Cole Perfetti

Perfetti was born on January 1, 2002, in Whitby, Ontario,{{cite web |title=Cole Perfetti |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/201940/cole-perfetti |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=October 25, 2022}} to parents Angelo and Sandra.{{cite web |last1=Clinton |first1=Mitchell |title=Angelo and Sandra Perfetti's wild road trip to watch their son's debut |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/angelo-and-sandra-perfettis-wild-road-trip-to-watch-their-sons-debut/c-326814214 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=October 14, 2021}} His father formerly served as a scout for the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League.{{cite web |title=Angelo Perfetti |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/46720/angelo-perfetti |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=October 25, 2022}}

Growing up in Whitby, Ontario, Perfetti spent his minor hockey career with the Whitby Wildcats. At the age of 10, he won the Brick Invitational Super Novice Hockey Tournament in Edmonton along with his Toronto Bulldogs teammates.{{cite web |title=Toronto Bulldogs Win 23rd Annual Brick Invitational |date=July 9, 2012 |url=https://youth1.com/hockey/1715824125-toronto-bulldogs-win-23rd-annual-brick-invitational |publisher=Youth1 |access-date=October 25, 2022}} During the tournament, he tallied nine points in six games.{{cite web |last1=Ates |first1=Murat |title=Cole Perfetti's Jets debut is a lifetime in the making: 'You get goosebumps, just thinking about it' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2885534/2021/10/12/cole-perfettis-jets-debut-is-a-lifetime-in-the-making-you-get-goosebumps-just-thinking-about-it/ |publisher=The Athletic |access-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211218185430/https://theathletic.com/2885534/2021/10/12/cole-perfettis-jets-debut-is-a-lifetime-in-the-making-you-get-goosebumps-just-thinking-about-it/ |archive-date=December 18, 2021 |url-status=live |date=October 13, 2021}} Following this, Perfetti enrolled at The Hill Academy while also playing for the Vaughan Kings of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. In the year before his Ontario Hockey League (OHL) eligibility, Perfetti led them in scoring with a total of 52 goals and 73 assists for 125 points.{{cite web |last1=Bernreuter |first1=Hugh |title=Saginaw Spirit sign top pick Cole Perfetti away from U-M hockey |url=https://www.mlive.com/spirit/2018/06/saginaw_spirit_sign_top_pick_c.html |website=MLive.com |publisher=Booth Newspapers |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=June 13, 2018}}

As a result of his GTHL play, Perfetti was recruited to join the University of Michigan's men's ice hockey team for the 2018–19 season. However, after being drafted fifth overall by the Saginaw Spirit during the 2018 OHL Priority selection draft, he rescinded his commitment and joined the OHL.{{cite web |title=Cole Perfetti commits to Spirit |url=https://ontariohockeyleague.com/article/cole-perfetti-commits-to-spirit |publisher=Ontario Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=June 14, 2018}} Perfetti began his rookie campaign by scoring the first goal of the 2018–19 season in his OHL debut on September 19, 2018.{{cite web |title=Spirit rookie Cole Perfetti shows off offensive touch early |url=https://www.mlive.com/spirit/2018/09/spirit_rookie_cole_perfetti_sh.html |website=MLive.com |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=September 30, 2018}} As the season progressed, Perfetti continued to produce offensively and quickly surpassed Jan Mursak to set a new franchise record for most goals scored by a rookie. At the time of his record-setting goal, Perfetti also led all league rookies in goals and points through 53 games.{{cite web |title=Spirit's Perfetti sets new franchise rookie goal scoring record |url=https://saginawspirit.com/article/spirits-perfetti-sets-new-franchise-rookie-goal-scoring-record |publisher=Saginaw Spirit |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=February 25, 2019}} His scoring prowess helped lead the Spirit to their 40th win of the season for the first time since 2010–11. As such, he was named one of the OHL Rookies of the Month for February.{{cite web |title=OHL Rookie of the Month February – Cole Perfetti |url=https://saginawspirit.com/article/ohl-rookie-month-cole-perfetti |publisher=Saginaw Spirit |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=March 1, 2019}} He earned this honour again in March after leading all rookies with seven goals and four assists through eight games to help the Spirit secure its first West Division title since 2011. On March 9, he became the first 16-year-old rookie to record four goals in one game since Ryan Spooner did so in March 2009.{{cite web |title=OHL Rookie of the Month for March: Cole Perfetti |url=https://saginawspirit.com/article/ohl-rookie-month-march-cole-perfetti |publisher=Saginaw Spirit |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=March 20, 2019}} Although Perfetti helped the Spirit qualify for the OHL playoffs, they were eliminated in Game Seven of the Western Conference Championship Series by the Guelph Storm.{{cite web |title=Game 7 Recap: Spirit historic season ends with 3-2 loss to Storm |url=https://saginawspirit.com/article/game-7-recap-spirit-historic-season-ends-3-2-loss-storm |publisher=Saginaw Spirit |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=April 29, 2019}} He finished the regular season with 37 goals for 74 points through 63 games but lost the 2019 Rookie of The Year Award to Quinton Byfield.{{cite web |last1=McNair |first1=Brian |title=Whitby's Cole Perfetti combines smarts with plenty of hockey talent |url=https://www.durhamregion.com/community-story/9433029-whitby-s-cole-perfetti-combines-smarts-with-plenty-of-hockey-talent/ |publisher=Durham Region |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=June 13, 2019}}

