Neal Pionk | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | July 29, 1995||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
Weight | 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb) | ||
Position | Defense | ||
Shoots | Right | ||
NHL team Former teams | Winnipeg Jets New York Rangers | ||
National team | United States | ||
NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
Playing career | 2017–present |
Neal Robert Pionk [1] (born July 29, 1995) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). An undrafted player, Pionk was signed by the New York Rangers as a college free agent from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2017.
Pionk was born on July 29, 1995, in Omaha, Nebraska, [2] to parents Karen and Scott Pionk. [3] His father played baseball for Proctor High School and the University of Wisconsin–Superior before coaching ice hockey at the youth level and for the United States Hockey League (USHL). [4] Pionk was raised in Hermantown, Minnesota, a suburb of Duluth, where his father built a baseball diamond and an ice hockey rink for Pionk and his friends to practice. [5] All five Pionk brothers played baseball and ice hockey as children, and after school they would play two-on-two hockey in this backyard ice rink. [6] In his adolescence, Pionk played with future National Hockey League (NHL) player Dylan Samberg on youth teams and for Hermantown High School. [7] Pionk and his brothers also created an annual pick-up hockey tradition with fellow brothers Travis and Cole Koepke. They referred to this annual tournament as the Holiday Cup. [8] In his final season for Hermantown, Pionk scored 14 goals and 29 points in 25 games. [9]
The Sioux City Musketeers selected Pionk in the fifth round, 66th overall, of the 2012 USHL Draft. [10] Immediately after taking Hermantown to a state championship title in 2013, Pionk left the school to begin his junior ice hockey career in Sioux City. [11] [12] He played 12 games for the Musketeers during their 2012–13 season, recording one goal and six points in the process. [9] The next season, he recorded two goals and 23 points in 54 regular season games for the Musketeers. [12] Sioux City advanced to the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 USHL championships, where they were swept by the Waterloo Black Hawks. [13] Overlooked in the 2014 NHL Draft, Pionk served as captain of the Musketeers for the 2014–15 season. [14] With seven goals and 41 assists in 53 regular season games, Pionk led all USHL defensemen in scoring, and he was named the USHL Defenseman of the Year at the end of the season. [10] The Musketeers were eliminated by the Sioux Falls Stampede in a five-game Western Conference Semifinal series that postseason. [15] In 119 career games for Sioux City, Pionk recorded 10 goals, 77 points, a +44 plus–minus rating, and 199 penalty minutes. [16]
Pionk committed to play college ice hockey for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 2012, [4] and he signed a National Letter of Intent in 2014 to join Duluth for their 2015–16 season. [12] On October 24, 2015, Pionk scored the first goal of his collegiate career, the game-tying point in a 3–3 overtime draw against Notre Dame. [17] After recording two points, two blocked shots, and a +2 rating in the two-game Notre Dame series, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) named Pionk their Defensive Player of the Week. [18] Pionk received weekly honors again on March 7 after generating a team-high three points and four blocked shots in a two-game sweep of Miami University. [19] Appearing in all 40 games for Duluth during his freshman season, Pionk recorded four goals and 17 points, and the Bulldogs named him the Jerry Chumola Rookie of the Year. [20] At the end of the 2015–16 season, all Duluth freshmen, including Pionk, were named to the NCHC All-Academic Team. [21]
After recording a goal and an assist in a two-game series against the UMass Lowell River Hawks, Pionk began the 2016–17 season as the NCHC Defenseman of the Week for the week ending October 10. [22] He received the award again on December 12 after recording three points, six blocked shots, and a +2 rating against the Denver Pioneers. [23] His third weekly honor of the season came on February 6, 2017, after a three-point weekend against Omaha. [24] With seven goals and 28 points in the regular 2016–17 season, Pionk was named to both the All-NCHC Second Team and the All-USCHO Third Team as a sophomore. [25] [26] In the postseason, Pionk and the Bulldogs defeated the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 4–3 to capture the 2017 NCHC Tournament championship, their first conference championship since 2009. [27] Pionk was one of four Duluth players named to the Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team that year. [28] The Bulldogs then advanced to the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, where they fell 3–2 to Denver in the national championship. [29] Pionk added another six points in eight postseason games, and he was named to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey All-Tournament Team. [30]
After Duluth's loss to Denver in the NCAA tournament finals, Pionk announced that he would forfeit his final two seasons of college hockey eligibility in order to begin a professional career. [31] He finished his career in Duluth with 11 goals, 51 points, and a +35 rating in 82 games. [30]
On May 1, 2017, Pionk signed a two-year, $3.55 million contract with the New York Rangers of the NHL. [16] [32] After attending training camp with New York, Pionk was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) to begin the 2017–18 season. [33] He made his professional hockey debut on October 6, 2017, against the Charlotte Checkers, and recorded his first point two days later against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. After recording one goal and 17 points in 48 games, Pionk was promoted to the Rangers on February 8, 2018. [34] He made his NHL debut the next night, blocking three shots in a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. [35] Pionk scored his first NHL goal on March 24 against the Buffalo Sabres, the culmination of a stretch of 13 points in 12 games. [36] Despite playing on a team that struggled defensively throughout the 2017–18 season, Pionk finished his rookie year with 14 points in 28 games, and he received frequent playing time down the final stretch of the season. [37]
Pionk joined the Rangers full-time during the 2018–19 season. He recorded six goals and 26 points in 73 games, leading all Rangers' defencemen with 13 power play points.
