Defenceman Travis Dermott made his regular-season debut with the Edmonton Oilers in their recent 6-0 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Things got off to a tough start for the blueliner when he failed to box out Adam Lowry, who scored the game’s first goal, but Dermott found his rhythm after that. He registered a couple of shots on net in 16:06 of ice time and posted a 21-6 Corsi, the second-highest on the team, eventually earning a move up to the second pairing with Darnell Nurse.
Whether he’ll stick on the second pairing long-term is still up in the air, but one thing we can count on is that the spot next to Nurse will likely rotate until a more permanent solution is found via trade. In the meantime, Dermott will have a chance to prove himself and with that, here are five interesting facts about the D-man.
His Mother’s Figure Skating Lessons Gave Dermott an Edge in Hockey
Dermott’s parents played a pivotal role in his hockey development by driving him to the rink, getting him to early morning practices as a child and also by helping directly on the ice. His mother, a former figure skater and coach with the Newmarket Figure Skating Club, introduced him to the sport at the age of three, alongside his sister, before transitioning to hockey.
Jim, Dermott’s father, would later coach him in hockey and recalled, “It was his mother (Paula) who got him on skates at two or three. Once he got into Timbits hockey, that’s when I grabbed him by the straps of his helmet.” Having said that, Dermott’s figure skating lessons paid off in the long run. He reflected on how it helped him, saying, “It helps tremendously with edges and stuff like that, using your hips, instead of just moving straight forward or side-to-side.”
That said, figure skating was clearly a success as Dermott played “AAA” hockey with the York-Simcoe Express as a youth, helping the team win five OMHA championships and becoming one of the most decorated players in the organization’s history. He then signed with the Newmarket Hurricanes in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, before being selected in the ninth round of the OHL Draft by the Erie Otters. His journey eventually led to being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Dermott’s Ties with McDavid Date Back to Childhood
Dermott and Connor McDavid are suiting up as teammates this season in Oil Country, but their relationship goes way back to their childhood, when they played several seasons together on the York-Simcoe Express minor hockey team, from novice (U9) through peewee (U13). During that time, McDavid’s dad, Brian, was the head coach, while Dermott’s dad served as an assistant coach, working specifically with the D-men.
Moreover, the two future Oilers also played another sport together, with the blueliner recalling, “We were lacrosse and hockey buddies.” They reconnected while playing for the Erie Otters for two seasons in the OHL, which included a heartbreaking loss to the Oshawa Generals in the OHL final in 2015. Ironically, the Generals were captained by Josh Brown, recently waived by the Oilers, with Dermott essentially taking his spot with the big club.
Back in 2015, Dermott marvelled at the now now Oilers’ captain, saying, “Even when we were that young, he would do things like score goals between his legs,” Dermott recalls of McDavid. “You could see it.” Additionally, McDavid also had some kind words for Dermott. In an article by The Athletic, the captain praised Dermott, stating that he’s one of the smartest defenders he’s ever played with.
Dermott Had Some Notable Achievements Playing with the Erie Otters
Dermott spent three seasons with the Otters from 2013-2016, producing 116 points in 179 regular season games and 37 points in 47 playoff games. In a full-circle moment, Kris Knoblauch—his coach in Erie—is now back behind the bench for him in Edmonton nearly eight years later with the Oilers. On that note, here are a couple of notable feats from his time with the Otters:
First All-Rookie Team: Dermott earned a spot on the OHL First All-Rookie Team in 2014 after an impressive debut season, scoring 28 points in 67 games. Also, his plus +35 plus/minus rating ranked second among rookies, just behind Mitch Marner of the London Knights.
Franchise Record for Assists in Consecutive Games: In Dermott’s second OHL season during the 2014-15 campaign, he tallied 45 points in 61 games and set a franchise record with a seven-game assist streak—the longest assist streak by a D-man in Erie’s history.
Dermott Played Guitar in a Band With Former Maple Leafs Teammates
When asked about an alternate career path during his stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dermott mentioned he’d choose to be a musician if he wasn’t a hockey player. He took guitar lessons briefly at 13, but it wasn’t until 2018, when former teammate Justin Holl invited him to jam, that he seriously picked it up again.
It all started when Holl asked Dermott to play, and next thing you know, they had a revolving door jam band with six Leafs joining in and they practiced at the D-man’s apartment to unwind away from the rink. Holl led the charge on the keyboard and vocals, with Dermott on acoustic guitar, and the duo were seen as the band’s leaders.
Dermott gravitated toward country music, but they also played a range of genres, from electronic to top 40 and hip hop, creating unique acoustic versions, and spending up to three hours trying to master a song. At the time, the blueliner noted, “We’ll take faster-paced songs and slow them down completely to give them a completely different feel.”
Dermott Was the First Player to Defy the NHL’s Ban on Pride Tape
In the 2023 offseason, the NHL implemented a ban on all specialty warmup jerseys following controversies where several players chose not to participate in Pride Night events. Oilers captain McDavid commented at the time, “It’s not my call, but it’s disappointing to see.”Additionally, the league issued a memo to teams that included a policy prohibiting players from using Pride Tape on their sticks during the 2023-24 season.
However, Dermott, then playing for the Arizona Coyotes, became the first player to defy the NHL’s ban by using Pride Tape during the warmup for the Coyotes’ home opener. He wrapped a few strands of rainbow-coloured tape around the top of his stick, making a subtle but bold statement.
Dermott’s move earned him major support from fans and teammates. Incredibly, less than 72 hours after his bold stand, the NHL backtracked, lifting the ban on Pride Tape and giving players the freedom to show their support for social causes with their stick tape all season long. Despite no repercussions from his decision, the rearguard said at the time, “It had to be done. I was ready to face whatever came my way.”
In his brief time with the Oilers, he’s overtaken Josh Brown for a roster spot and they’ve experimented with him on the second pairing already. With that in mind, what are your predictions for Dermott this season?
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