Jason Zucker
Jason Zucker | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() Zucker with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2020 | |||
Born |
Newport Beach, California, U.S. | January 16, 1992||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb) | ||
Position | Left wing | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
NHL team Former teams |
Pittsburgh Penguins Minnesota Wild | ||
NHL Draft |
59th overall, 2010 Minnesota Wild | ||
Playing career | 2012–present |
Jason Alan Zucker[1] (born January 16, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).[2][3]
Zucker played in the 2010 World Juniors for Team USA, winning a gold medal. He was also a member of Team USA's bronze medal-winning team at the 2011 World Juniors. Playing for the University of Denver in 2010–11, he was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Year. He was drafted in the second round (59th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild.
Early life[]
Zucker was born in Newport Beach, California, and is Jewish.[4][5] His mother, Natalie Zucker, is a former competitive figure skater, and his father, Scott Zucker, is a general contractor who built ice rinks and roller rinks when Jason was young.[6] He has two older brothers, Evan and Adam, and a younger sister, Kimmie, and brother, Cameron.[7][8]
When he was two months old, Zucker and his family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.[9] As a youth, he played in the 2004 and 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Los Angeles.[10] He moved to Plymouth, Michigan, when he was 15 so he could play with the Compuware AAA Minor Midget Team, and finally to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for two years.[11]
Zucker attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[12]
Zucker has multiple tattoos: on his back, "USA" (a nod to his playing for the national team); on his chest, "Game Time" (in memory of his best friend, Nick Scheafer, who died in 2010 at the age of 19 in a car accident); and on his left arm, written in Hebrew, "In pursuit of perfection" (in honor of his Jewish heritage). In 2016, he got a young cancer patient's name, who he met at Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night, tattooed onto his wrist, along with the words "shoot more" in memory of the boy who died on July 2, 2016.[13]
Playing career[]
Early career[]
Zucker played in the 2009 World Juniors and 2010 World Juniors for Team USA, and won a gold medal in 2010.[14] He was also a member of Team USA's bronze medal-winning team at the 2011 World Juniors.[15]
Playing for the University of Denver in 2010–11, he was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Rookie of the Year, and was also named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team and 2nd All-Star Team.[16] In his two seasons playing for Denver, he had 45 goals and 91 points in 78 games. He turned pro following the 2011–12 season.[citation needed]
Professional career[]
Minnesota Wild[]
Zucker was drafted in the second round (59th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was the first Nevada-raised draft pick (and, subsequently, player) in NHL history.[17] Zucker signed his entry-level contract with the Wild on March 27, 2012. He made his NHL debut in a victory against the Florida Panthers on March 29, 2012. He scored his first NHL goal against Petr Mrazek on February 17, 2013, in a Wild win over the Detroit Red Wings.[18]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Zucker_%288442884581%29.jpg/220px-Zucker_%288442884581%29.jpg)
The lockout-shortened 2012–13 NHL season saw Zucker split time between the Minnesota Wild and the Houston Aeros. He appeared in 20 regular season games with Minnesota, and played mostly on the team's second line alongside Matt Cullen and Devin Setoguchi.[citation needed]
On May 5, 2013, Zucker scored at 2:15 of the extra period to give the Wild a 3–2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, to pull within 2–1 in the Western Conference quarterfinal series.[citation needed]
On March 26, 2014, Zucker underwent successful surgery on his left quadriceps to repair a tendon. He missed the remainder of the 2013–14 season, but was ready for the start of the 2014–15 campaign.[19]
In 2014–15 he scored 21 goals in 51 games, and was tenth in the NHL with a 16.9% shooting percentage. On October 25, 2015, he set a Wild team record by scoring 10 seconds into a 5-4 win against the Winnipeg Jets (Zucker later tied his own record in a game against the Colorado Avalanche in April 2017).[20] The only other NHL players who have scored within the first 10 seconds of two different games are Montreal's Bobby Rousseau (once in 1962–63, and once in 1965–66) and Yvan Cournoyer (both in 1973–74).[citation needed]
In 2015–16 he played in a career-high 71 games, and had 13 goals and 10 assists. In June 2016, the Wild re-signed him to a two-year, $4 million contract.[21]
During the 2016–17 season, Zucker set new career highs once again by playing in 79 games while recording 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points. He finished tied for sixth in team scoring.[citation needed]
Zucker recorded his first NHL hat-trick on November 9, 2017 against the Montreal Canadiens.[22] On May 2, 2018, Zucker was named a finalist for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, along with P. K. Subban, and the Sedin brothers.[23]
