Justin Janicke Bio
Justin Scott Janicke is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL, while remaining under contract to the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL). A native of Minnesota, he previously competed at the collegiate level for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the NCAA’s Big Ten Conference. Janicke is a prospect of the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL), who selected him 195th overall in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Born on June 30, 2003, Janicke skates left and stands 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing approximately 192 pounds. His journey from Minnesota youth hockey to the professional ranks reflects steady development through elite development programs and a top NCAA program before turning professional in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Justin Scott Janicke was born on June 30, 2003, in Maple Grove, Minnesota, in the United States. Maple Grove, a suburb of Minneapolis, has long been a fertile breeding ground for competitive hockey talent, and Janicke grew up immersed in the area’s strong youth hockey culture. The cold Minnesota winters and the state’s deep hockey tradition provided a natural backdrop for his early development as a skater and forward.
During the 2017–18 season, Janicke played bantam-level hockey with the Great Plains team in the Minnesota Bantam Elite League, a competitive circuit that showcases the region’s top teenage players. The following season, in 2018–19, he continued to develop his game while playing for Maple Grove High School, where he contributed to the team’s success at the high school level. In addition to his high school schedule, Janicke also competed with the Minnesota Blades, a prestigious U16 AAA program known for producing elite hockey talent and preparing players for higher-level opportunities.
Path to Hockey
Janicke’s path to higher-level hockey accelerated during the 2019–20 season, when he was selected to join the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP) in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Competing with the U-17 squad, he posted 37 points in 45 games, a scoring rate that established him as one of the program’s notable young forwards and helped raise his profile among NHL scouts.
Following his NTDP stint, Janicke committed to the University of Notre Dame, joining the Fighting Irish for the 2021–22 season and playing college hockey in the NCAA’s Big Ten Conference. That same year, his development was recognized at the professional level when the Seattle Kraken selected him 195th overall in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. His progression from Minnesota bantam hockey to the USHL, NCAA Division I, and the NHL Draft reflected a steady and well-supported rise through the American hockey system.
Justin Janicke Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Janicke’s most formative development years came through a combination of high school competition, AAA youth hockey, and the USHL. After playing for the Great Plains team in the Minnesota Bantam Elite League during 2017–18, he balanced his time at Maple Grove High School with the Minnesota Blades U16 AAA program in 2018–19. Both environments demanded a high level of commitment and allowed him to refine his skills against strong competition.
His transition to the United States NTDP for the 2019–20 season marked his first experience in a full-time, elite development environment. Recording 37 points in 45 games with the U-17 team, Janicke demonstrated offensive capability and consistency against top amateur competition, solidifying his standing as a legitimate college and professional prospect.
NCAA Career with Notre Dame (2021–2025)
Janicke joined the University of Notre Dame for the 2021–22 season, skating for the Fighting Irish in the Big Ten Conference. Playing at the NCAA Division I level gave him a chance to face older, more physically mature opponents and to adjust to the pace and structure of collegiate hockey. The Fighting Irish program has a long history of developing NHL-caliber players, and Janicke used the platform to continue growing as a two-way forward.
He remained with Notre Dame through his college years, balancing his academic responsibilities with the demands of Division I athletics. His time in South Bend allowed him to mature physically and tactically, preparing him for the rigors of professional hockey and the transition that followed in March 2025.
Professional Debut and Coachella Valley (2025–Present)
On March 30, 2025, Janicke signed an amateur tryout offer with the Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, officially beginning his professional career. Joining a developing franchise tied closely to the Kraken, he entered a pipeline that has been designed to prepare young prospects for potential NHL opportunities.
While under contract to the Firebirds, Janicke has also been assigned to the Kansas City Mavericks of the ECHL, where he continues to log significant ice time and gain valuable professional experience. Playing in both the AHL and ECHL systems has allowed him to adjust to the speed, physicality, and schedule demands of professional hockey as he works toward a full-time role at the highest level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Janicke is listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 192 pounds, giving him a sturdy, compact frame well suited to a forward’s role. A left-shot forward, he has been productive at every level he has played, including a 37-point campaign with the U.S. NTDP U-17 team. His development path through the NTDP and Notre Dame suggests a player with strong hockey sense, two-way responsibility, and the offensive touch to contribute on the scoresheet.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Janicke’s young career came when he was selected 195th overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, validating his progress through the NTDP. Shortly before turning professional, he also represented his country at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, gaining experience on the international stage alongside many of the top players in his age group.
Justin Janicke Career Wins
As a developing professional still in the early stages of his career, Justin Scott Janicke’s win totals continue to build. His competitive résumé to this point is built around offensive production, draft recognition, and international representation rather than long professional win totals.
NCAA and Amateur Highlights
During his time with the University of Notre Dame in the Big Ten Conference, Janicke contributed as a forward for the Fighting Irish across multiple seasons. His most documented statistical highlight came earlier, when he recorded 37 points in 45 games with the U.S. NTDP U-17 team in 2019–20, a strong scoring pace at one of the most demanding amateur development programs in the country. His 195th-overall selection in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft also stands as a key career milestone.
International Highlights
Janicke represented the United States at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, helping Team USA capture a silver medal in the tournament. The following year, he was again called up to wear the U.S. jersey, this time at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, gaining further experience against top international competition.
Justin Janicke Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Justin Scott Janicke grew up in Maple Grove, Minnesota, a community with a strong tradition of youth hockey. Publicly available details about his parents and any direct family connections to professional hockey are not confirmed, so further specifics about his family background cannot be stated with certainty.
Personal Life
Janicke focuses much of his public identity on his development as a hockey player, progressing from Minnesota bantam hockey through the U.S. NTDP, the University of Notre Dame, and now the professional ranks with the Kansas City Mavericks and Coachella Valley Firebirds. Confirmed details about a spouse, partner, or children are not publicly available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Janicke’s 2025 season marks his first full campaign as a professional, beginning with his amateur tryout offer from the Coachella Valley Firebirds on March 30, 2025. Splitting time between the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds and the ECHL’s Kansas City Mavericks, he is gaining important ice time and adjusting to the demands of the professional game as a Seattle Kraken prospect.
Working within the Kraken’s developmental pipeline, Janicke benefits from coaching, structure, and exposure at the AHL level, while also logging meaningful minutes with the Mavericks in the ECHL. This dual-affiliation arrangement is common for young forwards transitioning from the NCAA to professional hockey, allowing them to adapt gradually while continuing to refine their skills.
Looking ahead, the 2025–26 season will be an important opportunity for Janicke to establish consistency, build his professional scoring totals, and push for an expanded role within the Kraken system. Continued production at both the AHL and ECHL levels could position him for a future NHL contract and his first appearances in the league.