A proven winner with Memorial Cup and Centennial Cup experience, Szabo returning to #YEG with Griffins
Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – When he suits up for the MacEwan Griffins men's hockey team next season, it will no doubt feel like a homecoming for John Szabo.
The talented two-way forward out of Lethbridge, Alta., logged 148 games over four seasons with the Edmonton Oil Kings, whose Rogers Place dressing room is just a short walk down a concourse from the Griffins' home at the connected Downtown Community Arena.
Just over four years ago, Szabo – then a 16-year-old Western Hockey League rookie – was on the ice celebrating a WHL championship with teammates such as Sebastian Cossa, Dylan Guenther, Jake Neighbours, Kaiden Guhle, Justin Sourdif and former Griffins D-man Logan Dowhaniuk.
In 2025-26, he bookended his sterling junior career by captaining the Canmore Eagles to the Alberta Junior Hockey League championship.
Along the way, Szabo played in both the Memorial Cup and the Centennial Cup – a rare double that few players have accomplished in their junior careers.
"It just shows he can handle pressure situations, which is important," said Griffins head coach Zack Dailey of Szabo, who had four goals and seven points in five games at the 2026 Centennial Cup. "I think for first-year athletes, there's probably more pressure situations for them than anybody else, so someone who's already ahead of the game there is going to help him in the long run, and definitely to start the year next year.
"You want guys who show up at important times, and he's shown he can do that."
A sixth-round pick in the 2020 WHL draft out of the Lethbridge elite hockey stream, Szabo went on to record 29 points in 140 regular season games with the Oil Kings from 2021-24 before being dealt to the Kamloops Blazers for a 2027 sixth rounder on Sept. 30, 2024.
After putting up 19 points in 59 games with the Blazers in 2024-25, he was waived prior to the 2025-26 season – the odd-man out under the WHL overager rule, which only allows three 20-year-olds – and signed in Canmore.
He showed his offensive chops there, finishing among with top-20 scorers in the AJHL with 23 goals and 54 points in 49 games, adding 10 points in 15 playoff contests.
"He's a big forward with a really good shot," said Dailey of the 6-foot, 194-pounder. "He was Canmore's team captain after their captain got hurt. Just a good all-around player, who can play any way you really want him to. He's skilled offensively but can kill penalties and block shots.
"We talk about our team identity and how we want everyone to play and he's someone who fits that."
Szabo is also passionate about the opportunity to don the Maroon and White, a successful program that's made the Canada West playoffs three years in a row.
"We've talked a whole bunch, and he's really excited about coming and wants to be a Griffin," said Dailey. "Any time you have people who are passionate about coming here, usually that works out quite well. We're excited to have him and think he's somebody who can come in right away and contribute to our group."
As a 16-year-old rookie, John Szabo was part of the Edmonton Oil Kings' 2022 WHL Championship team. (Edmonton Oil Kings Hockey Club/LA Media photo).
John Szabo hoists the AJHL Championship trophy after the Canmore Eagles beat the Whitecourt Wolverines in five games back in April (Courtesy, Canmore Eagles, @mbakerphoto).
