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Tucker Poolman

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Tucker Poolman
Poolman with the Winnipeg Jets in 2020
Born (1993-06-08) June 8, 1993 (age 31)
Dubuque, Iowa, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Colorado Avalanche
Winnipeg Jets
Vancouver Canucks
NHL draft 127th overall, 2013
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 2017–present

Tucker Poolman (born June 8, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently under contract for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.

Playing career

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Early career

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Born in Iowa, Poolman grew up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota where he played for the local high school hockey team. After going undrafted in the NHL entry draft, Poolman tried out for three teams in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and United States Hockey League (USHL) before being accepted onto the NAHL's Wichita Falls Wildcats.[1] In 2012, he committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of North Dakota, his father's alma mater.[2] After playing with the Wildcats for one year, he was drafted by the Omaha Lancers in the USHL.[3] In his first season on the team, Poolman was named to the 2013–14 USHL First All-Star Team,[4] and was presented with the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award, as the most outstanding American-born player in junior hockey.[5]

Collegiate

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Poolman played for the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for three seasons, leaving with a degree in economics by taking summer school classes.[6] In his freshman season with the Fighting Hawks, Poolman was selected for the 2014–15 Academic All-Conference Team after earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher.[7] He recorded his first collegiate goal on October 18, 2014 in a 3–1 win over the Colorado College Tigers.[8] He ended the 2014–15 season one power play goal away from tying North Dakota's single-season record for a freshman defenseman.[9]

In his sophomore season, Poolman recorded a career-high 24 points and 19 assists, which ranked fifth among NCHC defensemen. As a result, he was named to the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team.[9] In his last year on the team, Poolman recorded a breakout season with a career-high 30 points. He became the first defenseman from North Dakota to reach 30 points since 2010–11.[10] During the week of March 6, he was named National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Defenseman of the Week after recording a conference-leading five points.[11] After the season, Poolman was the recipient of multiple awards including AHCA/CCM All-America West First Team, All-NCHC First Team, and the inaugural NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year Award.[12]

Professional

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Poolman was selected by the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the fifth round, 127th overall, of the 2013 NHL entry draft. Poolman drew comparisons with former Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien for his physical play, and ability to play both as a forward and as a defenseman.[13] Having completed his junior season with the Fighting Hawks, Poolman ended his collegiate career in agreeing to a one-year, entry-level contract on March 31, 2017.[14] However, he underwent reconstructive surgery on both of his shoulders and missed the rest of the rest of the season.[15] He began the 2017–18 season with Winnipeg and made his NHL debut on October 9, 2017, in a 5–2 win against the Edmonton Oilers.[16] He recorded his first career NHL goal on December 23, against the New York Islanders.[17] He was reassigned to the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, until January 24, 2018, when he was recalled to replace an injured Shawn Matthias.[18] He finished the season playing in 24 games with Winnipeg, registering one goal and two points and 17 games with Manitoba, scoring one goal and ten points.[19] He made his NHL playoff debut during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs when he replaced the injured Tyler Myers on April 17, 2018 in Game 4 of the first round series versus the Minnesota Wild.[20] He played in one more playoff game that year, going scoreless.[19]

For the 2018–19 season, Poolman was assigned to the Manitoba Moose.[21] In a November 23 game against the Iowa Wild, Poolman suffered a concussion in a collision and missed 17 games.[15] Upon his return, he was used in all situations, appearing in 43 games with Manitoba, recording five goals and 25 points.[19][15] Poolman graduated to the NHL on a permanent basis in the 2019–20 season. He appeared in 57 games with Winnipeg, scoring four goals and 16 points, skating on the third defense pairing with Nathan Beaulieu.[19][22] He suffered a leg injury in January 2020, missing some time before returning in February.[23][24] However, the NHL suspended the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, 2020.[25] In the pandemic-delayed 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Jets faced the Calgary Flames in the qualifying round and Poolman took a puck to the face in Game 3.[26] He missed no time,[26] but the Jets were eliminated in four games.[27] In four playoff games, he went scoreless.[19]

In the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, Poolman was again a member of the Jets blueline. However, after the Jets' season opener, Poolman was diagnosed with COVID-19 in January and returned to the lineup in February.[28] However, later that month, he suffered a lower body injury on February 21.[29] He appeared in 39 games, registering just one assist.[19] The Jets made the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs and Poolman scored his first playoff goal on May 19, 2021 against the Edmonton Oilers in their first round series.[30] In eight playoff games, he registered one goal and two points as the Jets were eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.[19][31]

