Jaxon Nelson

Last updated
Jaxon Nelson
Jaxon Nelson IMG 6802.jpg
Nelson playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in February 2024
Born (2000-03-30) March 30, 2000 (age 24)
Magnolia, Minnesota, United States
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Boston Bruins
Providence Bruins  (AHL)
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2024–present

Jaxon Nelson (born March 30, 2000), is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team.

Contents

Playing career

Collegiate

Nelson committed to play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers starting in the 2019–20 season, in his freshman year of high school. [1] At the time of his commitment, Nelson was seen as one of the best high school prospects in Minnesota, even though he was only a freshman. [2]

As a freshmen, Nelson played in 33 games for the Golden Gophers. In those 33 games, he scored two goals and four assists for six total points. After helping Minnesota advance to the semifinals of the 2020 Big Ten Tournament over Notre Dame, Nelson and the Golden Gophers were set to play top seeded Penn State. However, their season would abruptly end after the Big Ten cancelled the tournament due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Later, the NCAA cancelled the rest of the season due to the pandemic as well.

Returning to action for the 2020–21 season, Nelson saw an uptick in his role and production with the Golden Gophers. In 31 games, Nelson scored five goals and ten assists for 15 points. He would then help the Golden Gophers win the 2021 Big Ten tournament, scoring a goal in the championship against the Wisconsin Badgers. [3] The tournament victory gave Minnesota an automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA tournament. After a decisive 7–2 victory over Omaha in the first round, Nelson and the Golden Gophers would get shutout 4–0 by the Minnesota State Mavericks in the following round, ending their season.

Nelson missed 13 games of his junior season due to injury. [4] However, despite this, he still posted solid numbers in his limited action, scoring six goals and four assists. He would once again help the Golden Gophers reach the finals 2022 Big Ten tournament, but the ending wasn't happy this time, as they fell 4–3 to the Michigan Wolverines. They would still secure an at-large bid to the 2022 NCAA tournament, and they would make the most of it. After defeating the defending champion UMass in the first round, a game in which Nelson would assist on the game-winning overtime winner, they then proceeded to shutout Western Michigan to proceed to the Frozen Four. [5] [6] Unfortunately, the Mavericks would once again end the Golden Gophers season, defeating them 5–1. [7]

Nelson was named a captain of the Golden Gophers for his senior year. [8] As a senior, he posted career highs in all categories, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 40 games. Nelson once again led his team to the final round of the 2023 Big Ten tournament, Minnesota's third straight appearance in the finals. However, for the second consecutive season, the Golden Gophers would lose out on the Big Ten Championship to the Wolverines, losing 4–3. Despite this, the Golden Gophers once again made a deep run in the 2023 NCAA tournament, making it all the way to the championship round. They would dominate Canisius in the first round, beating them 9–2, then beat in-state rival St. Cloud State 4–1 before another dominating 6–2 win over Boston University in the Frozen Four to reach the final. In the final against Quinnipiac, Minnesota could not hold an early 2–0 lead and would fall 3–2 in overtime. In the run, Nelson had a point in every game in the tournament, with two goals and three assists, including a goal in the championship round.

Nelson announced that he would return to the Golden Gophers for a fifth and final season. [9] Nelson was once again named a captain of the team for the 2023–24 season. [10] Nelson would continue his statistical success with the Golden Gophers, scoring a career high 19 goals, and adding 12 assists for 31 total points in 39 games. However, déjà vu struck the Golden Gophers once again, as they would be eliminated by none other than the Wolverines in the semifinals of the 2024 Big Ten tournament, the third straight year such had happened. However, they would receive an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA tournament for a third straight year as well, although this time, there wouldn't be a long run like the previous year. After a close 3–2 victory over Omaha which saw Nelson score two goals, including the game-tying and game-winning goals in the third period, Boston University would get their revenge on Nelson and the Golden Gophers in the following round, beating them 6-3 and ending their season. Nelson scored one goal in the loss, which would be his final collegiate game. Nelson's successful season had him named the recipient of the John Maruicci Award on April 30, 2024, given to the Golden Gopher's most valuable player. [11]