On July 25, 2018, Zucker signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension with the Wild. Zucker scored his 100th NHL goal on October 13, 2018, in a home overtime loss against the Carolina Hurricanes.[24] He is the seventh Minnesota Wild player to record 100 goals with the team.[25] Zucker received the 2018-19 King Clancy Memorial Trophy as "the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community."[26]
In his career with the Wild, in 456 NHL games he had 132 goals (4th on the Wild's all-time list), 111 assists, and 243 points (9th).[26]
Pittsburgh Penguins[]
On February 10, 2020, Zucker was traded by the Wild to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk, Calen Addison, and a conditional first round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (condition within the trade later converted the pick to a first round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft).[27] Zucker is under contract with the Penguins for three years, through the 2022–23 season, for an average annual value of $5.5 million.[28][26]
Personal life[]
Zucker married Minneapolis-based sports and entertainment journalist and television personality Carly Aplin in the summer of 2016.[29][30][31] She is a television host for the Minnesota Timberwolves Entertainment Network (T.E.N.) and a reporter for CBS Sports and Fox Sports North, who in February 2018 premiered a sports talk radio show named "Overtime with Carly Zucker" on KFAN 100.3 FM.[31][32] Jason and Carly have a son. [21] The family lives in Edina, Minnesota.[21]
Zucker is Jewish, though not religious. He did not have a bar mitzvah celebration because he never wanted to miss hockey; however, he does celebrate Hanukkah.[33]
Career statistics[]
Regular season and playoffs[]
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
2008–09 | U.S. NTDP U17 | USDP | 12 | 8 | 6 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | |||
2008–09 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 12 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2008–09 | U.S. NTDP U18 | NAHL | 36 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2009–10 | U.S. NTDP Juniors | USHL | 22 | 11 | 7 | 18 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2009–10 | U.S. NTDP U18 | USDP | 38 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2010–11 | University of Denver | WCHA | 40 | 23 | 22 | 45 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | University of Denver | WCHA | 38 | 22 | 24 | 46 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Houston Aeros | AHL | 55 | 24 | 26 | 50 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
2012–13 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 20 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
2013–14 | Iowa Wild | AHL | 22 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 21 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2014–15 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 51 | 21 | 5 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
2015–16 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 71 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
2016–17 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 79 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
2017–18 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 82 | 33 | 31 | 64 | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 81 | 21 | 21 | 42 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2019–20 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 45 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2019–20 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 15 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
2020–21 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 38 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ||
NHL totals | 509 | 147 | 126 | 273 | 194 | 41 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 8 |
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing ![]() | ||
Ice hockey | ||
IIHF World U18 Championship | ||
![]() |
2009 United States | |
![]() |
2010 Belarus | |
World Junior Hockey Championships | ||
![]() |
2010 Canada | |
![]() |
2011 USA |
International[]
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | United States | U17 | ![]() |
6 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | |
2009 | United States | WJC18 | ![]() |
7 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
2010 | United States | WJC | ![]() |
7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
2010 | United States | WJC18 | ![]() |
7 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | |
2011 | United States | WJC | ![]() |
4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
2012 | United States | WJC | 7th | 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | |
Junior totals | 37 | 15 | 15 | 30 | 10 |
Awards and honors[]
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
College | ||
All-WCHA Rookie Team | 2010–11 | |
All-WCHA Second Team | 2010–11, 2011–12 | |
AHCA West Second-Team All-American | 2011–12 | |
WCHA All-Tournament Team | 2012 | [34] |
AHL | ||
All-Star Game | 2013 | |
All-Rookie Team | 2013 | |
NHL | ||
King Clancy Memorial Trophy | 2019 | [35] |
See also[]
- List of select Jewish ice hockey players
References[]
- ^ "FamilySearch: Sign In".
