Tucker Poolman
Poolman with the Winnipeg Jets in 2020
Born (1993-06-08) June 8, 1993 (age 30)
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		 Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets
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 playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Early career

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 and United States Hockey League before being accepted onto the Wichita Falls Wildcats.[1] In 2012, he committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of North Dakota, his fathers alma mater.[2] After playing with the Wildcats for one year, he was drafted by the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League.[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

Poolman played for the University of North Dakota 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 in a 3–1 win over Colorado College.[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] At the conclusion of 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

Poolman has drawn comparisons with Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien for his physical play, and ability to play both as a forward and as a defensemen.[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] Poolman made his NHL debut for the Winnipeg Jets on October 9, 2017, in a 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers.[15] He recorded his first career NHL goal on December 23, 2017, against the New York Islanders.[16] 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.[17]

As a free agent following four seasons within the Jets organization, Poolman was signed to a four-year, $10 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 28, 2021.[18]

Personal life

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.[19] His younger brother Colton also played for the University of North Dakota's Fighting Hawks and is currently signed with the Calgary Flames.[20] Poolman is a practising Christian and previously gathered with former teammates Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, and Adam Lowry to pray and talk.[21]

Career statistics

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

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 [22]

References

  1. ^ Mark Spector (September 10, 2017). "Tucker Poolman: From NAHL tryouts to the Winnipeg Jets". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "Former East Grand Forks hockey star commits to UND". inforum.com. November 1, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Ken Wiebe (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". fightinghawks.com. 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". fightinghawks.com. October 18, 2014. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "TUCKER POOLMAN". fightinghawks.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Poolman, Hrynkiw capture individual NCHC honors". fightinghawks.com. March 16, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Poolman nabs league honors after 5-point weekend". fightinghawks.com. March 6, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  12. ^ "Men's hockey unveils 2016-17 team award recipients". fightinghawks.com. 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. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Compton, Brian (December 23, 2017). "Barzal hat trick powers Islanders past Jets". nhl.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  17. ^ "Jets recall Tucker Poolman". nhl.com. January 24, 2018. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  18. ^ "Canucks sign defenceman Tucker Poolman". Vancouver Canucks. July 28, 2021. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "The Poolman Brothers-- Together Again". 740thefan.com. November 17, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
  21. ^ Seravalli, Frank (May 11, 2019). "Canes' Slavin 'walks the walk' as man of faith in NHL". tsn.ca. The Sports Network. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  22. ^ "Bulldogs capture 2017 Frozen Faceoff for first NCHC title". NCHC. March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.[permanent dead link]

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Award Created
 NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year
2016–17 		Succeeded by
Categories