Cole Sillinger
Born (2003-05-16) May 16, 2003 (age 20)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team Columbus Blue Jackets
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 12th overall, 2021
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2021–present

Cole Sillinger (born May 16, 2003) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1] Sillinger was selected by the Blue Jackets 12th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Sillinger was selected 11th overall by the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.[2] He debuted and appeared in 4 games with the Tigers in 2018–19, tallying two assists. Sillinger was fourth among points for the Tigers in 2019–20, scoring 22 goals and 53 points in 48 appearances with the team.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the return of the Western Hockey League, the Tigers agreed to send Sillinger to the Sioux Falls Stampede in the United States Hockey League on a one-year loan agreement. During the 2020–21 season, Sillinger led the Stampede in points, garnering 24 goals and 46 points in 31 games played.[3] He earned 2021 USHL Rookie of the Year honors by a unanimous vote of league general managers for his performance and was elected to the first all-USHL rookie team and all-USHL third team.

Sillinger checking Matty Beniers of the Seattle Kraken in 2024.

The NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Sillinger as the 10th-best North American skater eligible ahead of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. On July 23, 2021, Sillinger was selected 12th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2021 draft.[4]

On March 13, 2022, Sillinger scored his first NHL career hat trick with the Blue Jackets against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Personal life

Cole Sillinger was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 16, 2003, the third son of Karla (née Dreger) Sillinger and former National Hockey League forward Mike Sillinger.[5] His father played professional hockey for the Columbus Blue Jackets at the time of his birth. The family briefly resided in Phoenix, Arizona, St. Louis, Missouri and Garden City, New York, as Mike's career led him on to play for the Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and New York Islanders, respectively. Sillinger grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan and represents Hockey Canada. He has two older brothers that play hockey. Owen Sillinger is a member of Columbus affiliate Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League and Lukas skates with Arizona State University.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2018–19 Regina Pat Canadians SMAAAHL 39 31 45 76 44 8 4 7 11 24
2018–19 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 4 0 2 2 0 6 1 0 1 0
2019–20 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 48 22 31 53 22 — — — — —
2020–21 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 31 24 22 46 39 — — — — —
2021–22 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 79 16 15 31 37 — — — — —
2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 64 3 8 11 22 — — — — —
2022–23 Cleveland Monsters AHL 11 2 4 6 12 — — — — —
NHL totals 143 19 23 42 59 — — — — —
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Finland

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 Canada White U17 4th 6 5 0 5 2
2022 Canada WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 10 3 0 3 8
Junior totals 6 5 0 5 2
Senior totals 10 3 0 3 8

References

  1. ^ "Cole Sillinger at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "TIGERS SELECT COLE SILLINGER WITH THE 11TH OVERALL PICK – Medicine Hat Tigers". Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sioux Falls Stampede at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "CBJ select Sioux Falls center Cole Sillinger with 12th overall pick". NHL.com. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Masters, Mark (July 22, 2021). "Mark Masters: 'Elite scorer' Cole Sillinger seeks family bragging rights at NHL draft - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved July 24, 2021.

External links

Awards and achievements Preceded byKent Johnson Columbus Blue Jackets first round draft pick 2021 Succeeded byCorson Ceulemans
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