Spencer Stastney

Spencer Stastney
Stastney playing for the Milwaukee Admirals in June 2024
Born (2000-01-04) January 4, 2000 (age 24)
Mequon, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 184 lb (83 kg; 13 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Nashville Predators
Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
NHL draft 131st overall, 2018
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2022–present

Spencer Stastney (born January 4, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey at Notre Dame.

Early life

Stastney was born in Mequon, Wisconsin. He attended elementary school and middle school in Mequon, before moving to Woodridge, Illinois where he attended Bridgedale Academy.[1][2] He also played youth hockey for the Chicago Mission of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.[3]

Playing career

College

During the 2018–19 season, his freshman year, Stastney recorded one goal and three assists in 39 games for Notre Dame. He led the Chicago Blackhawks onto the ice for the 2019 NHL Winter Classic.[4] He scored his first collegiate goal during the championship game of the 2019 Big Ten men's ice hockey tournament. He was subsequently named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team.[5] During the 2019–20 season, his sophomore year, he recorded three goals and 17 assists in 36 games.[4]

During the 2020–21 season, his junior year, he recorded five goals and seven assists in 29 games. His five goals were tied with Nick Leivermann and Michigan's Nick Blankenburg for the most by a Big Ten defenseman.[4] Following the season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.[6] During the 2021–22 season, his senior year, he recorded a career-high seven goals and 20 assists in 39 games. He ranked second on the team in scoring with 27 points. He also ranked second in the conference with 69 blocked shots. Following the season he was named the team's Monogram Club MVP.[7] He finished his career at Notre Dame with 16 goals and 47 assists in 143 games.[8]

Professional

Stastney was drafted in the fifth round, 131st overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[9][10]

On March 31, 2022, Stastney signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators.[11] During his rookie season, he recorded five goals and eight assists in 56 games for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his NHL debut for the Predators on April 1, 2023.[12] During the 2022–23 season, he recorded two points in eight games. Following the regular season, he was returned to the Admirals for the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs. During the playoffs, he recorded one goal and five assists in 16 games.[13] During game five of the division semifinals, he scored the game-winning goal with 27 seconds remaining in the game to help the Admirals advance to the Western Conference finals.[14]

On November 14, 2023, Stastney was recalled by the Nashville Predators. Prior to being recalled, he recorded one goal and three assists in ten games for the Milwaukee Admirals.[15] During the 2023–24 season he recorded two goals and two assists in 20 regular season games and was scoreless in three games during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. On July 25, 2024, he signed a two-year, $1.6 million contract extension with the Predators.[16][17]

International play

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2018 Russia

Stastney represented the United States at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships where he recorded one goal and four assists in seven games and won a silver medal.[18] He represented the United States at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he was scoreless in five games.[19]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 U.S. National Development Team USHL 34 1 4 5 6 — — — — —
2017–18 U.S. National Development Team USHL 23 1 14 15 6 — — — — —
2018–19 University of Notre Dame B1G 39 1 3 4 8 — — — — —
2019–20 University of Notre Dame B1G 36 3 17 20 17 — — — — —
2020–21 University of Notre Dame B1G 29 5 7 12 6 — — — — —
2021–22 University of Notre Dame B1G 39 7 20 27 8 — — — — —
2021–22 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2022–23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 56 5 8 13 10 16 1 5 6 6
2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 8 0 2 2 2 — — — — —
2023–24 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 44 5 15 20 2 10 0 0 0 4
2023–24 Nashville Predators NHL 20 2 2 4 4 3 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 28 2 4 6 6 3 0 0 0 0

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2017 United States U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 2 2 0
2018 United States U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1 4 5 2
2020 United States WJC 6th 5 0 0 0 8
Junior totals 17 1 6 7 10

References

  1. ^ Berardino, Mike (March 7, 2020). "Notre Dame hockey star Spencer Stastney has a lot of drive". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Kallmann, Dave (October 14, 2022). "From youth hockey at the Bradley Center to the pros at the Arena, this Notre Dame grad already has had quite a journey". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Powers, Scott (June 22, 2018). "Chicago Mission's 2000 group ready to form program's next wave of NHL draft picks". The Athletic. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Spencer Stastney". fightingirish.com. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  5. ^ "Notre Dame Wins Big Ten Hockey Tournament". BigTen.org. March 23, 2019. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Steeves and Stastney receive Big Ten hockey honors". ndinsider.com. March 16, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "Stastney named Notre Dame hockey MVP". South Bend Tribune. March 21, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "Spencer Stastney Signs NHL Contract With The Nashville Predators". fightingirish.com. March 31, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "Four Selected By Preds At 2018 NHL Draft". newschannel5.com. June 23, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "10 players selected on day two of NHL Draft". usahockeyntdp.com. June 23, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Predators Sign Spencer Stastney to Two-Year, Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com. March 31, 2022. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Kimmel, Ann (April 3, 2023). "Spencer Stastney Makes NHL Debut". The Hockey News. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  13. ^ Lingan, Emma (August 28, 2023). "Preds 2023-24 Roster Breakdown: Right Defense". NHL.com. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Radcliffe, JR (May 9, 2023). "After thrilling playoff series win, what's next for the Milwaukee Admirals?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "Predators Recall Spencer Stastney from Milwaukee". NHL.com. November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  16. ^ "Predators Sign Spencer Stastney to Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  17. ^ Daugherty, Alex (July 25, 2024). "Nashville Predators' Spencer Stastney given two-year, $1.6 million deal after arbitration". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "U.S. Captures Silver Medal at U18 Worlds". teamusa.usahockey.com. April 29, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  19. ^ "4 Former Mission players named to World Junior team preliminary roster". chicagomissioncom. December 10, 2019. Retrieved November 22, 2023.