Jason Zucker Bio
Jason Alan Zucker is an American professional ice hockey player who is a left winger for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Zucker played in the 2010 World Juniors for the United States team, winning a gold medal. He was also a member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 2011 World Juniors. Playing for the University of Denver in 2010–11, he was the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Year. He was drafted in the second round (59th overall) of the 2010 NHL entry draft by the Minnesota Wild.
Early Life and Background
Jason Zucker was born on January 16, 1992, in Newport Beach, California. He is of Jewish descent. His mother, Natalie Zucker, was a competitive figure skater, while his father, Scott Zucker, is a general contractor who built ice rinks and roller rinks during Jason’s childhood. He has two older brothers, Evan and Adam, and a younger sister, Kimmie, and brother, Cameron. When he was two months old, Zucker’s family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. As a youth, he participated in the 2004 and 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Los Angeles. At the age of 15, he moved to Plymouth, Michigan, to play with the Compuware AAA Minor Midget Team, eventually relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he attended Pioneer High School.
Path to Hockey
Zucker’s early exposure to hockey was heavily influenced by his family’s background in sports. His mother’s figure skating and his father’s construction of ice rinks provided him with a unique environment to develop his skills. He played for the University of Denver, where he was recognized as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Rookie of the Year in the 2010–11 season. In his two seasons at Denver, he scored 45 goals and accumulated 91 points in 78 games, which set the stage for his transition to professional hockey.
Jason Zucker Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Jason Zucker began his professional career when he was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2010 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut on March 29, 2012, against the Florida Panthers. During the 2012–13 season, he was assigned to the Houston Aeros, Minnesota’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, where he recorded 50 points in 55 games and was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team. Zucker scored his first NHL goal against Petr Mrázek on February 17, 2013, and made significant contributions during the playoffs that year.
Breakthrough (2016–2019)
Zucker’s career took off during the 2016–17 season when he set new personal records by playing in 79 games and scoring 22 goals along with 25 assists. He recorded his first NHL hat-trick on November 9, 2017, against the Montreal Canadiens. In June 2018, he was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, recognizing his leadership and humanitarian contributions. Zucker signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension with the Wild in July 2018, solidifying his role as a key player on the team.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout his career, Jason Zucker has achieved significant milestones, including scoring over 100 goals with the Minnesota Wild and being recognized for his leadership on and off the ice. He has played in over 450 NHL games, accumulating 132 goals and 111 assists. His contributions to the Wild made him one of the franchise’s all-time leading scorers.
Jason Zucker Award Nominations
Jason Zucker has been nominated for several awards throughout his career, including the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which he won in 2019 for exemplifying leadership qualities and making noteworthy humanitarian contributions.
Jason Zucker Awards Won
Jason Zucker has won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
Jason Zucker Family
Jason Zucker was married to Carly Aplin, a sports and entertainment journalist, in mid-2016. The couple has two children together. They filed for divorce in 2023.
Personal Life
Jason Zucker is known for his commitment to his Jewish heritage, celebrating Hanukkah. He has multiple tattoos that reflect his personal experiences and memories, including tributes to friends and his national team. Despite his busy professional life, he has maintained a focus on family and community involvement.