Professional

On April 2, 2024, just three days after his collegiate career had ending, it was announced that Nelson had signed a one-year, $870,000 entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins. He would report to the Bruins AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on a amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. [12]

Nelson played in seven games with Providence in the 2023-24 season. He would score his first professional goal on April 14, 2024, against the Springfield Thunderbirds. It would be his only point of the season. The Bruins would face the Hartford Wolf Pack in the opening round of the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs, but would be eliminated in four games, in which Nelson did not register a point.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 547111812—————
2017–18 Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL58891817—————
2018–19 Omaha Lancers USHL5219214041—————
2019–20 University of Minnesota B1G 332462—————
2020–21 University of MinnesotaB1G315101534—————
2021–22 University of MinnesotaB1G26641017—————
2022–23 University of MinnesotaB1G4010172710—————
2023–24 University of MinnesotaB1G391912316—————
2023–24 Providence Bruins AHL 7101240002
AHL totals7101240002

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Ballard</span> American ice hockey player (born 1982)

Keith Galen Ballard is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who previously played in the National Hockey League with the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild. He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) for three seasons. After his freshman year, he was selected 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Before he made his NHL debut, he was traded twice – initially to the Colorado Avalanche, then to the Phoenix Coyotes. He played his professional rookie season in 2004–05 with the Coyotes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utah Grizzlies, then debuted with Phoenix the following season. After three years, he was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he spent two seasons before being dealt to Vancouver at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Wheeler</span> American ice hockey player (born 1986)

Blake James Wheeler is an American professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round, fifth overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. After failing to come to terms on a contract with the Coyotes, he signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Leddy</span> American ice hockey player (born 1991)

Nicholas Michael Leddy is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the first round, 16th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey</span> College ice hockey team

The Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey team plays for the University of Minnesota at the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. The team is one of the members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Division I. The Golden Gophers have won six NCAA Championships as well as the final American Women's College Hockey Alliance Championship. In the WCHA, they have also been regular season champions 11 times and tournament champions 8 times. In addition to their overall success as a competitive team, the Gophers have also been ranked in the nation's top two teams for attendance since becoming a varsity sport, and the team holds the second largest single-game attendance record for women's collegiate hockey, drawing 6,854 fans for the first Minnesota women's hockey game on November 2, 1997. The team also holds the distinction of having the longest winning streak in women's or men's college hockey at 62 games from February 17, 2012 to November 17, 2013, winning back-to-back NCAA titles during the stretch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1947–48 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season</span> Sport season

The 1947–48 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team represented the University of Michigan in college ice hockey. In its fourth year under head coach Vic Heyliger, the team compiled a 20–2–1 record, outscored its opponents 141 to 63, and won the first 1948 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament held in March 1948 at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952–53 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey season</span> Sports season

The 1952–53 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team represented the University of Michigan in college ice hockey. In its ninth year under head coach Vic Heyliger, the team compiled a 17–7–0 record, outscored opponents 139 to 71, and won the 1953 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The season was the third consecutive, and the fourth overall under Vic Heyliger, in which the Michigan hockey team won the NCAA championship. The team also finished the regular season in at tie with Minnesota as the co-champion of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Reilly (ice hockey)</span> American ice hockey player (born 1993)

Michael J. Reilly Jr. is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fourth round, 98th overall, by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and has previously played for the Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karson Kuhlman</span> American ice hockey player (born 1995)

Karson Kuhlman is an American professional ice hockey center currently playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL).

