Wayne Simmonds

Wayne Simmonds (born August 26, 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario) is a professional ice hockey player, currently playing as a right wing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Known to teammates by the nickname Simmer, he is one of a number of black players in the league.

Playing career
Simmonds grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, the third of four sons born to Cyril Simmonds and Wanda Mercury-Simmonds. At age 16, he played youth hockey with the Toronto Junior Canadiens of the Greater Toronto Hockey League in the 2004–05 season. He then moved up to junior hockey with the Brockville Braves of the Central Junior A Hockey League for the 2005–06 season. He finished his junior career playing in the Ontario Hockey League from 2006 until 2008, with the Owen Sound Attack and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He also played for Team Canada at the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

A right-handed shooter, Simmonds was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, as the 61st overall pick. He was one of three rookies to make the team's roster for its 2008–09 season. On October 14, 2008, in only his third career game, Simmonds scored his first career NHL goal by knocking a rebound past Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Anaheim Ducks. During his rookie season, Simmonds became a favorite among L.A. fans for his strong work ethic on and off the ice.

Entering the 2009-10 regular season, Simmonds was looking to increase his offensive production, having tied for the Kings' goal-scoring lead in pre-season play. Prior to having his season interrupted in mid-December by a knee injury, he had made progress toward that goal, playing mostly on the Kings' third line, centered by Michal Handzuš. At the time that he left the lineup to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, Simmonds led the team in +/- and his nine goals scored were the third most on the team. Simmonds had also become a key component in the Kings penalty killing unit.