Ian Douglas Cole (born February 21, 1989) is an American professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

defenseman Defence or defense (in American English) in ice hockey is a player position that is primarily responsible for preventing the opposing team from Goal (ice hockey), scoring. They are often referred to as defencemen, D, D-men or blueliners (the l ...

for the

Utah Mammoth The Utah Mammoth are a professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City. The Mammoth compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

(NHL). Cole won the

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...

with the

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...

and

2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...

Playing career

College

Cole joined the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...

Fighting Irish The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are the athletic teams that represent the University of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish participate in 26 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I intercollegiate sports and in the NCAA's Division ...

in 2007 after playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2005 to 2007. Cole played at Notre Dame from the 2007–08 season through the 2009–10 season, Cole finished his collegiate career with 69 points in 111 games at Notre Dame. During Cole's stint at Notre Dame the program qualified for the NCAA Tournament in

2007 2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year. Events January * January 1 **Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

, and

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

, including the school's first

Frozen Four The annual NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is a college ice hockey tournament held in the United States by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to determine the top men's team in Division I. Like other Division I cham ...

appearance in 2008.

Professional

St. Louis Blues

Cole was drafted 18th overall by the

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

in the 2007 NHL entry draft. At the conclusion of the 2009–10 season, Cole turned pro and signed with the

and was assigned to the

Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen is the name of four minor league hockey clubs: *Peoria Rivermen (IHL), named as such 1984–1996, formerly the Peoria Prancers 1982–1984 *Peoria Rivermen (ECHL), 1996–2005 *Peoria Rivermen (AHL), 2005–2013 *Peoria Rivermen (SP ...

of the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

, the Blues' top minor league affiliate. Cole made his NHL debut on November 6, 2010 after being recalled from Peoria on November 4. He scored his first NHL goal on March 9, 2011 against

Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets (often simply referred to as the Jackets) are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern C ...

goaltender,

Mathieu Garon Mathieu Carol Garon (; born January 9, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue ...

Pittsburgh Penguins

On March 2, 2015, the

acquired Ian Cole from the Blues in exchange for

Robert Bortuzzo Robert Bortuzzo (born March 18, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bortuzzo was drafted 78th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2007 NHL entry draft. Gro ...

and a

7th-round draft pick. On June 29, 2015, Cole signed a three-year contract worth $6.3 million to remain in Pittsburgh. In the 2015–16 season, Cole registered 12 assists in 70 games. In the post-season on June 6, 2016, Cole scored his first career playoff goal against Martin Jones of the

San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...

in Game 4 of the

Stanley Cup Finals The Stanley Cup Finals in ice hockey (also known as the Stanley Cup Final among various media, ) is the annual championship series of the National Hockey League (NHL). The winner is awarded the Stanley Cup, North America's oldest professional spo ...

. In the 2016–17 season, Cole reached a career high of 26 points with the Penguins, including five goals and 21 assists in 81 regular season games. He appeared in a post-season high 25 games, registering 9 assists in helping Pittsburgh defend the Stanley Cup. Entering the final season of his contract with the Penguins in 2017–18, on October 7, 2017, Cole blocked a shot from

Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators (colloquially referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Predators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Divisio ...

defenseman

Roman Josi Roman Josi (born 1 June 1990) is a Swiss professional ice hockey defenceman and captain of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Josi was drafted 38th overall by the Predators in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Growing up in S ...

and missed the next three games to recover. Cole appeared in 47 games with the Penguins, posting 13 points, before on February 23, 2018, Cole was traded to the

Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...

along with a

2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...

first-round pick, a

2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...

third-round draft pick, and

Filip Gustavsson Filip Gustavsson (born 7 June 1998) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), as well as the Ottawa Sena ...

in exchange for a 2018 third-round draft pick, prospect Vincent Dunn, and

Derick Brassard Derick Brassard (born September 22, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Flori ...

Columbus Blue Jackets

On February 26, 2018, before appearing with the Senators, Cole was traded to the

in exchange for Nick Moutrey and a 2020 third-round pick. Cole's addition to Columbus' blueline, led to a charge up the standings and secured a playoff berth. In 20 regular season games, he contributed with 2 goals and 7 points before registering 3 assists in 6 post-season games in a first-round defeat to eventual champions, the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

Colorado Avalanche

As a free agent in the off-season, Cole signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract with the

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. The Avalanche compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Con ...

on July 1, 2018. On February 8, during a 2018–19 regular season game against the Washington Capitals, Cole laid a late hit on

Evgeny Kuznetsov Yevgeny Evgenyevich Kuznetsov (; born 19 May 1992) is a Russian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He previously ...

resulting in a fight with Tom Wilson. It was determined that Tom Wilson had fractured Cole's

orbital bone In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket/hole of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents. In the adult human, the volume of the orbit is ...

and he was subsequently placed on Colorado's

injured reserve The injured reserve list ( IR list) is a designation used in North American professional sports leagues for athletes who suffer injuries and become unable to play. The exact name of the list varies by league; it is known as "injured reserve" in ...

. Entering his final year under contract with the Avalanche in the

pandemic A pandemic ( ) is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has a sudden increase in cases and spreads across a large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of individuals. Widespread endemic (epi ...

delayed 2020–21 season, Cole played in a third pairing role in the opening two games.

Minnesota Wild

On January 19, 2021, Cole was traded by the Avalanche to divisional rival club, the

Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...

, in exchange for Greg Pateryn. Cole made an instant impact, solidifying the Wild's third pairing and helping the team push up the standings in recording 1 goal and 8 points through 52 regular season games. In a first-round series defeat to the

Vegas Golden Knights The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...

, Cole featured in all seven games.

Carolina Hurricanes

As a free agent, despite showing interest to return to the Wild, Cole was unable to come to terms and was signed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with the

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

on July 28, 2021. He scored the overtime game-winning goal against the

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

in Game 1 of their 2nd round series in the

2022 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2021–22 season. The playoffs began on May 2, 2022, one day after the regular season ended, and concluded on June 26, 2022, with the Colorado ...

. Cole did not resign after it was discovered that he had a
affair
with Hurricanes reported Abby Labar.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Having concluded his contract with the Hurricanes, Cole was again on the move in agreeing to a one-year, $3 million contract with the

Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. The Lightning compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the ...

on July 13, 2022. The Lightning announced the team had suspended Cole, with pay, on October 10, 2022, pending an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse. "I take the allegations made against me today in an anonymous tweet very seriously," Cole said in a statement made through his agent. "I look forward to clearing my name and demonstrating to the NHL and the Tampa Bay Lightning that these allegations are unfounded." Ultimately, both the team and league investigations into Cole found no evidence that the allegations were truthful.

Vancouver Canucks

After a lone season with the Lightning, Cole left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, $3 million contract with the

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

for the 2023–24 season on July 1, 2023.

Utah Hockey Club

After spending just one year with the Canucks, Cole once again became an unrestricted free agent, signing a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the

Utah Hockey Club The Utah Mammoth are a professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City. The Mammoth compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise joined the league as an expansion ...

on July 1, 2024.

International play

Cole's first international experience came at the 2007 World Junior Championships. Cole added four goals and an assist in seven games of the tournament, helping United States national junior team to a bronze medal finish. The 2007 tournament marked the most points Cole would score at the event, in

he was held pointless and in his final appearance in the tournament in

he finished with two goals and two assists.

Personal life

Cole was born and raised in

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

with his younger sister, mother Connie, and father Doug. He learned to skate at

Yost Ice Arena Yost Ice Arena, formerly the Fielding H. Yost Field House, is an indoor ice hockey arena located on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. It is the home of the Michigan men's ice hockey team. Yost Field House opened in 1923 ...

. He also skated outdoors at

Buhr Park Buhr Park is a 39-acre public park in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There is a large public swimming pool and a smaller children's wading pool with interactive toys. Buhr Park also includes of rolling hills, picnic areas with barbecue grills, a chil ...

and did power skating at Veterans Memorial Ice Arena. Growing up, he played for the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association at the Ice Cube.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Ian 1989 births Living people 21st-century American sportsmen AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans American men's ice hockey defensemen Carolina Hurricanes players Colorado Avalanche players Columbus Blue Jackets players Minnesota Wild players NHL first-round draft picks Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's ice hockey players Peoria Rivermen (AHL) players Pittsburgh Penguins players St. Louis Blues draft picks St. Louis Blues players Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning players USA Hockey National Team Development Program players Utah Hockey Club players Vancouver Canucks players