Cam, a native of Southie, embarked on his hockey journey with the same passion and dedication that many young players do. Starting in his hometown of Boston, he progressed to prep schools as he matured and eventually found his place in the junior leagues. His time with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League was a testament to his hard work and skill, as he amassed an impressive 100 goals and 112 assists over 327 games with Drummondville, Moncton, Shawinigan, and Charlottetown. Transitioning to the ECHL, Cam’s perseverance and experience from the junior leagues shone through, resulting in 86 goals and 77 assists and earning him playtime in 313 regular seasons and 21 Kelly Cup Playoff games, where he put up three goals and six assists for nine points.
Cam signed his rookie contract in 2018 with the South Carolina Stingrays. He debuted on October 26th, scored his first professional goal on November 21st, and was named the game’s first star. That season, he would be integral in getting the Stingrays to the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cam would go on to be the first Stingray to sign for the 2019-2020 season, and head coach Steve Bergin was quoted by the Stingrays media staff saying, “Everyone was rooting and cheering for him. They all wanted to help him get better, and he was a sponge. He was really receptive to being coachable and being taught. He’s a quiet guy, but I think he’s very smart. He watches and sees how people act and what they do and I think he’s going to have a really successful pro career because of that.” In the 2019-2020 season, he would be named Inglasco ECHL’s Player of the Week in February after an amazing streak of multiple assists and a goal against three different teams. In the 2020-21 seasons that followed, Cam would continue to build his skills, seeing his team make the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs again and then being traded to the Maine Mariners.
When Cam joined the Maine Mariners, Maines Head Coach Ben Guite was quoted by Mariners Media saying, “We are excited to welcome onboard a player like Cam. He’s an experienced player that strengthens our forward group with his size, grittiness, and ability to score. He has the ability to play up and down our lineup and help on both special teams units. His best hockey is still ahead of him, and we are looking forward to seeing him do it in a Mariners uniform.” And did he? Yes, he did. He came in hot, having the best season of his ECHL career with 69 games, scoring 23 goals and 15 assists. That would be his best record for goals scored in his professional career. He would also lead the team in games and power-play goals, finishing second on the squad in goal-scoring. While with Maine, Cam would see the Kelly Cup Playoffs three more times, playing in 16 playoff games but never getting to hoist the Kelly Cup. He had his two best seasons in the blue and green uniform and was part of the Maine Historic season, where they broke countless franchise records and saw a massive increase in attendance.
Cam Askew’s career has been a remarkable journey from the Junior League to the ECHL. His absence will undoubtedly be felt in his line, by his teammates, and by his fans. As he moves on to new endeavors, we eagerly anticipate his future placements within the Hockey Community, knowing that his talent and dedication will continue to make a significant impact.