As an unrestricted free agent following four seasons within the Jets organization, Poolman was signed to a four-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 28, 2021.[32] He made his Canucks debut on opening night for the 2021–22 season on October 13 paired with Quinn Hughes in a 3–2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.[33][34] He registered his first point with Vancouver on October 21 assisting on Conor Garland's third period goal in a 4–1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.[35] He scored his first goal with Vancouver on November 17, adding an assist as well, in a 4–2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.[36] On January 27, 2022, he left a game feeling unwell and missed 26 games with headaches and migraines.[37] He returned in April playing with Travis Dermott and did not finish his first game back in the lineup, leaving the game in the first period, suffering from the same symptoms.[38] He finished the season appearing in 40 games, scoring one goal and three points.[19] In the offseason he trained to get back in game shape[39] and played in three games, notching one point, in the 2022–23 season.[19] However, he left the second game on October 15 versus the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period.[40] He played one more game on October 18 and has not played since due to migraine and concussion-related complications,[41] and was placed on injured reserve.[42]

Poolman was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on October 6, 2024 along with a 2025 fourth-round draft pick for defenseman Erik Brännström.[43]

Personal life

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Poolman was born to parents Mark and LeAnne. His father Mark was a hockey trainer for the Dubuque Fighting Saints and the University of North Dakota.[44] His younger brother Colton also played for the University of North Dakota's Fighting Hawks and is currently signed with the Calgary Flames.[45] Poolman is a practising Christian and previously gathered with former teammates Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, and Adam Lowry to pray and talk.[46]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 East Grand Forks High HSMN 25 3 4 7 2 — — — — —
2009–10 East Grand Forks High HSMN 25 3 7 10 10 2 0 2 2 0
2010–11 East Grand Forks High HSMN 23 5 17 22 13 2 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Wichita Falls Wildcats NAHL 59 7 22 29 29 — — — — —
2012–13 Omaha Lancers USHL 64 14 14 28 49 — — — — —
2013–14 Omaha Lancers USHL 58 15 26 41 23 4 1 3 4 4
2014–15 University of North Dakota NCHC 40 8 10 18 16 — — — — —
2015–16 University of North Dakota NCHC 40 5 19 24 4 — — — — —
2016–17 University of North Dakota NCHC 38 7 23 30 14 — — — — —
2017–18 Winnipeg Jets NHL 24 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Manitoba Moose AHL 17 1 9 10 4 — — — — —
2018–19 Manitoba Moose AHL 43 5 20 25 10 — — — — —
2019–20 Winnipeg Jets NHL 57 4 12 16 24 4 0 0 0 2
2020–21 Winnipeg Jets NHL 39 0 1 1 2 8 1 1 2 0
2021–22 Vancouver Canucks NHL 40 1 2 3 12 — — — — —
2022–23 Vancouver Canucks NHL 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 163 6 17 23 38 14 1 1 2 2

Awards and honours

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Award Year
USHL
First All-Star Team 2014 [4]
All-Star Game 2014
Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award 2014 [5]
College
NCHC First All-Star Team 2016–17
NCHC Best Defensive Defenseman 2016–17
West First All-American Team 2016–17
NCHC All-Tournament Team 2017 [47]

