Cole Koepke Bio
Cole Tyler Koepke is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born and raised in Two Harbors, Minnesota, he developed his game in northern Minnesota before climbing through junior, college, and professional ranks. After stops with the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins, Koepke signed with the Winnipeg Jets ahead of the 2025–26 season and is currently in the early stages of his first full campaign as an established NHL contributor.
Early Life and Background
Cole Tyler Koepke was born on May 17, 1998, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, to parents Jim and Julie Koepke. He grew up in a household shaped by hockey, taking up the sport after watching his older brother Travis play. The family’s connection to the game played a defining role in Cole’s path to the professional level.
Koepke attended Hermantown High School, where he balanced athletics across seasons. He played defence on the varsity soccer team and served as a senior assistant team captain for the hockey program. During the 2015–16 Minnesota State High School Class A tournament, he scored four goals and added two assists in an 11–3 quarterfinal victory, finishing the championship run with 11 total points as Hermantown captured the state title.
Path to Professional Hockey
Following high school, Koepke joined the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for two seasons, eventually wearing an assistant captain’s letter. As a rookie, he played 22 games and posted five points while contributing on both the penalty kill and the power play before a knee injury cut his season short. He returned strong in 2017–18, finishing with 28 goals and 39 points in 60 games, and was ranked 215th among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ahead of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Early in that same season, Koepke signed a letter of intent with the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Tampa Bay Lightning selected him 183rd overall in the sixth round of the 2018 draft, and he was invited to the organization’s development camp shortly thereafter.
Cole Koepke Career
Collegiate Career (2018–2021)
Koepke joined the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men’s ice hockey team for the 2018–19 NCAA season. Skating on the left wing alongside Parker Mackay and Justin Richards, he recorded 19 points and helped the Bulldogs capture their second consecutive national championship. The following year, he led the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in goals, closed his sophomore campaign on a 10-game scoring streak, and finished with 33 points in 34 games, earning first-team all-NCHC and second-team All-American honors.
As a junior in 2020–21, Koepke served as an assistant captain and led the Bulldogs in shots with 115 while finishing second on the team in goals. He helped Minnesota Duluth return to the NCAA Frozen Four, recording one goal before the team fell in the semifinals to the eventual national champion University of Massachusetts Minutemen. He was again named first-team all-NCHC and was a Hobey Baker Award nominee at the conclusion of the season.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2021–2024)
Koepke signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 13, 2021, ending his collegiate career. He was assigned to the Lightning’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, and scored his first professional goal in his second game, a 7–1 win over the Utica Comets. He spent most of his time developing in Syracuse while making brief NHL appearances.
Koepke made his NHL debut on October 11, 2022, with the Lightning in a loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Working primarily in a fourth-line role, he recorded his first career NHL goal on November 13 against the Washington Capitals. He spent the bulk of the 2023–24 season in the AHL after another early-season call-up, finishing with two assists in nine NHL games. Following the on-ice death of his friend Adam Johnson on October 28, 2023, Koepke opted to wear a neck guard for the remainder of his time in the organization.
Boston Bruins Era (2024–2025)
As a free agent after four seasons within the Lightning organization, Koepke signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2024. Following an impressive pre-season, he earned a spot on Boston’s opening night NHL roster, the first of his career. In just the second game of the season, he posted his first multi-point game with a goal and two assists against the Montreal Canadiens.
After three goals and four assists in his first 11 games, Koepke locked down a permanent place on the Bruins’ NHL roster and played his first full NHL season. On March 8, 2025, he recorded his first multi-goal game with two tallies against his former club, the Tampa Bay Lightning. He finished the year with 10 goals and 7 assists in 73 games, though Boston missed the playoffs.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2025–Present)
Following the expiration of his contract with the Bruins, Koepke signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets on July 1, 2025, ahead of the 2025–26 season. The move marked his third NHL organization and offered him an opportunity to continue building on the offensive growth he showed in Boston. He joined a Jets team that was looking to add bottom-six scoring and penalty-killing reliability.
Koepke’s arrival in Winnipeg came after his most productive NHL campaign, and the Jets signed him with the expectation that his pace would translate to a new conference. The agreement runs through the end of the 2025–26 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Koepke is recognized for a north-south playing style that emphasizes straight-line speed, a strong work ethic along the boards, and reliability on the penalty kill. His shot, developed through years of USHL and college hockey, has become a meaningful part of his offensive game, and he has shown a willingness to play a heavy, physical brand of hockey while still producing points. Coaches have consistently trusted him in defensive matchups, a sign of his two-way maturity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Koepke’s career has included several signature moments, beginning with his role in Hermantown’s 2015–16 state championship and the Bulldogs’ national title in 2019. His first NHL goal with the Lightning and his first multi-point and multi-goal games with the Bruins both marked turning points. The 2024–25 Bruins campaign represented his first full NHL season, and his free-agent move to the Winnipeg Jets confirmed his standing as a full-time NHL contributor.
Cole Koepke Career Wins
Cole Koepke’s career is built around team championships and personal milestones rather than individual trophy hauls. His résumé includes a Minnesota State High School Class A title, a national championship with Minnesota Duluth, and multiple All-NCHC and All-American selections at the college level. He has since transitioned that developmental success into a stable NHL role, with his first full NHL season coming in 2024–25.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
With the Sioux City Musketeers, Koepke developed into an NHL draft prospect, capping his USHL career with 28 goals and 39 points in his draft season. At the University of Minnesota Duluth, he won a national championship in 2019, led the NCHC in goals during his sophomore year, and was a Hobey Baker Award nominee in 2021. These results established him as a two-way forward with offensive upside.
Professional Highlights
Koepke’s professional highlights include his first NHL goal with Tampa Bay in November 2022, his first multi-point game with Boston in October 2024, and his first multi-goal performance against the Lightning in March 2025. He closed the 2024–25 season with 17 points in 73 games, his most productive NHL campaign to date.
Cole Koepke Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Cole Koepke is the son of Jim and Julie Koepke, who raised him in Two Harbors, Minnesota. His older brother, Travis, played hockey and helped spark Cole’s early interest in the sport. The family’s roots in northern Minnesota hockey culture have been a constant thread throughout Cole’s development.
Personal Life
Koepke is an American professional athlete based in the United States, currently playing in the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets. He is recognized for his close connection to his family, including his friendship with the late Adam Johnson, whose memory Koepke has honored by wearing a neck guard since 2023. Beyond his family ties, Koepke maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates about his professional career.
2025–26 Season Performance
Cole Koepke’s 2025–26 campaign with the Winnipeg Jets represents his first season with a third NHL organization. After establishing himself as a full-time NHL player in Boston, he joined the Jets on a one-year, $1 million contract signed July 1, 2025. The Jets targeted Koepke for his combination of bottom-six scoring touch, penalty-killing responsibility, and the offensive growth he showed during his first full NHL season.
Through the early portion of the year, Koepke has been working to translate his Boston production to a new conference and a new system. His role is expected to centre on energy-line minutes, special teams contributions, and a continued effort to grow his shot volume. The contract year also gives Koepke a clear opportunity to position himself for a longer-term deal once the season concludes.
Outlook for the remainder of the season centers on whether Koepke can replicate or exceed the 10-goal, 17-point pace he set with the Bruins while helping the Jets push for a playoff spot. With a full NHL season already under his belt, expectations are that he will be a steady, two-way presence in Winnipeg’s bottom six.
