2013/14 season after playing five games for Reign. He remained with the Monarchs for the 2014/15 campaign, winning the Calder Cup with the team at the end of that season

O'Brien stayed in the AHL for 2015/16, signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Wolves. The following season he moved to Germany, playing 20 games for Ravensburg Towerstars of DEL2 before returning to the ECHL with Wichita Thunder, playing 32 games for them and one with Binghamton Senators of the AHL.

He returned to Wichita the following season, but was soon back in the AHL with Bakersfield Condors, playing 43 games for them.

In July 2018, O'Brien signed a contract with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. After Marlies training camp he was assigned to their ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers, which saw him return to his hometown of St. John’s.

After a spell with the Marlies in February 2019, he returned to the Growlers and helped them to win the Kelly Cup in their inaugural ECHL season, winning the June M Kelly award as playoff MVP in the process.

He spent three out of the next four seasons with Marlies and Growlers, spending the 2020/21 campaign back in Germany with EV Landshut of DEL2, playing 49 games and scoring 40 goals, along with 49 assists.

The 2023/24 season saw O’Brien return to Europe with Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia, playing 16 games before returning to Newfoundland to complete the season with the Growlers, playing 54 games and scoring 60 points.

After his season in the EIHL with Cardiff Devils, O’Brien went to Norway for the 2025/26 season with Storhamar, helping them to the Norwegian title, playing 39 games and scoring 37 points.

In an 808-game professional career so far, O’Brien has amassed just 70 total penalty minutes, earning him three ECHL Sportsmanship awards in 2018/19, 2021/22 and 2022/23. We now welcome Zach O’Brien to the Motorpoint Arena for the 2026/27 season.