Tucker Poolman (born June 8, 1993) is an American professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...

defenseman Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from Goal (ice hockey), scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the la ...

currently playing for the

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

(NHL).

Playing career

Early career

Born in Iowa, Poolman grew up in

East Grand Forks, Minnesota East Grand Forks (also known as EGF) is a city in Polk County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 9,176 at the 2020 Census, making it the largest community in Polk County. It is located in the Red River Valley region along the easte ...

where he played for the local high school hockey team. After going undrafted in the

NHL Entry Draft The NHL Entry Draft (french: Repêchage d'entrée dans la LNH) is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League (NHL) systematically select the rights to available ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirem ...

, Poolman tried out for three teams in the

North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...

and

United States Hockey League The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consists of 16 active teams located in the midwestern United States, for players between the ages of 16 and 21. The USHL is strictly ...

before being accepted onto the

Wichita Falls Wildcats The Wichita Falls Wildcats were a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The Wildcats played out of the 7,380-seat Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas. After failing to find a buyer, the Wil ...

. In 2012, he committed to play NCAA Division 1 hockey for the

University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota (also known as UND or North Dakota) is a public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of ...

, his fathers alma mater. After playing with the Wildcats for one year, he was drafted by the

Omaha Lancers The Omaha Lancers are a Tier I junior ice hockey team and are members of the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Founded in 1986, the Lancers play at the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ralston, Nebraska. Previous ...

in the

. In his first season on the team, Poolman was named to the 2013–14 USHL First All-Star Team, and was presented with the

Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award The Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award, formerly known as USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year Award, is presented annually to the most outstanding American-born player in junior ice hockey. Chosen by panel of junior coaches and administrat ...

, as the most outstanding American-born player in junior hockey.

Collegiate

Poolman played for the

in the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

(NCAA) for three seasons, leaving with a degree in economics by taking summer school classes. 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. He recorded his first collegiate goal on October 18 in a 3–1 win over Colorado College. He ended the 2014–15 season one power play goal away from tying North Dakota's single-season record for a freshman defenseman. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Professional

Poolman has drawn comparisons with Jets defenseman

Dustin Byfuglien Dustin Byfuglien ( ; born March 27, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets. Drafted as a defenseman, he has played both forward and defense ...

for his physical play, and ability to play both as a forward and as a defensemen. 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. Poolman made his NHL debut for the Winnipeg Jets on October 9, 2017, in a 5-2 win against the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

. He recorded his first career NHL goal on December 23, 2017, against the

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...

. He was reassigned to the Jets

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary Minor league#Ice hockey, developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 AHL se ...

(AHL) affiliate, the

Manitoba Moose The Manitoba Moose are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and a member of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team plays its home games at Canada Life Centre, the home arena of its parent club, Winnipeg Jets ...

, until January 24, 2018, when he was recalled to replace an injured

Shawn Matthias Shawn Matthias (born February 19, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Matthias played in the NHL, making appearances with the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg Jet ...

. 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.

Personal life

Poolman was born to parents Mark and LeAnne. His father Mark was a hockey trainer for the

Dubuque Fighting Saints The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier I junior ice hockey team playing in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and are based in the city of Dubuque, Iowa, on the banks of the Mississippi River at the border intersects of Iowa, Illinois, and W ...

and the University of North Dakota. His younger brother Colton also played for the University of North Dakota's Fighting Hawks and is currently signed with the

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

. Poolman is a practising Christian and previously gathered with former teammates

Mark Scheifele Mark Scheifele (born March 15, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and an alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Jets in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2011 N ...

Josh Morrissey Joshua Morrissey (born March 28, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Jets in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2013 N ...

, and Adam Lowry to pray and talk.

Career statistics

Awards and honours

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Poolman, Tucker 1993 births Living people American men's ice hockey defensemen Ice hockey people from Iowa Ice hockey people from North Dakota Manitoba Moose players North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey players Omaha Lancers players Vancouver Canucks players Wichita Falls Wildcats players Winnipeg Jets draft picks Winnipeg Jets players AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans