Jake Lucchini

Jacob Leo Lucchini (born May 9, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played with the Ottawa Senators of the NHL.

Jake Lucchini
Born (1995-05-09) May 9, 1995 (age 29)
Trail, British Columbia, Canada
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
PositionCentre
ShootsLeft
NHL team
Former teams
Minnesota Wild
Ottawa Senators
NHL draftUndrafted
Playing career2019–present

Playing career

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Lucchini played junior hockey for the Trail Smoke Eaters of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) After junior, he played college hockey for Michigan Tech Huskies for four seasons. Lucchini was a member of two WCHA championship teams and co-captained the Huskies in his senior year.[1] Not drafted by the NHL, he attended the Pittsburgh Penguins training camp in 2018 and was signed to an entry-level contract. He played two seasons for the Penguins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

During the 2019–20 season, while with Wilkes-Barre, Lucchini was traded by the Penguins along with Joseph Blandisi to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Phil Varone and Riley Barber on February 20, 2020. He was immediately reassigned by the Canadiens and played for their AHL affiliate the Laval Rocket.[2]

In 2021, after remaining with the Rocket on an AHL contract, he was later traded by Laval to the Ottawa Senators AHL affiliate Belleville Senators.[3] He had what was considered a "breakout" season with Belleville, scoring 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 72 games.[1] As a free agent, he was signed to a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 13, 2022, although he was later assigned to Belleville.[4] During the 2022–23 season, Lucchini was called up to the NHL Senators and made his NHL debut on December 14, 2022, against the Canadiens.[5][1] He scored the first NHL goal of his career on January 1, 2023, against the Buffalo Sabres.[6] Lucchini was returned to Belleville after eleven games with Ottawa.[7]

As a free agent from the Senators, Lucchini was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild for the 2023–24 season on July 1, 2023.[8] He attended the Wild's 2023 training camp but failed to make the team. He was placed on waivers but went unclaimed and was assigned to Minnesota's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, to begin the 2023–24 season.[9] He was recalled on December 23 by Minnesota and made his debut for the team that night versus the Boston Bruins.[10]

Personal

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Lucchini is the son of Sandy and John Lucchini. His younger brother Jeremy also played for the Trail Smoke Eaters in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and the two played one season together. Jeremy is now a professional player in Europe. His grandfather Leo Lucchini was a member of the Edmonton Mercurys that won the 1950 IIHF World Championship.[11]

Career statistics

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2010–11Beaver Valley NiteHawksKIJHL10110
2011–12Beaver Valley NiteHawksKIJHL949134122682
2012–13Trail Smoke EatersBCHL5553817
2013–14Trail Smoke EatersBCHL558182612
2014–15Trail Smoke EatersBCHL5835478232
2015–16Michigan TechWCHA377101710
2016–17Michigan TechWCHA4511112220
2017–18Michigan TechWCHA441623398
2018–19Michigan TechWCHA3811152614
2018–19Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL156172
2019–20Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL53781510
2019–20Laval RocketAHL84154
2020–21Laval RocketAHL283366
2021–22Belleville SenatorsAHL722031511420110
2022–23Belleville SenatorsAHL611934536
2022–23Ottawa SenatorsNHL111010
2023–24Iowa WildAHL301112238
2023–24Minnesota WildNHL4023523
NHL totals5133623

Awards and honours

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AwardYear
BCHL
Second All-Star Team2015[12]
College
WCHA All-Rookie Team2016[11]
WCHA Champions2017, 2018[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Former MTU Captain Lucchini makes NHL debut tonight". uppermichiganssource.com. TV6. December 14, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  2. ^ "Canadiens acquire forwards Lucchini and Blandisi from Penguins". Montreal Canadiens. February 20, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Belleville Senators acquire Jake Lucchini from Laval". bellevillesenators.com (Press release). Belleville Senators. October 12, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Senators sign forward Jake Lucchini to one-year, two-way NHL contract extension". Belleville Senators. July 13, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  5. ^ Garrioch, Bruce (December 14, 2022). "Garrioch: Tim Stutzle's shoulder injury isn't serious but he'll miss at least a week". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  6. ^ Warren, Ken (January 1, 2023). "Lucchini scores winning goal as Senators rebound with big New Year's Day victory". The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sens place F Lucchini on waivers". TSN. January 17, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  8. ^ "Minnesota Wild signs forwards Vinni Lettieri and Jake Lucchini". Minnesota Wild. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Minnesota Wild Reduces Training Camp Roster to 31". Minnesota Wild. October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  10. ^ Loucks, Dylan (December 23, 2023). "Jake Lucchini Excited to make Wild debut tonight vs Bruins". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Jake Lucchini - Michigan Tech Athletics". Michigan Tech University. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Jake Lucchini". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
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