Jake Guentzel: From Omaha to Olympic Glory

Jake Guentzel

Guentzel's Early Years: from Omaha to Omaha Lancers
Jake Guentzel was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on October 6, 1994. He began playing hockey at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks of youth hockey in Omaha. At the age of 16, he joined the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In his two seasons with the Lancers, Guentzel scored 88 goals and 124 assists in 113 games. He was named the USHL Player of the Year in 2013-14.

Guentzel's College Career: Lighting Up the NCAA
After his time with the Lancers, Guentzel went on to play for the University of Nebraska-Omaha (UNO) Mavericks. In his first season with the Mavericks, he scored 20 goals and 24 assists in 37 games. The following season, he led the nation in scoring with 33 goals and 42 assists in 38 games. Guentzel was named the NCAA Player of the Year in 2015-16.

Guentzel's NHL Career: A Pittsburgh Penguin Star
Guentzel was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round (16th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season and quickly became a star. In his rookie season, he scored 13 goals and 26 assists in 79 games. The following season, he helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup by scoring 13 goals and 21 assists in the playoffs. Guentzel has continued to be a key player for the Penguins, scoring 20 goals or more in each of the past three seasons.

Guentzel's Olympic Career: A Golden Moment
Guentzel represented the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. He helped the United States win the gold medal by scoring four goals and adding two assists in six games. Guentzel's performance in the Olympics was a major highlight of his career.

Conclusion: A Shining Star
Jake Guentzel is one of the most exciting young players in the NHL. He is a skilled scorer and playmaker who has quickly become a star for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Guentzel has also represented the United States at the Olympics, helping the team win the gold medal in 2018.