Ross Colton Bio
Ross Colton is an American professional ice hockey player who is a center for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has played in the league since 2018 after being drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Known for his scoring ability, Colton gained national attention for his pivotal role in the Lightning’s Stanley Cup victory in 2021, where he scored the championship-winning goal. After successful seasons with Tampa Bay, he was traded to Colorado in 2023, marking the next chapter in his career.
Early Life and Background
Ross Colton was born on September 11, 1996, in Robbinsville, New Jersey, United States. He was born into an athletic family; his father, Rob, was a baseball and soccer player at Steinert High School, while his mother played basketball at McCorristin. Growing up, Colton was a fan of the New Jersey Devils and considered Zach Parise as his favorite player. He attended Sharon Elementary School in Robbinsville and Pond Road Middle School. Colton began his ice hockey career with the Mercer Chiefs under head coach Chris Barcless. During the 2012–13 season, he played with the New Jersey Rockets of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League, where he recorded 22 goals and 41 points in 23 games. After being cut from a couple of local hockey festival teams, Colton started training with Kevin Wagner and Barcless before joining Princeton Day School alongside his older brother, Robert. During his time at Princeton, Colton played both hockey and baseball before transferring to Taft School, a boarding school in Connecticut, for his junior year.
Path to Hockey
Following his junior year at Taft, Colton was drafted in the 11th round, 179th overall, by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL). During his time with the team, he attended and graduated from Washington High School in Iowa. In his second season with the RoughRiders, Colton set a league record for most goals and points at a USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and was subsequently named Team East’s Most Valuable Player. He was also selected for Team USA’s World Junior A Challenge Select Team, where he scored five points to earn a bronze medal. Prior to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Colton ranked second in the league in points and goals with 35 goals and 66 points, leading to his selection by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ross Colton Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Upon concluding his collegiate career, Colton attended the Lightning’s 2018 training camp before being assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, for the 2018–19 season. He recorded his first professional career goal during a 6–3 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on October 27, 2018. As the season continued, Colton maintained a scoring streak of seven points within five games, including his first career multi-goal game. He finished his rookie season ranked third on the team for goals with 14 and was fourth overall with 31 points. Following his rookie season, Colton was invited to participate in the Lightning’s training camp but was again returned to the Crunch for the 2019–20 season. He appeared in every game for the Crunch before the season was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the team in assists and finishing second in points scored. Once the league returned to play in January, Colton was recalled to the NHL level after playing in three AHL games.
Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On February 24, 2021, Ross Colton skated in his first career NHL game in a 3–0 Lightning win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Amalie Arena. During the game, he recorded his first career NHL goal and point, becoming the ninth player in Lightning history to score a goal in their NHL debut. He also joined Nikita Kucherov as the only players in team history to record a game-winning goal in their first game. Colton remained with the team as they pushed to qualify for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, while also recording nine goals and 12 points in 30 regular-season games. As the Lightning qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Colton made his postseason debut playing on their third and fourth line. He recorded his first post-season goal during Game 3 in an overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. Following this, he became a replacement for Barclay Goodrow on the Lightning’s third line and scored the team’s sole goal in a 4–1 loss during Game 5. The Lightning eventually eliminated the Panthers from playoff contention and advanced to the Stanley Cup Second Round against the Hurricanes. While playing alongside Patrick Maroon and Tyler Johnson, he helped the team advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals by scoring a goal in a 2–0 win over the Hurricanes. On July 7, 2021, Colton scored the first goal of Game 5 that ended up being the winning goal of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, giving Tampa Bay their third Stanley Cup win in franchise history.
Notable Works and Milestones
As a restricted free agent leading into the 2021–22 NHL season, Colton and the Lightning agreed to a two-year, $2.25 million contract extension on August 9, 2021. He established new career marks, posting 22 goals, becoming the ninth player in Tampa Bay history to score 20 goals in his first or second NHL season. In the 2022–23 season, Colton appeared in a career-high 81 regular season games, adding 16 goals and 32 points for the Lightning. He notched 1 goal and 4 points in the playoffs in an opening round defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In June 2023, Colton was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a second-round selection prior to the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He later signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Avalanche. Colton made his debut with the Avalanche on the opening night of the 2023–24 season, centering the third line and registering an assist in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on October 11, 2023.
Ross Colton Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Ross Colton has not received any notable award nominations.
Ross Colton Awards Won
Ross Colton has won one significant award during his career, the Stanley Cup, which he achieved with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.
Ross Colton Family
Information about Ross Colton’s family is not publicly available.
Personal Life
Details regarding Ross Colton’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not publicly disclosed.
