Nico_Sturm

Nico Sturm

Nico Sturm

German ice hockey player (born 1995)

Nico Sturm (born 3 May 1995) is a German professional ice hockey forward for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche. He made his NHL debut in 2019 with the Wild. Sturm won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Internationally Sturm has played for the German national team, and won a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships.

Quick Facts Born, Height ...

Playing career

Amateur

Sturm played as a youth in his native Germany, appearing with ESV Kaufbeuren in the German Development League (DNL) from 2011 to 2014. In order to continue his development, Sturm opted to move to North America, playing in the North American Hockey League with the Corpus Christi IceRays and the Austin Bruins.

Sturm was selected by the Tri-City Storm, 72nd overall, in the 2015 USHL Entry Draft. On 30 June 2015, Sturm was announced to have signed with the Storm, while also committing to play collegiate hockey at Clarkson University of the ECAC.[1][non-primary source needed][non-primary source needed]

In the 2015–16 season, Sturm recorded 39 points in 57 games with the Tri-City Storm and added 6 points in 5 playoff games to help Tri-City win the Clark Cup.

Sturm played his freshman season with the Clarkson University Golden Knights in the 2016–17 season, collecting 21 points in 38 games to earn a selection to the ECAC All-Rookie Team. In his second year, Sturm continued to realise his potential, increasing his offensive production with 37 points in 40 games. His solid two-way play was noticed as he led the NCAA with a 61.7% face-off win percentage and was named the 2017–18 ECAC Best Defensive Forward.

Returning as co-captain for his junior season with Clarkson in 2018–19, Sturm led the team in scoring and assists with 45 points in 39 games. In his standout season for the top ranked Golden Knights, he was named the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward for the second consecutive season, a Top Ten Hobey Baker Award Finalist, a finalist for the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year Award, named to the 2019 ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team and an ECAC First-Team All-League selection.[2]

Professional

Minnesota Wild

As an undrafted free agent, Sturm attracted league wide NHL interest following his junior season, opting to forgo his senior year in signing a one-year, entry-level contract for the remainder of the 2018–19 season, with the Minnesota Wild on 1 April 2019.[3] He immediately joined the out of contention Wild making his NHL debut in a 3–0 defeat to the Boston Bruins on 4 April 2019.[4]

Sturm mostly played in the Wild's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Iowa Wild, in the 2019–20 season. He earned a call-up to the NHL during the season and recorded his first two NHL assists in a six-game stint with the Wild. When the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wild were admitted to a play-in round of the playoffs when the NHL resumed. Sturm would play in two games of the Wild's five-game series against the Vancouver Canucks, and scored his first NHL goal in Game 4 against Jacob Markström.

Colorado Avalanche

On 15 March 2022, he was traded by the Wild to Division rivals, the Colorado Avalanche, in exchange for Tyson Jost.[5] On 26 June 2022, Sturm helped the Avalanche claim their first Stanley Cup in 21 years.

San Jose Sharks

On the back of his success with the Avalanche, Sturm as a free agent was signed to a three-year, $6 million contract with the San Jose Sharks on 13 July 2022.[6]

Personal

Sturm is engaged to fellow Clarkson alum and professional hockey player Taylor Turnquist.[7][8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

More information Regular season, Playoffs ...
Quick Facts Medal record, Representing Germany ...

International

More information Year, Team ...

Awards and honors

More information Award, Year ...

References

  1. [1]
    hockeycommitments (30 June 2015). "Sturm commits to Clarkson". Retrieved 30 June 2015 – via Twitter.
  2. [2]
    "Sturm brings a little bit of everything to the table for Wild". National Hockey League. April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. [3]
    "Wild signs Nico Sturm to one-year, entry-level contract". Minnesota Wild. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Sturm has memorable NHL debut with Wild". Star Tribune. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  5. [5]
    "Avalanche acquires Nico Sturm from Wild". Colorado Avalanche. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Sharks sign forward Nico Sturm". San Jose Sharks. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  7. [7]
    Russo, Michael. "Wild's Nico Sturm and Pride's Taylor Turnquist inspire each other through life and hockey". The Athletic. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  8. [8]
    "Eishockey-Star mit Allgäuer Wurzeln: Nico Sturm hat sich verlobt". allgaeuer-zeitung.de. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Colorado Avalanche win first Stanley Cup since 2001 with Game 6 comeback". ESPN. 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
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