Blake Lizotte

Last updated

Blake Lizotte
Lizotte close up.jpg
Lizotte with the Los Angeles Kings in 2022
Born (1997-12-13) December 13, 1997 (age 26)
Lindstrom, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Pittsburgh Penguins
Los Angeles Kings
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2019present

Blake Joseph Lizotte (born December 13, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Los Angeles Kings.

Contents

Playing career

After going undrafted out of high school, Lizotte played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the Fargo Force from the 2015–16 season to the 2016–17 season. He then committed to play collegiate hockey at St. Cloud State University of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). [1]

In two seasons he helped lead the Huskies to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) regular-season championship in both years and helped secure the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. In his sophomore season in 2018–19, Lizotte ranked second on his team in points, tied for first in assists and fourth in goals. He was named to the NCHC First All-Star Team. Over the course of his two seasons in St. Cloud he tallied 69 points 76 games. [2]

After suffering a second consecutive early exit with the Huskies at the NCAA Tournament, Lizotte agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on April 2, 2019. [3] He immediately joined the Kings to conclude the 2018–19 season, making his debut in the Kings' season finale, a 5–2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on April 6, 2019. [4] Lizotte scored his first career NHL goal and added an assist in a 3–2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on November 9, 2019. [5]

After scoring 10 points and leading the Kings in plus-minus rating during the 2020-21 season, Lizotte agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract extension with the Kings on June 24, 2021. [6] He re-signed a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.675 million with the Kings on March 21, 2022. [7]

On July 1, 2024, Lizotte signed a two-year contract, worth an average $1.85 million annually, with the Pittsburgh Penguins. [8]

Personal life

Lizotte grew up in Lindstrom, Minnesota. His father, aged 45, died when Blake was 14 from complications of epilepsy, leaving his mother to raise him and his two brothers on her own. [9]

Lizotte is a Christian. [10] He is married to Abby Lizotte. [11]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2012–13 Chisago Lakes High USHS 2581927431010
2013–14Chisago Lakes HighUSHS25112940033580
2014–15 Minot Minotauros NAHL 561438521460334
2015–16 Fargo Force USHL 5412344626
2016–17 Fargo ForceUSHL561946654230000
2017–18 St. Cloud State NCHC 398192720
2018–19 St. Cloud StateNCHC3714284228
2018–19 Los Angeles Kings NHL 10000
2019–20 Los Angeles KingsNHL656172320
2019–20 Ontario Reign AHL 10002
2020–21 Los Angeles KingsNHL41371016
2021–22 Los Angeles KingsNHL7010142428701116
2022–23 Los Angeles KingsNHL811123347030002
2023–24 Los Angeles KingsNHL6278152051012
NHL totals32037691061541511220

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
NAHL
All-Central Rookie Team2015
All-Central Team2015
First All-Rookie Team2015
Rookie of the Year2015
USHL
Second All-Star Team 2017
College
NCHC All-Rookie Team 2018
NCHC All-Academic Team2018
NCHC Scholar Athlete2018
All-NCHC First Team 2019 [12]
AHCA West Second Team All-American 2019 [13]

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References

  1. Zupke, Curtis (April 2, 2019). "Blake Lizotte signs pro contract with Los Angeles Kings". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  2. "SCSU players sign professional hockey contracts". St. Cloud Times . April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  3. "St. Cloud State Forward Blake Lizotte signs three-year entry level contract". Los Angeles Kings. April 2, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  4. "Kovalchuk scores twice in 5-2 win over Golden Knights". ESPN. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  5. "Blake Lizotte Scores First NHL Goal". National Hockey League. November 11, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  6. "LA Kings re-sign C Blake Lizotte to 1-year, $800,000 deal". apnews.com. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. "Kings sign forward Blake Lizotte to two-year, $3.35M contract". Sportsnet. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  8. "Penguins Sign Blake Lizotte to a Two-year Contract". July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  9. "Kings rookie Lizotte overcame plenty of challenges to reach NHL". June 14, 2020.
  10. Mercer, Kevin (April 25, 2024). "L.A. Kings' Blake Lizotte knows his 'identity is who I am in Christ' amid NHL playoffs". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  11. "blizotte46". Instagram. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  12. "SCSU, UMD DOMINATE 2018-19 NCHC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS". Nchchockey.com. March 13, 2019. Archived from the original on March 26, 2019. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  13. "Total of 19 schools boast players on 2018-19 All-American selections". USCHO.com. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.