Jay O'Brien (ice hockey)

Jay O'Brien (born November 4, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey center currently under contract with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted in the first round, 19th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life
O'Brien was born in Hingham, Massachusetts. Before his senior year of high school, O'Brien was given the option to leave Thayer Academy early and join the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League. O'Brien chose to stay at Thayer Academy and put up 80 points in 30 games, a new career high, during the 2017–18 season. Following the 2017–18 season, O'Brien was awarded United States High School All-USA Hockey Player of the Year and was named to the USHS All-USA Hockey First Team. Although O'Brien spent the majority of the season playing high school league hockey, he did play one game for the Phantoms and joined the United States under-18 team for seven exhibition games.

Playing career
Following graduation from Thayer Academy, O'Brien joined the Providence College Friars in the Hockey East of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). As a freshman with the Friars in the 2018–19 season, O'Brien struggled to define a role for himself, struggling through injury he was limited to 25 games, totalling just two goals and five points.

Opting to enter the NCAA transfer system and end his tenure with Providence, O'Brien agreed to join Canadian junior team, the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), for the 2019–20 season. He later agreed to join fellow Hockey East competitor in Boston University for the 2020–21 season prior to his tenure in the BCHL.

On August 15, 2023, O'Brien became a free agent when the Flyers opted not to sign him. He was later signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Toronto Marlies, the primary affiliate to the Toronto Maple Leafs, on August 25, 2023. However, O'Brien was unable to make his professional debut with the Marlies, missing the entirety of the season through injury.

As a free agent from the Marlies, O'Brien was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Charlotte Checkers on July 2, 2024.

International play
After playing 10 games for the Friars, O'Brien was loaned to the United States national junior team to compete at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.