Sean Farrell (ice hockey)

Sean Farrell (born November 2, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 124th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

Amateur
After two years with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program (USNTDP), Farrell began playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Chicago Steel. He was originally meant to begin his collegiate career with the Harvard Crimson during the 2020–21 season, however, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ivy League teams opted not to participate in the athletic season. As a result, it was decided that he would return for an additional season in the USHL. The pandemic also resulted in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft not being held in-person as originally planned, with Farrell and his father watching his draft announcement in a pub at the Steel's Fox Valley Ice Arena. He later called it "a bright spot in a pretty weird year for everyone."

During the 2020–21 season, Farrell recorded 29 goals and 72 assists in 53 games for the Steel, becoming the second player in USHL history to surpass 100 points in a season, after Kevin Roy in 2012. Following an outstanding season, he was awarded the USHL Player of the Year and Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award. Farrell belatedly began his National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) career for the Crimson during the 2021–22 NCAA season. During his sophomore year, he led the conference in goals (17), assists (19), and points (36). He finished fourth in the conference with three game-winners and third with 77 shots through 22 games. Following an outstanding season he was named to the All-ECAC Hockey First Team and the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year.

Professional
Farrell was drafted 124th overall by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. On March 26, 2023, Farrell signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens. Two days later, he made his NHL debut in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Farrell scored his first goal on his first shot in the league on March 30, in a 5–2 loss to the Florida Panthers. He played five more games that season. Farrell attended the Canadiens 2023 training camp but was assigned to Montreal's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket, to start the 2023–24 season.

International play
Farrell represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded two assists in seven games and won a bronze medal. On January 13, 2022, Farrell was named to Team USA's roster to represent the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics. In his Olympic debut, he scored a hat-trick to help lead Team USA to an 8–0 victory over the host nation China.

On May 5, 2022, Farrell was named to the United States men's national ice hockey team to compete at the 2022 IIHF World Championship. He recorded two goals and four assists in ten games.

Personal life
Farrell began his studies at Harvard University online during his final season in the USHL while the collegiate athletics season had been canceled. He graduated with a degree in economics in 2023, having completed the typical four-year curriculum in three years by taking summer courses.