Jacob Middleton

Last updated

Jake Middleton
Jacob Middleton 2019.jpg
Middleton with the San Jose Barracuda in 2019
Born (1996-01-02) January 2, 1996 (age 29)
Wainwright, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Minnesota Wild
San Jose Sharks
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL draft 210th overall, 2014
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2016present

Jacob "Jake" Middleton (born January 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was originally drafted 210th overall (the last pick in the draft) by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2014 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

After being drafted by the Owen Sound Attack in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League draft, Middleton played 14 games for the team before being traded to the Ottawa 67's on January 7, 2013. [1] On January 8, 2016, in his fourth season with the 67's, Middleton was named captain of the team. [2] After concluding that season, on April 8, 2016, Middleton signed an amateur try-out agreement with the Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL. [3] He played seven games for the Monarchs before joining the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, the San Jose Barracuda, for the 2016–17 season. [4]

On September 7, 2017, Middleton signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks. [4] He subsequently played the 2017–18 season with their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.

While attending the Sharks' training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, on September 23, 2018, Middleton was reassigned to Barracuda. [5] On January 5, 2019, Middleton was recalled from the Barracuda, [6] and made his NHL debut that night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. [7] He recorded his first point on April 4, 2019, in a 3–2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers. [8] On October 5, 2019, he was placed on injured reserve. [9]

In the 2021–22 season, while remaining on the Sharks roster, Middleton scored his first NHL goal in a 6–3 win against the Ottawa Senators on November 24, 2021. [10] He compiled career best marks of 3 goals and 9 points through 45 games. While in the midst of his first full NHL season he was traded by the Sharks, along with a 2022 fifth-round draft pick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Kaapo Kähkönen on March 21, 2022. [11]

As a pending free agent, Middleton opted to remain with the Wild in signing a three-year, $7.35 million extension on July 6, 2022. [12]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Finland/Latvia

On May 5, 2023, Middleton was named to Canada men's national ice hockey team at the 2023 IIHF World Championship where he recorded five assists in ten games and won a gold medal. [13]

Personal life

Jake was brought up in Stratford Ontario. Jake formerly played alongside his brother, Keaton Middleton, for the AHL's San Jose Barracuda between 2018 and 2020. [14] Keaton currently plays within the rival Colorado Avalanche organization. Jake was married in 2022 to his wife Natalie who is a nurse in Minneapolis. [15] The two have one daughter named Stevie, born in 2024. [16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2011–12 Stratford Cullitons GOJHL 40330
2012–13 Owen Sound Attack OHL 140117
2012–13 Ottawa 67's OHL1513418
2013–14 Ottawa 67'sOHL652212364
2014–15 Ottawa 67'sOHL64423276261124
2015–16 Ottawa 67'sOHL68724316850222
2015–16 Manchester Monarchs ECHL 2011050000
2016–17 San Jose Barracuda AHL 50189561304410
2017–18 San Jose BarracudaAHL67622288040110
2018–19 San Jose BarracudaAHL57514196740000
2018–19 San Jose Sharks NHL 30112
2019–20 San Jose BarracudaAHL3215652
2019–20 San Jose SharksNHL100229
2020–21 San Jose SharksNHL10002
2020–21 San Jose BarracudaAHL223471840220
2021–22 San Jose SharksNHL4536969
2021–22 Minnesota Wild NHL211451360112
2022–23 Minnesota WildNHL79312157260228
2023–24 Minnesota WildNHL807182577
2024–25 Minnesota WildNHL67813214060222
NHL totals3062256782841805512

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2013 Canada Ontario U17 6th511216
2023 Canada WC Gold medal icon.svg100554
Junior totals511216
Senior totals100554

Awards and honours

AwardYear
OHL
Second All-Rookie Team 2013
AHL
All-Star Game 2019

References

  1. "67's Trade Ceci and Janes to Owen Sound". ottawa67s.com. January 7, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  2. "Jake Middleton named captain of 67's". ottawa67s.com. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  3. "Middleton Signs ATO with Monarchs". ottawa67s.com. April 8, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Sharks Sign Defenseman Jacob Middleton". National Hockey League. September 7, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  5. "Sharks Reduce Training Camp Roster By 16 Players". National Hockey League. September 23, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  6. "Sharks Recall Defenseman Jacob Middleton". National Hockey League. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  7. Gilmore, Eric (January 6, 2019). "Lightning point streak ends at 16 in loss to Sharks". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  8. "Sharks' Jacob Middleton: Earns first NHL point". cbssports.com. April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  9. "Sharks Recall Defenseman Trevor Carrick". National Hockey League. October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  10. "Meier scores three points for Sharks in victory against Senators". National Hockey League. November 24, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  11. "Wild Acquire Jake Middleton from Sharks". National Hockey League. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  12. "Minnesota Wild D Jacob Middleton agrees to three-year contract extension". The Sports Network. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  13. "20 players named to Canada's National Men's Team for 2023 IIHF World Championship". Hockey Canada. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  14. "BARRACUDA SIGN DEFENSEMAN KEATON MIDDLETON". sjbarracuda.com. September 19, 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  15. Russo, Michael (December 27, 2022). "Inside Jake Middleton's blue-collar upbringing: 'They had nothing, but we had everything'". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  16. Myers, Jess (November 3, 2024). "Wild show they can take a punch and keep going". TwinCities.com. Retrieved March 22, 2025.