References

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  1. ^ Spector, Mark (September 10, 2017). "Tucker Poolman: From NAHL tryouts to the Winnipeg Jets". Sportsnet. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "Former East Grand Forks hockey star commits to UND". inforum.com. November 1, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Wiebe, Ken (October 12, 2017). "Poolman takes long road to NHL". Winnipeg Sun. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Kyle Connor, Matt Iacopelli named to USHL first team list". mihockeynow.com. May 1, 2014. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Jets prospect Poolman earns prestigious award". Winnipeg Free Press. May 23, 2014. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  6. ^ Schlossman, Brad Elliott (May 12, 2017). "All-American Tucker Poolman earns UND degree in three years". Grand Forks Herald. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "Quartet of freshmen earn academic All-NCHC honors". University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. June 24, 2015. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  8. ^ "MacMillan's big night lifts UND to series sweep". University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. October 18, 2014. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Tucker Poolman". University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Poolman, Hrynkiw capture individual NCHC honors". University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. March 16, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Poolman nabs league honors after 5-point weekend". University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. March 6, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Men's hockey unveils 2016-17 team award recipients". University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. May 9, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "Can Poolman be another Buff?". Winnipeg Free Press. March 4, 2015. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  14. ^ "Jets sign Tucker Poolman". Winnipeg Jets. March 31, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Sawatzky, Mike (February 15, 2019). "Poolman making waves after injury". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Wiebe, Ken (October 10, 2017). "Poolman makes NHL debut for Jets". Winnipeg Sun. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Compton, Brian (December 23, 2017). "Barzal hat trick powers Islanders past Jets". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  18. ^ "Jets recall Tucker Poolman". Winnipeg Jets. January 24, 2018. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2020 – via NHL.com.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tucker Poolman". hockeydb.com. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  20. ^ Kives, Bartley (April 17, 2018). "Defenceman Tucker Poolman may play for Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night vs. Minnesota". CBC News. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "Jets Assign Pair of Defenders to Moose". Manitoba Moose. October 2, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Bell, Jason (July 23, 2020). "Jets D-man Poolman used to empty seats". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  23. ^ Hobson, Russ (January 13, 2020). "Winnipeg Jets defenceman Tucker Poolman 'out for the homestand,' Bryan Little still progressing". Global News. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  24. ^ "Jets' Tucker Poolman: Could return soon". CBS Sports. February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  25. ^ Young, Jabari (March 12, 2020). "NHL suspends season due to coronavirus". CNBC. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Jets' Poolman returns with cage after taking puck to head". Sportsnet. August 4, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  27. ^ Wiebe, Ken (August 7, 2020). "Jets' adversity-filled year ends with 'complete emptiness' after elimination". Sportsnet. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  28. ^ "Jets player Tucker Poolman back on the ice after COVID-19 recovery". CBC News. February 7, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  29. ^ "Jets place Tucker Poolman on injured reserve, recall Logan Stanley". Sportsnet. February 27, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  30. ^ Van Diest, Derek (May 20, 2021). "Jets get timely goals from role players in Game 1 win against Oilers". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  31. ^ Campbell, Tim (June 8, 2021). "Jets lose second round, Scheifele suspension among reasons". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  32. ^ "Canucks sign defenceman Tucker Poolman". Vancouver Canucks. July 28, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2021 – via NHL.com.
  33. ^ Tychkowski, Rich (October 13, 2021). "Game Day: Oilers and Canucks? Let's get it on". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  34. ^ "Turris scores shootout winner, Oilers beat Canucks 3-2". ESPN. Associated Press. October 14, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  35. ^ Miles, Bruce (October 22, 2021). "Demko makes 29 saves, Canucks deny Blackhawks first win". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  36. ^ Woodley, Kevin (November 18, 2021). "Avalanche use power play to hand Canucks fifth loss in row". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  37. ^ Kuzma, Ben (June 22, 2022). "Canucks Under the Microscope: Tucker Poolman". The Province. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  38. ^ Kuzma, Ben (April 4, 2022). "Canucks' Tucker Poolman thrown another curve by migraines". The Province. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  39. ^ Kuzma, Ben (August 18, 2022). "Canucks' Tucker Poolman 'training, skating' as migraines still a concern". The Province. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  40. ^ Johnston, Patrick (October 15, 2022). "Canucks' Tucker Poolman leaves game with undisclosed injury". The Province. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  41. ^ "Canucks' Tucker Poolman to miss 2024-25 season". Daily Faceoff. September 18, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  42. ^ "Canucks place D Poolman on injured reserve". TSN. October 24, 2022. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  43. ^ "Brannstrom traded to Canucks by Avalanche for Poolman, 4th-round pick in 2025 Draft". National Hockey League. October 6, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  44. ^ Beideck, Steve (January 26, 2014). "Lancers' Poolman was raised in the rink". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  45. ^ "The Poolman Brothers-- Together Again". 740thefan.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  46. ^ Seravalli, Frank (May 11, 2019). "Canes' Slavin 'walks the walk' as man of faith in NHL". TSN. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  47. ^ "Bulldogs capture 2017 Frozen Faceoff for first NCHC title". NCHC. March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Award created
 NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year
2016–17 		Succeeded by
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