On June 17, 2019, Pionk and a 2019 first-round pick were traded to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Jacob Trouba. The first-round pick originally belonged to the Jets. [38] On July 21, the Jets signed Pionk to a two-year, $6 million contract extension. [39]
On August 11, 2021, Pionk signed a four-year, $23.5 million contract with the Jets. [40]
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing United States | ||
Men's ice hockey | ||
World Championships | ||
2018 Denmark |
As a citizen of the United States, Pionk has represented his home country at both the junior and senior levels. He first represented Team USA at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge where he helped them earn a gold medal and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team. [41] Following this, Pionk never represented Team USA again until 2018, when he along with teammate Chris Kreider, were the only Rangers players selected to represent the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. [42] During the tournament, Pionk recorded three points through 10 games to win a bronze medal. [43]
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
2011–12 | Hermantown High School | HSMN | 25 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
2012–13 | Hermantown High School | HSMN | 25 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 25 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | ||
2012–13 | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | 54 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 93 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
2014–15 | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | 53 | 7 | 41 | 48 | 104 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
2015–16 | University of Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | 40 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2016–17 | University of Minnesota Duluth | NCHC | 42 | 7 | 27 | 34 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2017–18 | Hartford Wolf Pack | AHL | 48 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2017–18 | New York Rangers | NHL | 28 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2018–19 | New York Rangers | NHL | 73 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2019–20 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 71 | 6 | 39 | 45 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
2020–21 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 54 | 3 | 29 | 32 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | ||
2021–22 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 77 | 3 | 31 | 34 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2022–23 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 82 | 10 | 23 | 33 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | ||
2023–24 | Winnipeg Jets | NHL | 82 | 5 | 28 | 33 | 63 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
NHL totals | 467 | 34 | 183 | 217 | 252 | 22 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 6 |
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | United States | WC | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
Senior totals | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
USHL | ||
First All-Star Team | 2015 | [44] |
Defenseman of the Year | 2015 | |
College | ||
NCHC All-Tournament Team | 2017 | [45] |
NCAA All-Tournament Team | 2017 | [46] |
NCHC Second All-Star Team | 2017 |
The Sioux City Musketeers are a junior ice hockey team based in Sioux City, Iowa. The Musketeers play their home games at Tyson Events Center, and are members of the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The team was founded in 1972, and has won three Anderson Cups as the regular season champion, and four Clark Cups as the playoffs champion of the USHL.
Matthew Norman Niskanen is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers from 2007 to 2020.
The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey team is an NCAA Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The team plays home games at the 6,800-seat AMSOIL Arena at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
The 2017 NCHC Tournament was the fourth tournament in league history. It was played between March 10 and March 18, 2017. Quarterfinal games were played at home team campus sites, while the final four games were played at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. By winning the tournament, Minnesota-Duluth received the NCHC's automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
Ryan Poehling is an American professional ice hockey center for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 25th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Poehling has also previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Alexander Iafallo is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Los Angeles Kings.
Dominic Toninato is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 126th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Andrew Philip Welinski is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round, 83rd overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Karson Kuhlman is an American professional ice hockey center for Lukko of the Liiga. He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, Seattle Kraken and Winnipeg Jets.
Scott Douglas Perunovich is an American professional ice hockey defenceman for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Blues in the second round, 45th overall, in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Adam Robert Johnson was an American professional ice hockey forward. He played 13 games in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons. He also played in Europe with the Malmö Redhawks, Augsburger Panther, and Nottingham Panthers. Johnson was killed in an accident after having his neck cut by another player's skate blade in an on-ice collision, causing him to bleed out.
Jack Anthony Ahcan is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Cole Tyler Koepke is an American professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). As a member of the Sioux City Musketeers, Koepke was drafted 183rd overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He then played three seasons with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey team before joining the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Dylan Michael Samberg is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Bobby Orr Brink is an American professional ice hockey right wing for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 34th overall by the Flyers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He played college ice hockey for the University of Denver.
Michael Eyssimont is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the fifth round, 142nd overall, by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Wyatt Kaiser is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kaiser was drafted 81st overall by the Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Nick Swaney is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected 209th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
The 2023–24 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey season was the 80th season of play for the program and 11th in the NCHC. The Bulldogs represented the University of Minnesota Duluth in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at AMSOIL Arena and were coached by Scott Sandelin in his 24th season.
Shai Buium is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey at the University of Denver.