Education
During the 2011-2012 season, Athanasiou was one of five players to score 20 or more goals on a London Knights team that finished with the OHL"s best record.
During the 2011-2012 season, Athanasiou was one of five players to score 20 or more goals on a London Knights team that finished with the OHL"s best record.
Athanasiou was drafted 110th overall by the Red Wings in the 2012 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Junior
During the 2009-2010 season, Athanasiou scored at a better than a point-per-game pace playing for the Toronto Titans Midget American Automobile Association team in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Athanasiou recorded 24 goals and 34 assists in 56 games.
Athanasiou was drafted by London 81st overall in the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.
During the 2010-2011 season, Athanasiou skated in 57 games as an OHL rookie with the London Knights. Athanasiou recorded 11 goals and 11 assists.
The Knights reached the OHL playoffs despite finishing last in the Midwest Division. In six playoff games Athanasiou was minus-one with no points or penalties.
Athanasiou recorded 22 goals and 15 assists in 63 games.
Athanasiou skated in nine of the Knights" first 17 playoff games as London reached the conference finals and recorded one goal and 3 assists. Athanasiou was invited to the National Hockey League Draft Combine and ranked 41st amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting"s final rankings prior to the 2012 National Hockey League Draft. During the 2012-2013 season, Athanasiou skated for the Barrie Colts in his third OHL season after being obtained by the Colts in an August 2012 trade with London.
Athanasiou was the fourth-leading scorer for the Colts, finishing third on the team with 29 goals and recording 38 assists in 66 games.
Barrie reached the OHL championship against Athanasiou"s former team In 22 playoff games Athanasiou recorded 12 goals and 13 assists.
During the 2013-2014 season, Athanasiou led Barrie in scoring, and ranked fifth in the league in scoring during his final OHL season, recording 49 goals and 46 assists in 66 games. Athanasiou is a Samos last name
Professional
On November 20, 2013, the Detroit Red Wings signed Athanasiou to a three-year, entry-level contract.
On April 15, 2014, Athanasiou was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, and made his AHL debut on April 18, in a game against the Lake Erie Monsters.
During the 2014-2015 season, in his first full professional season, he posted the best point-per-game average, 0.58, among Griffins rookies, recording 16 goals and 16 assists in a campaign that was limited to 55 games played due to a broken jaw. He finished fifth on Grand Rapids in postseason scoring, recording five goals and four assists in 16 postseason games. Athanasiou made his National Hockey League debut for the Red Wings on November 8, 2015 in a game against the Dallas Stars.
On November 10, in his second National Hockey League game, Athanasiou scored his first career National Hockey League goal against Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals.
On February 5, 2016, Athanasiou was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. Prior to being recalled, he recorded eight goals and eight assists in 26 games for the Griffins.
Athanasiou was part of the gold medal-winning Ontario team at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Athanasiou was one of five players for Ontario who had five or more points in the five-game WHC, finishing with two goals and three assists.