Drew Commesso Bio
Drew Commesso is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who plays for the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on July 19, 2002, in Norwell, Massachusetts, he has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young goaltending prospects in North American hockey. He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round, 46th overall, of the 2020 NHL entry draft and signed his first professional contract ahead of the 2022-23 season.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 181 pounds, Commesso is a left-catching goaltender whose poise and athleticism have drawn national attention. Beyond his club duties, he has represented the United States at multiple international tournaments, including the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he set a record as the youngest starting goaltender in U.S. Olympic history.
Early Life and Background
Drew Commesso was born on July 19, 2002, in Norwell, a small coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Growing up in a region with a strong youth hockey tradition, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed his skills on local rinks in the South Shore area. His family nurtured his interest in goaltending, and he quickly progressed through the Massachusetts youth hockey ranks thanks to his size, reflexes, and competitive temperament.
As a teenager, Commesso earned an invitation to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), the country’s premier development pipeline for elite amateur players based in Plymouth, Michigan. Competing against top-tier international competition while wearing the red, white, and blue, he refined his technique and gained exposure to professional-level coaching. His time with the NTDP laid the foundation for his transition into college and, eventually, professional hockey.
Path to Hockey
Following his development in the NTDP, Commesso committed to Boston University, joining the Terriers of Hockey East for the 2020-21 season. He quickly became the starting goaltender for one of the most storied programs in U.S. college hockey, logging heavy minutes against high-level competition. His strong college performances cemented his status as a top NHL prospect and led to his selection in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
At Boston University, Commesso balanced the academic and athletic demands of a major Division I program while continuing to represent his country in international tournaments. He played for the United States at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships, the 2021 IIHF World Championship, the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and the 2023 IIHF World Championship. These appearances demonstrated his durability and the trust placed in him by USA Hockey’s coaching staff at a young age.
Drew Commesso Career
Early Career (2022-2023)
After his junior season at Boston University, Commesso turned professional and joined the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. He made his first AHL start on October 13, 2022, earning a 7-2 victory over the San Jose Barracuda. From there, he was given a substantial workload, leading the IceHogs in nearly every major goaltending category throughout the season.
His first full professional year was a productive one. Commesso finished with an 18-16-3-1 record, a 2.65 goals-against average, and a .906 save percentage, numbers that suggested a smooth transition from the college game to the professional level. His poise and consistency in net helped establish him as a legitimate goaltending prospect within the Blackhawks organization.
Chicago Blackhawks Breakthrough (2024-Present)
After another season of development in Rockford, Commesso received his first NHL call-up in December 2024. On December 12, 2024, he made his NHL debut, entering in relief of starter Arvid Söderblom midway through the third period against the New York Islanders. Commesso faced two shots and did not allow a goal, becoming the 14th goaltender in Blackhawks history to appear in a game. Two days later, on December 14, he made his first NHL start against the New Jersey Devils, recording 20 saves in a 4-1 loss.
Commesso returned to the NHL on January 9, 2026, after both Arvid Söderblom and Spencer Knight fell ill. The following night, January 10, 2026, he earned his first NHL shutout in a 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators, making the milestone in only his fourth career NHL appearance. The performance was a strong signal that he was ready to compete for a larger role at the top level.
Rockford IceHogs Era (2022-Present)
Throughout his time with the Rockford IceHogs, Commesso has been a central figure in the team’s goaltending rotation. He has continued to develop his game under the Blackhawks’ organizational umbrella, splitting starts with more experienced netminders while handling a heavy practice and game schedule. His steady presence has been a key part of the IceHogs’ development pipeline.
The 2025-26 season has been notable for Commesso’s transition between levels. His late-2024 NHL debut, followed by his early-2026 recall and first NHL shutout, suggest that the Blackhawks view him as an emerging option for the parent club. In Rockford, he has remained a leader on and off the ice, mentoring younger goaltenders and serving as a reliable starting option.
Playing Style and Strengths
Commesso is widely regarded as an athletic, technically sound goaltender whose strength lies in his lateral mobility and composure under pressure. He tracks the puck well through traffic, recovers quickly on second-chance opportunities, and is comfortable playing the puck behind his net. His left-catching style and 6-foot-2 frame allow him to cover the lower portion of the net effectively, and he has shown steady improvement in his rebound control and post-integration play since turning professional.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Commesso’s most celebrated moments are his NHL debut on December 12, 2024, and his first NHL shutout on January 10, 2026, against the Nashville Predators. He also set a major international record at the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming the youngest starting goaltender in United States Olympic history and earning a shutout in his Olympic debut against China with 29 saves.
Drew Commesso Career Wins
Since turning professional in 2022, Drew Commesso has accumulated wins at multiple levels of competitive hockey, including the AHL, NHL, and international stage. His career trajectory has been marked by steady progression and a series of milestone victories.
AHL Highlights
Commesso’s first AHL win came on October 13, 2022, a 7-2 victory over the San Jose Barracuda in his debut start. He went on to register 18 AHL victories during the 2022-23 season while serving as a primary starter for the Rockford IceHogs. Across his AHL tenure, he has remained a consistent presence in the Rockford crease.
International Highlights
At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Commesso opened Team USA’s tournament with a shutout win over China, stopping all 29 shots he faced. The victory was a landmark moment, as he became the youngest starting goaltender in U.S. Olympic history. He has since added further international experience at the 2019 IIHF U18 World Championship, the 2021 IIHF World Championship, the 2022 World Junior Championship, and the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
Drew Commesso Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Drew Commesso grew up in Norwell, Massachusetts, where he was raised in a family that supported his early athletic development. The strong local hockey culture of the South Shore region provided an ideal environment for a young goaltender to grow, and he credits his family for encouraging his path through the sport.
Personal Life
Commesso continues to focus on his professional hockey career, splitting time between Rockford, Illinois, and Chicago as a member of the Blackhawks organization. Public details about his personal relationships are limited, and he has kept much of his life outside of hockey private.
2025 Season Performance
For Drew Commesso, the 2025 calendar year represented a turning point in his professional trajectory. After spending the early part of the year refining his game with the Rockford IceHogs, he earned his first NHL call-up in December 2024 and made his debut against the New York Islanders on December 12. The brief appearance, in which he stopped both shots he faced, gave the Blackhawks a glimpse of his readiness for top-level competition.
His first NHL start two days later against the New Jersey Devils, where he recorded 20 saves, further confirmed his development. Although the Blackhawks lost 4-1, Commesso’s performance demonstrated poise and the technical skills honed during his time in Rockford and at Boston University.
Heading into the remainder of the 2025-26 season, Commesso appears firmly in the Blackhawks’ goaltending picture. His January 2026 recall and first NHL shutout against the Nashville Predators suggest that he will continue to push for additional opportunities at the NHL level while remaining a foundational piece of the Rockford IceHogs.
