Day was born in Leuven, Belgium, but grew up in Rochester, Michigan. Keith Day, Sean's father, was an executive with a global chemical company, which has taken him all over the world. His family relocated periodically before he was transferred to the Detroit area. Day holds dual Canadian and American citizenship.[2] Due to his family moving around the world, Day first skated on a mall rink in Singapore.[2]
Playing career
Day's application for exceptional player status was granted by Hockey Canada on March 21, 2013, making him eligible to be drafted a year early in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection and to play major junior hockey as a 15-year-old.[3] Day was the fourth player to be granted the exemption, after John Tavares in 2005, Aaron Ekblad in 2011 and Connor McDavid in 2012.[4] He was drafted fourth overall in the OHL priority draft by the Mississauga Steelheads.[5]
In the 2016–17 season, on October 19, 2016, Day was acquired by Memorial Cup hosts, the Windsor Spitfires in exchange for draft picks.[6] Gearing towards the playoffs with the Spitfires, on March 8, 2017, Day agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Rangers.[7] He would win the Memorial Cup with the Spitfires later that season.
Day began his professional career in 2018 with the Rangers AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack. After a slow start in the first six games he was demoted to the Maine Mariners.[9][10] He played well enough in 19 games with the Mariners to earn a berth in the ECHL All-Star game, but was promoted back to Hartford before the game.[10][11][12]
Day began the following season in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack, but after posting a disappointing 4 points in 16 games, he was demoted to the Maine Mariners,[13] where he would remain until the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 30, 2020, Day was placed on unconditional waivers by the Rangers for the purposes of contract termination.[14] He cleared waivers the following day and the remaining year of his contract was terminated.[15] As a free agent on July 17, 2020, Day was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.[16]
He made his NHL debut with the Lightning on December 28, 2021, against the Montreal Canadiens.[17]
