John Howard Scott was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on September 26, 1982. Raised in a blue-collar family, he won an athletic scholarship to Michigan Technological University, pursuing simultaneously his aspirations of professional hockey and his fall-back plan of mechanical engineering. Scott played for Michigan Tech from 2002 to 2006 and eventually completed his Bachelor of Science degree in 2010.

In 2006, Scott signed a professional contract with the Minnesota Wild and spent the next three years playing for the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) then-affiliate, the Houston Aeros. He played in his first National Hockey League (NHL) game in 2009 and joined the Wild for the 2009-2010 season. In 2010, Scott entered free agency and accepted a contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, for whom he played until being traded to the New York Rangers in February 2012. Scott was a part of the Buffalo Sabres from 2012 until 2014, when he signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks. The following year, he joined the Arizona Coyotes on a contract of the same length.

Scott rose to prominence in the 2015-2016 NHL season when he was unexpectedly elected to the Western Conference team of the league’s All-Star Game. As a professional player, Scott had gained a reputation as an enforcer, a player who was unafraid to deliver hits, start fights to motivate his team, physically punish opponents who endangered a victory, or protect star players from enforcers on the other team. Forwards participating in the exhibition match were expected to be drawn from the NHL’s most remarkable players in terms of goal scoring and playmaking--traits for which Scott, with five NHL goals to his name, was not known. Taking advantage of the rule that allowed fans to vote for All-Star team members, internet users colluded to prank the NHL by casting votes en masse for Scott. On January 2, 2016, Scott was announced as a Pacific Division representative for the All-Star Game and the captain of the Western Conference team, having received more votes than any of his competitors for the title.

During the public voting process in December 2015, Scott had been reticent about the fan campaign and even stated that someone else should be given the honor of participating in the game. His attitude changed following the efforts of the NHL to invalidate his election and prevent him from playing in the game. The league, according to Scott, pressured him to withdraw from the team, citing the influence his participation could have on his children. He was suddenly traded from the Coyotes to the Montreal Canadiens and immediately assigned to their minor league affiliate, rendering him ineligible to compete in the NHL All-Star Game, let alone as the Western Conference captain. This, along with comments made to Scott by a league representative with the apparent intent of dissuading him, motivated him to take the place that the fan vote had awarded him; the NHL eventually permitted him to play in the tournament as a free agent. Over the weekend of competition, Scott scored two goals and was honored as Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the event.

After completing his season with the Canadiens and their AHL affiliate, Scott elected to conclude his professional hockey career and focus on his wife, Danielle, and young daughters. He officially announced his retirement in December 2016.