Blake Coleman Bio
Blake Coleman is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as a forward and alternate captain for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on November 28, 1991, in Plano, Texas, he was drafted 75th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2011 NHL Draft. Coleman is nicknamed “Pickles” and is recognized for his grit, speed, and ability to deliver in clutch moments.
Coleman built his career through dedication in non-traditional hockey markets, ultimately winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He became the first player born and raised in Texas to win a Stanley Cup, cementing his reputation as a reliable playoff contributor.
Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Blake Coleman was born on November 28, 1991, in Plano, Texas, to parents Sandy and Rusty Coleman. He grew up in an athletic family; his father Rusty played football at the University of Oklahoma, and his sister Brooke played volleyball at Ohio University. In addition to Brooke, he has three older siblings, including a sister and two brothers, all of whom contributed to a competitive household environment.
Coleman first became interested in ice hockey through his grandmother, who took him to Dallas Stars games as a toddler. He learned to skate at the age of five at a rink in Irving, Texas, before a facility eventually opened closer to home in Plano. Because of limited ice time in the region, he often practiced in the early morning hours and frequently played against children above his age group.
As a youth, Coleman played in the 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Dallas Alliance minor ice hockey team. His early dedication to the sport in a non-traditional market helped shape his strong work ethic and his identity as a self-made player.
Path to Hockey
Path to Hockey
During middle school, Blake Coleman was recruited to attend a Detroit-based Catholic school and play for the Belle Tire 16U AAA team in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (T1EHL). His coach, Kyle Krug, encouraged him to develop a tougher, more defensive style of play. That single season proved formative, as Coleman added roughly 25 pounds of muscle and refined his two-way game.
After losing in a national championship semifinal, Coleman returned to Texas, where he played two seasons with the Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club, helping the program finish fifth and second at the national midget major tournament. He opted to develop in the United States Hockey League (USHL) rather than the North American Hockey League, playing 22 games for the Tri-City Storm before being traded to the Indiana Ice.
Coleman went undrafted in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but his 2010-11 sophomore campaign with the Indiana Ice became a breakout. He captured the USHL scoring title with 34 goals and 58 assists for 90 points, the most in a USHL season since 1999-2000, and earned USHL Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, and the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award. Selected 75th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2011 NHL Draft, he went on to play collegiate hockey at Miami University.
Blake Coleman Career
Early Career (2011-2015)
Blake Coleman played for the Miami RedHawks at Miami University from 2011 to 2015, enrolling in the Farmer School of Business. He recorded his first collegiate assist on October 8, 2011, against Bemidji State and his first collegiate goal on October 28, 2011, against the Lake Superior State Lakers. By the end of his freshman year, he had posted 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points in 39 games and earned CCHA Rookie of the Week honors.
Across his sophomore and junior seasons, Coleman emerged as one of the RedHawks’ most consistent scorers. In 2013-14, he set a career high with 19 goals and 28 points despite missing time with an injury, earning a place on the NCHC Academic All-Conference team. In his senior season, he posted a hat trick in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game against St. Cloud State and earned NCHC Tournament MVP honors.
New Jersey Devils Breakthrough (2015-2020)
After graduating from Miami University, Blake Coleman signed a two-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Albany Devils, to begin the 2015-16 season. Following a season-ending injury, he returned to Albany in 2016-17, recording 13 goals and 10 assists in 34 games before earning an NHL recall. He made his NHL debut on November 12, 2016, and recorded his first career point four games later, assisting on a goal by Beau Bennett in a win over the Minnesota Wild.
Coleman became a fixture on the Devils’ roster beginning in 2017-18, finishing his first full NHL season with 13 goals, 12 assists, and 25 points in 79 games, including a team-leading three shorthanded goals. In 2018-19, he set new career highs with 22 goals, 14 assists, and 36 points, helping the Devils qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2012. He also signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract extension on July 17, 2018.
During the 2019-20 season, Coleman recorded his first career NHL hat trick and registered 21 goals and 10 assists in 57 games before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 16, 2020, in exchange for Nolan Foote and a conditional first-round pick.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2020-2021)
Upon joining the Tampa Bay Lightning, Blake Coleman slotted onto the third line alongside Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde. Despite the NHL pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coleman contributed during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring his first goal as a member of the Lightning in Game 5 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He then netted two goals in Game 2 against the Boston Bruins to help even the series, finishing the postseason as a key part of the Lightning’s run to the Stanley Cup Final against the Dallas Stars.
Coleman scored the Lightning’s second goal of Game 6 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, securing Tampa Bay’s second championship in franchise history. He then helped the Lightning repeat as Stanley Cup champions in 2021, completing back-to-back titles. In 2020-21, Coleman produced 17 points in 33 games while anchoring one of the NHL’s most effective third lines.
Calgary Flames Era (2021-Present)
On July 28, 2021, Blake Coleman signed a six-year, $29.4 million contract with the Calgary Flames as a free agent. He was briefly suspended for two games during the preseason but quickly established himself in a top-six role, playing alongside Mikael Backlund and later moving through multiple line combinations. By mid-January 2022, he tied Alex Ovechkin for fifth in the NHL with 102 shots during five-on-five play.
On December 31, 2023, Coleman became the fourth Texas-born player in NHL history to reach the 500-game milestone, recording two assists against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was later named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week for the week ending January 14, 2024, after collecting four goals and three assists for seven points. He has continued to serve as an alternate captain for the Flames.
Driving Style and Strengths
Blake Coleman is widely recognized for his combination of speed, grit, and defensive responsibility. Coaches have consistently deployed him in a shutdown role, particularly on the penalty kill, where he excels at disrupting opposing forechecks and generating shorthanded opportunities. His forechecking ability and willingness to play through contact make him a dependable two-way forward in all situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Coleman’s signature moments include scoring the game-winning goal in Game 6 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and recording his first career NHL hat trick with the Devils in 2019. He also became the first Texas-born and Texas-raised player to win a Stanley Cup, and the fourth Texas-born player to reach 500 NHL games.
Blake Coleman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Blake Coleman was raised in an athletic household in Plano, Texas. His father, Rusty Coleman, played football at the University of Oklahoma, and his mother, Sandy Coleman, supported the family’s active lifestyle. His sister Brooke played volleyball at Ohio University, and he has three older siblings, including a sister and two brothers.
Personal Life
Blake Coleman married his fiancée, Jordan Daigle, in the summer of 2019. Daigle is a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and a former college football sideline reporter with CBS. The couple has two daughters. In 2018, Coleman launched the Pickles Pals program, a community initiative that supports the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Newark Ironbound, providing academic resources for local youth.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Blake Coleman continues to serve as a forward and alternate captain for the Calgary Flames. He remains a key contributor on the team’s third line and penalty kill, bringing the same speed, forechecking, and defensive reliability that have defined his career. The Flames will look to Coleman for veteran leadership and consistent two-way play as they pursue a return to playoff contention.
