Jake Guentzel Guentzel during the 2017 playoffsBorn (1994-10-06) October 6, 1994 (age 23)
Jake Guentzel (born October 6, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).[2] He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third round, 77th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
ContentsGuentzel grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota, and played two years of varsity hockey at the Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, Minnesota, before committing to the University of Nebraska Omaha after his senior season.[3]
After his junior year (2015–16 season) with the Nebraska-Omaha, Guentzel signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 23, 2016.[4]
Jake Guentzel, Nick Bonino, and Kris Letang celebrating the Penguins' Stanley Cup win in 2017On November 21, 2016, he made his NHL debut, against the New York Rangers, and scored two goals on his first two shots.[5] Despite this, the Penguins lost the game 5–2.[6]
On March 21, 2017, Guentzel suffered a concussion on a check from Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. He missed the next 4 games, while Ristolainen was suspended by the league for 3 games.[7] On April 16, 2017, he scored a hat-trick, which included the game winning goal in overtime, to put the Penguins up 3–0 in their first-round playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He became the first Penguins rookie to score a playoff hat-trick, and only the second rookie in NHL history to score a hat-trick and overtime goal in the same game of the playoffs.[8] On June 11, 2017, Guentzel won the Stanley Cup after defeating the Nashville Predators in six games. During the run, Guentzel recorded 21 points, tying Dino Ciccarelli and Ville Leino for points by a rookie in a single post-season. His 13 goals was one off of Ciccarelli's record.[9]
Guentzel began the 2017–18 season in the NHL, putting up a career high 48 points in 82 games to help the Penguins qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. During the first round of the playoffs, Guentzel recorded four goals in an 8–5 Game 6 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.[10] He became the third Penguins player, behind Mario Lemieux and Kevin Stevens, to record four goals in a playoff game.[11]
Guentzel with his family following the Penguins' Stanley Cup win in 2017 Personal lifeGuentzel comes from a hockey family.[12] His father, Mike, was a standout athlete for Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minnesota, and subsequently played hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Later on Mike became the associate head coach at the University of Minnesota.[13] Guentzel was a stick boy for the team when future Penguins teammate Phil Kessel played for Minnesota.[14] His older brother, Ryan, played collegiately and professionally.[15][16] Another older brother, Gabe, played in the North American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League before embarking on a four-year NCAA career at Colorado College.[17]
Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2010–11 Hill-Murray School USHS 25 15 28 43 10 3 4 2 6 4 2011–12 Hill-Murray School USHS 31 23 52 75 16 3 1 4 5 0 2012–13 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 60 29 44 73 24 — — — — — 2013–14 U. of Nebraska Omaha NCHC 37 7 27 34 16 — — — — — 2014–15 U. of Nebraska Omaha NCHC 36 14 25 39 34 — — — — — 2015–16 U. of Nebraska Omaha NCHC 35 19 27 46 20 — — — — — 2015–16 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 11 2 4 6 0 10 5 9 14 0 2016–17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 33 21 21 42 12 — — — — — 2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 40 16 17 33 10 25 13 8 21 10 2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 22 26 48 42 12 10 11 21 8 NHL totals 122 38 43 81 52 37 23 19 42 18 Awards and honors Award Year USHL All-Rookie Team 2013 Rookie of the year 2013 [18] Second All-Star Team 2013 College NCHC All-Rookie Team 2014 NHL Stanley Cup (Pittsburgh Penguins) 2017 [19] Prince of Wales Trophy (Pittsburgh Penguins) 2017 [20] References