Jake Guentzel | |||
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Born |
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
October 6, 1994 ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
Position | Center / Winger | ||
Shoots | Left | ||
NHL team | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
NHL Draft | 77th overall, 2013 Pittsburgh Penguins |
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Playing career | 2016–present |
Jake Guentzel (born October 6, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Penguins in the 3rd round, 77th overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Upon completing his junior year with the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the 2015–16 season, Guentzel concluded his collegiate career by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 23, 2016.
On November 21, 2016, he made his NHL debut against the New York Rangers and scored two goals on his first two shots. Despite this, the Penguins lost the game 5-2.
On April 16, 2017, he scored a hat-trick which included the game winning goal in overtime, to put the Penguins up 3-0 in their first round playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He became the first Penguins rookie to score a playoff hat-trick, and only the second rookie in NHL history to score a hat-trick and overtime goal in the same game of the playoffs.
Guentzel comes from a hockey family: His dad Mike is associate head coach at the University of Minnesota. His older brother Ryan played collegiately and professionally. His older brother Gabe played in the North American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League before embarking on a four-year NCAA career at Colorado College.