- ^ "Wild Signs Zucker". Minnesota Wild. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- ^ "Wild re-sign Jason Zucker for 2 years, $4 million". ESPN.com. ESPN. June 29, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Sports Shorts". Jewish Sports Review. 8 (87): 18. September–October 2011.
- ^ "Zucker leaves Denver, signs deal three year deal with Wild". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
- ^ Russo, Michelle (February 10, 2017). "Rooted in roller hockey, Jason Zucker blooming on ice". StarTribune. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Russo, Michelle (April 15, 2015). "For Wild's Zucker, perfection is the goal". StarsTribune. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Chambers, Mike (November 15, 2010). "DU's Zucker a real American prodigy". Denver Post. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Satkowiak, Ryan (January 16, 1992). "From Sin City To The Twin Cities, Jason Zucker Is Living His NHL Dream". USA Hockey Magazine. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
- ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
- ^ Andresen, Glen (July 19, 2010). "Family Man...Er...Kid". NHL.com. Minnesota Wild. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Jason Zucker – Denver Pioneers Official Athletics Site". Denverpioneers.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- ^ Pierce, Jessi (November 15, 2016). "Words will last lifetime for Jason Zucker". NHL.com. NHL. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "2010 NHL Draft Prospect: Jason Zucker". Retrieved June 29, 2011.
- ^ "Player Statistics by Team – USA" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved July 29, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Jason Zucker". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ Myers, Dan (June 27, 2017). "Son of the Sand: Zucker Talks Hockey in the Desert". NHL.com. Minnesota Wild. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "2–17–13 Zucker Coast to Coast Video – NHL VideoCenter – Minnesota Wild". Video.wild.nhl.com. February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
- ^ "Backstrom, Zucker Undergo Successful Surgeries". nhl.com. Minnesota Wild. March 26, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
- ^ "Zucker sets Wild mark for fastest goal, Jets' Little scores goal with head". Sports Illustrated. October 25, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "What's been Jason Zucker's secret to success? His son, Hendrix". February 21, 2018.
- ^ Myers, Dan (November 10, 2017). "Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 3, Canadiens 0". NHL.com. Minnesota Wild. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
- ^ "King Clancy Trophy finalists unveiled". NHL.com. May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
- ^ Pierce, Jessi (October 13, 2018). "Aho, Hurricanes rally past Wild in OT". NHL.com. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
- ^ @mnwildPR (October 13, 2018). ".@Jason_Zucker16 gives the #mnwild a 3-2 lead with his third goal of the season and 100th career NHL tally, 5:41 into the third period. Zucker was the seventh player in team history to reach the 100-goal milestone" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Penguins Acquire Forward Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild". NHL.com.
- ^ "Penguins acquire forward Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild". Pittsburgh Penguins. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Tabachnick, Toby (February 20, 2020). "Jewish hockey player joins Penguins". jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- ^ "Carly Aplin and Wild's Jason Zucker get married". July 31, 2016.
- ^ "Wild's Jason Zucker and Carly Aplin share 'steamy' engagement photos". February 18, 2016.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "HugeDomains.com - TheSportsBlaze.COM is for sale (The Sports Blaze)". www.hugedomains.com. Cite uses generic title (help)
- ^ "'Overtime with Carly Zucker' debuts, KFAN's first woman-led sports talk show in a decade". FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. February 8, 2018.
- ^ "Who The Folk?! Jason Zucker". TCJewFolk. April 18, 2016.
- ^ "WCHA Tourney History". WCHA. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
- ^ "Zucker of Wild wins King Clancy Trophy for leadership on, off ice". National Hockey League. June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
External links[]
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jason Zucker. |
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- 1992 births
- American men's ice hockey left wingers
- Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey players
- Houston Aeros (1994–2013) players
- Ice hockey people from California
- Ice hockey people from Nevada
- Iowa Wild players
- Jewish American sportspeople
- Jewish ice hockey players
- King Clancy Memorial Trophy winners
- Living people
- Minnesota Wild draft picks
- Minnesota Wild players
- Pittsburgh Penguins players
- Sportspeople from Las Vegas
- Sportspeople from Edina, Minnesota
- Sportspeople from Newport Beach, California
- USA Hockey National Team Development Program players