Austin Poganski Bio
Austin Richard Poganski is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League (AHL). Born on February 16, 1996, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, he learned to skate at a young age and developed his skills playing for several youth and junior teams before reaching the professional level.
Selected by the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) as the 110th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Poganski has spent his professional career moving between the AHL and NHL, suiting up for the Blues, Winnipeg Jets, and Seattle Kraken organizations before joining Tucson. He is recognized for his two-way play, work ethic, and leadership qualities, including a senior-season captaincy at the University of North Dakota.
Early Life and Background
Austin Richard Poganski was born on February 16, 1996, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to parents Rick Poganski and Kim Poganski. He grew up in a hockey-focused household, with several family members having competed for the St. Cloud State Huskies, the local college program he followed as a young fan.
He first learned to skate on a neighbor’s outdoor rink and joined a junior mites team at around seven years old. The Minnesota winters and the city’s strong hockey culture helped shape his early development, and he played for local youth programs before advancing to the Junior Sioux AAA team.
After competing in AAA, Poganski committed to collegiate hockey and enrolled at the University of North Dakota, where he joined the Fighting Hawks program. He would later credit his Minnesota upbringing and family ties to the sport as key influences on his career path.
Path to Hockey
Poganski’s path to higher-level hockey ran through the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he played for the Tri-City Storm. His junior performance drew the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round, 110th overall, at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft while still a draft-eligible teenager.
Following the draft, Poganski joined the University of North Dakota program. He developed steadily in college, contributing to one of the most successful stretches in program history. His combination of size, skating, and responsibility helped him earn a leadership role within the team before transitioning to the professional ranks.
Austin Poganski Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
After his draft year, Poganski continued to develop with the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks. He was part of the team that won the national championship during the 2015–16 season, a major milestone in his collegiate career. By his senior year in 2017–18, he had been named team captain, reflecting the trust the program placed in his two-way game and locker-room presence.
On March 26, 2018, after completing his collegiate career, Poganski signed a two-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues. He finished the 2017–18 season with the San Antonio Rampage, the Blues’ AHL affiliate, beginning his transition to professional hockey.
St. Louis Blues Era (2018–2021)
Poganski spent the majority of the 2018–19 and early 2019–20 seasons in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage. He made his NHL debut on December 10, 2019, against the Buffalo Sabres, playing on the fourth line with Mackenzie MacEachern and Jacob de la Rose. He was returned to the Rampage a few days later and finished the season at that level.
On October 18, 2020, Poganski signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Blues. During the pandemic-delayed and shortened 2020–21 season, he remained largely on the club’s extended taxi squad roster, appearing in only five games and finishing the year without a point.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2021–2022)
After becoming an unrestricted free agent, Poganski signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 31, 2021. He was initially assigned to Winnipeg’s AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, before being recalled when several Jets players were placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.
Poganski went on to appear in 16 games with Winnipeg, going scoreless, before being placed on waivers on March 3, 2022. After going unclaimed, he was returned to the Moose for the remainder of the year.
Seattle Kraken Era (2022–2023)
Poganski signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Seattle Kraken as an unrestricted free agent on July 13, 2022. He was placed on waivers at the start of the 2022–23 season and, after going unclaimed, was assigned to Seattle’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, during their inaugural season.
He spent the full campaign with Coachella Valley, helping the club reach the Calder Cup Finals. The Firebirds were ultimately defeated in seven games by the Hershey Bears.
Tucson Roadrunners Era (2023–Present)
Following his time with the Kraken, Poganski went unsigned through part of the offseason. He accepted a professional tryout offer to attend the Arizona Coyotes’ 2023 training camp and was later released to join their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, on a PTO to begin the 2023–24 season.
He has since remained with the Tucson Roadrunners, continuing to provide depth, penalty-killing, and energy-line contributions while pursuing a return to the NHL.
Playing Style and Strengths
Poganski is known for his two-way, north-south playing style, blending a 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame with the skating ability expected of a modern forward. Coaches have consistently praised his penalty-killing, face-off reliability, and willingness to play a heavy, physical game along the boards. His captaincy at North Dakota reflected the leadership qualities that have made him a trusted depth forward at the AHL and NHL levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Poganski’s career include his 2014 NHL draft selection by the St. Louis Blues, winning a national championship with the University of North Dakota in 2015–16, his NHL debut on December 10, 2019, against the Buffalo Sabres, and reaching the Calder Cup Finals with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2022–23.
Austin Poganski Career Wins
Throughout his career, Austin Richard Poganski has competed in a range of developmental, collegiate, and professional competitions, building a résumé highlighted by team success rather than large individual win totals. His most prominent victories include a national championship at the collegiate level and a deep playoff run in the AHL.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
Poganski played junior hockey in the United States Hockey League with the Tri-City Storm, where he developed into an NHL draft prospect. He went on to win the NCAA Division I national championship with the University of North Dakota during the 2015–16 season and later served as team captain in 2017–18.
Professional Highlights
At the professional level, Poganski reached the Calder Cup Finals with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2022–23, ultimately falling to the Hershey Bears in seven games. He has been a steady AHL contributor, while his NHL opportunities with the Blues and Jets have been more limited.
Austin Poganski Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Austin Richard Poganski was raised in St. Cloud, Minnesota, by his parents, Rick Poganski and Kim Poganski. The family has deep ties to local hockey, with several relatives having competed for the St. Cloud State Huskies, a program Poganski followed closely while growing up.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Poganski has remained closely connected to his Minnesota roots and his family. He has continued to be recognized for the supportive role his parents have played throughout his development as a hockey player.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 calendar year, Austin Richard Poganski remained with the Tucson Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate of the Utah Hockey Club organization. He continued in a veteran leadership role, contributing on the penalty kill and providing physical play within the lineup.
Through the early months of 2025, Poganski focused on producing consistent two-way performances and supporting the team’s younger forwards. His experience from NHL stints and deep AHL playoff runs positioned him as a steadying presence on a developing roster.
With the Roadrunners continuing to build toward long-term contention in the AHL Pacific Division, Poganski’s combination of size, defensive responsibility, and leadership is expected to remain a key part of the club’s plans, while an NHL recall opportunity remained a realistic but uncertain possibility.