FIRST ROUNDER LUKE KUNIN TURNS PRO, JOINS IOWA
Decorated and Highly Rated Prospect Set For Iowa Debut in Cleveland
Mar 23, 2017DES MOINES, IA - Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher on Thursday announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with forward Luke Kunin (pronounced KUHN-in) on a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2017-18 season. He will report to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) for the remainder of this season.
Kunin, 19 (12/4/97), totaled 38 points (22-16=38) and 30 penalty minutes (PIM) in 35 games during his sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin (Big-10), leading the team in goals, points, PPG (9) and shots (112), and ranking T-1st in SHG (2) and T-3rd in GWG (2). The native of Chesterfield, Mo., ranked second amongst Big-10 players in goals, T-2nd in SHG, T-3rd in PPG, seventh in scoring and ninth in shots. The 6-foot, 197-pound forward also served as captain of the Badgers in 2016-17, being named to the position as an 18-year-old and serving as the team's first sophomore captain in 41 years. He also served as the captain of Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, helping the U.S. capture a gold medal with four points (2-2=4) in seven games.
Kunin totaled 70 points (41-29=70) and 32 PIM in 69 career games during two seasons at Wisconsin (2015-17). In 2015-16, as the second-youngest player in the NCAA, he ranked second on the Badgers with 32 points (19-13=32) and 17 PIM in 34 games - his 19 goals led the team and were T-6th in team history for most goals by a freshman. He became the first Badger to be named to the Big-10 All-Freshman Team and ranked T-3rd in goals and T-8th in scoring amongst NCAA freshmen.
During his career, Kunin has represented Team USA at seven international tournaments - winning the championship six times and finishing second once. He captained the U.S. to a gold medal at the 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, leading the team and ranking T-3rd in the tournament with six goals in seven games. He totaled 37 points (21-16=37) and 39 PIM in 52 games during two seasons (2013-15) with the U.S. National Junior Development Program, serving as captain with the Under-18 Team in 2014-15. Kunin was selected by Minnesota in the first round (15th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
After a brief road trip with two games in Charlotte and two in Cleveland, Iowa returns home to play the Rockford IceHogs on Tuesday, March 28 at 7 PM. It is Kids Eat Free night, presented by Goodhue-Nolte Insurance and 96.5 Country. Fans may bring in a Subway receipt to purchase a ticket for only $5. It is also a mug club night.
Iowa welcomes the Chicago Wolves on Friday, March 31 at 7 PM. Race Car night is presented by NAPA Auto Parts and Freedom Tires. The first 1,500 fans to arrive receive a family car decal presented by Star 102.5. It is also $2 Beer night presented by 100.3 The BUS. Collegeville packs are available for purchase at the game, sponsored by KISS FM and Buffalo Wild Wings. The St. Patrick’s Day themed specialty jerseys, worn by the Iowa Wild for all three home games in March, are auctioned off at the live postgame jersey auction on Friday, Mar. 31.
2016-17 Iowa Wild regular season single-game tickets are on sale now. Follow the Iowa Wild on Twitter @IAWILD or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iawild.
The Iowa Wild 2016-17 season is presented by Mercy Medical Center: and runs from October through April. Fans may purchase seats to see any of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Wells Fargo Arena. Season tickets to see the Wild play its 2016-17 season at Wells Fargo Arena start at just $10 per game. For more information on tickets, including ticket plans and group seating, please contact the Wild ticket office by calling 515-564-8700 or go to www.iowawild.com.
Fans may purchase single-game tickets multiple ways, either through the team's website – www.Iowawild.com, the Wells Fargo Arena box office or participating Hy-Vee food stores. Tickets are available online at www.Iowawild.com under the single game tickets tab. The Wells Fargo Arena box office is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and closed on Sunday. For Saturday game days, the box office will open at 10 a.m. For Sunday game days the box office will open at 12 p.m. Fans may also purchase tickets by calling 1-844-55-HYVEE or by visiting participating Hy-Vee food stores locations in the greater Des Moines area. Those interested may also visit www.hy-veetix.com. Fans interested in buying full-season tickets, or smaller season packages may call the Iowa Wild front office at 515-564-8700.
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