The 1965–66 Michigan State Spartans men's ice hockey team represented Michigan State University in college ice hockey. In its 15th year under head coach Amo Bessone the team compiled a 16–13–0 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the second time in its history. The Spartans defeated Clarkson 6–1 in the championship game at the Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As of 2018, the 1965–66 Michigan State team has the worst record of any national champion for Division I ice hockey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1973–74 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 1973–74 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season was the 53rd season of play for the program, the 16th in the Big Ten and 15th in the WCHA. The Golden Gophers represented the University of Minnesota and were coached by Herb Brooks in his 2nd season. The Golden Gophers defeated Michigan Tech 4–2 in the NCAA championship game to win the program's first national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Beecher (ice hockey)</span> American ice hockey player (born 2001)

John Beecher is an American ice hockey forward for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 30th overall by the Bruins in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He played college ice hockey for the Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team from 2019 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1975–76 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 1975–76 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Minnesota in college ice hockey. In its 4th year under head coach Herb Brooks the team compiled a 28–14–2 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year and seventh all-time. The Golden Gophers defeated Michigan Tech 6–4 in the championship game at the DU Arena in Denver, Colorado to win their second national championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 2020–21 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season was the 100th season of play for the program. They represented the University of Minnesota in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. This season marked the 31st season in the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by Bob Motzko, in his third season, and played their home games at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 2021–22 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season was the 101st season of play for the program. They represented the University of Minnesota in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. This season marked the 32nd season in the Big Ten Conference. They were coached by Bob Motzko, in his fourth season, and played their home games at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001–02 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 2001–02 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season was the 81st season of play for the program. They represent the University of Minnesota in the 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season and for the 43rd season in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The Golden Gophers were coached by Don Lucia, in his 3rd season, and played their home games at the Mariucci Arena.

Benjamin Meyers is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey at the University of Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 2022–23 Quinnipiac Bobcats Men's ice hockey season was the 47th season of play for the program, the 25th at the Division I level and 18th in ECAC Hockey. The Bobcats represented Quinnipiac University in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, were coached by Rand Pecknold in his 29th season, and played their home games at the M&T Bank Arena. The team won the 2023 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament for the first national championship in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 2022–23 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season was the 102nd season of play for the program and 33rd in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers represented the University of Minnesota in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, were coached by Bob Motzko in his fifth season, and played their home games at 3M Arena at Mariucci

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Bussi</span> American ice hockey player (born 1993)

Brandon Bussi is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played college ice hockey for Western Michigan University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 2023–24 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season was the 103rd season of play for the program and 34th in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers represented the University of Minnesota in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at 3M Arena at Mariucci and were coached by Bob Motzko in his 6th season.

References

  1. ↑ Wells, Nathan (April 16, 2015). "Jaxon Nelson commits to Minnesota". SB Nation College Hockey.
  2. ↑ Scott, Tony (April 16, 2015). "Jaxon Nelson commits to the U". Youth Hockey Hub.
  3. ↑ "Gophers Take Down Badgers, Win B1G Tournament Championship". University of Minnesota Athletics.
  4. ↑ "Jaxon Nelson - Men's Hockey". University of Minnesota Athletics.
  5. ↑ "Box Score - College Hockey, Inc". collegehockeyinc.com.
  6. ↑ "Box Score - College Hockey, Inc". collegehockeyinc.com.
  7. ↑ "Box Score - College Hockey, Inc". collegehockeyinc.com.
  8. ↑ Karwowski, Alex. "Faber, LaCombe, Nelson named 2022-23 hockey captains".
  9. ↑ Heckmann, Aaron (May 20, 2023). "What Logan Cooley's — and fifth years — return means for Gophers". The Daily Gopher.
  10. ↑ "Gophers Name Men's Hockey Captains for 2023-24". University of Minnesota Athletics.
  11. ↑ Myers, Jess (April 30, 2024). "Jaxon Nelson takes top honors among Gophers' team award winners". The Rink Live. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Bruins Sign Jaxon Nelson to One-Year Entry-Level Contract | Boston Bruins". www.nhl.com. April 2, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.