As a result of his rookie season with the Spirit, Perfetti was considered a highly touted prospect for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.{{cite web |title=Perfetti, Cardwell named to NHL Central Scouting 'Players to Watch' List |url=https://saginawspirit.com/article/perfetti-cardwell-named-nhl-central-scouting-players-watch-list |publisher=Saginaw Spirit |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=October 7, 2019}} He returned to the Spirit for the 2019–20 season where he greatly improved on his previous seasons total. By February 2020, Perfetti recorded 102 points through 56 games to set a new franchise record while also helping them clinch a spot in the 2020 OHL Playoffs.{{cite web |title=Spirit's Perfetti sets new club mark for points in a season |url=https://ontariohockeyleague.com/article/spirits-perfetti-sets-new-club-mark-for-points-in-a-season |publisher=Ontario Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=February 24, 2020}} He finished the season first on the Spirit in scoring and second in the league overall with 37 goals and 74 assists through 61 games. As a result of his play, Perfetti was named to 2019-20 OHL Second All-Star Team and ranked fourth among North American skaters eligible for the 2020 NHL Draft.{{cite web |title=Spirit's Cole Perfetti named to 2019-20 OHL Second All-Star Team |url=https://saginawspirit.com/article/spirits-cole-perfetti-named-2019-20-ohl-second-star-team |publisher=Saginaw Spirit |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=May 27, 2020}} He was also named the Canadian Hockey League's Scholastic Player of the Year after maintaining a 93 percent academic average throughout the year.{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Tim |title=Whitby sniper Cole Perfetti can find the net in school too: top student in CHL |url=https://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/10014476-whitby-sniper-cole-perfetti-can-find-the-net-in-school-too-top-student-in-chl/ |publisher=Durham Region |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=June 5, 2020}}

Before the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, broadcaster Bob McKenzie ranked him highly on TSN's Final Draft list. While McKenzie was critical of Perfetti's speed, he praised Perfetti's hockey intelligence, creativity, and goal-scoring ability.{{cite web |last1=Wakiji |first1=Dana |title=Getting to Know: Cole Perfetti|url=https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/getting-to-know-cole-perfetti/c-317168004 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=September 17, 2020}} After his selection by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round (10th overall) of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Perfetti was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Jets on November 10, 2020.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-sign-cole-perfetti-to-a-three-year-entry-level-contract/c-319597228 | title = Jets sign Cole Perfetti to a three-year, entry-level contract | publisher = Winnipeg Jets | date = November 9, 2020 | accessdate = November 10, 2020}}

Following the signing of his entry-level contract, Perfetti joined the Jets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for the 2020–21 season.{{cite web |title=Four Assigned to Moose Including Two First Round Picks |url=https://moosehockey.com/news/roster-moves-jan1321/ |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=January 13, 2021}} Due to the ongoing restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season was pushed back to February 5, 2021.{{cite web |title=AHL season start target date pushed back to Feb. 5, 2021 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ahl-season-start-target-date-pushed-back-to-feb-5-2021/c-319538776 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=October 28, 2020}} Perfetti subsequently made his professional debut with the Moose on February 15, 2021, in a 3–2 loss to the Toronto Marlies. During the game, he also scored his first professional goal.{{cite web |last1=Redenbach |first1=Jennifer |title=Game Recap: Moose 2 vs. Marlies 3 |url=https://moosehockey.com/news/recap-feb1521/ |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=February 15, 2021}} Following his debut, Perfetti tallied two goals and two assists in his first 10 professional games.{{cite web |last1=Fink |first1=Daniel |title=Perfetti Made Most of AHL Opportunity |url=https://moosehockey.com/blog/perfetti-season/ |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=November 1, 2022 |date=May 12, 2021}} He continued to produce as the season continued and was eventually honored as the CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month for April after tallying 13 points through nine games during the month. His eight goals and 15 assists overall placed him sixth among rookie scorers with 23 points. Perfetti thus became the first forward and fourth player in franchise history to earn this honor.{{cite web |title=Cole Perfetti Named April CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month |url=https://moosehockey.com/news/perfetti-rom-apr21/ |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=November 1, 2022 |date=May 3, 2021}} Perfetti finished the season with nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points to earn the team's Rookie of the Year Award.{{cite web |title=Moose Announce 2020-21 Player Award Winners |url=https://moosehockey.com/news/2021-player-award-winners/ |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=November 1, 2022 |date=July 6, 2021}}

Perfetti made his NHL debut on October 13, 2021, against the Anaheim Ducks. In his debut, he recorded one hit through 9:49 minutes of ice time in the eventual 4–1 loss.{{cite web |last1=Arritt |first1=Dan |title=McTavish scores in NHL debut in Ducks victory against Jets |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-anaheim-ducks-game-recap/c-326715776 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=October 14, 2021}} He played in one more game for the Jets before being assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.{{cite web |title=Jets assign top prospect Cole Perfetti to AHL Manitoba |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/jets-assign-top-prospect-cole-perfetti-ahl-manitoba/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=October 20, 2021}} He later scored his first NHL goal January 18, 2022, in a loss to the Washington Capitals.{{cite web |last1=Aumell |first1=Christian |title=Perfetti scores first career goal but Jets fall to Capitals in OT |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8522417/perfetti-scores-first-career-goal-but-jets-fall-to-capitals-in-ot/ |publisher=Global News |access-date=January 18, 2022 |date=January 18, 2022}}

On December 31, Perfetti was the victim of an alleged high-stick from Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman on the second half of a back-to-back matchup between the Wild and Jets.{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2024 |title=Jets' Cole Perfetti Says Wild's Ryan Hartman Admitted Dirty High-Stick Was Intentional |url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2024/01/02/jets-cole-perfetti-wild-ryan-hartman-admitted-high-stick-intentional |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=Sports Illustrated}} In a game the day prior on December 30, Wild star Kirill Kaprizov was injured from a pair of cross-checks from Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon.{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2024 |title=Jets' Perfetti says Wild's Hartman 'blatantly' admitted to high-sticking him on purpose |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/jets-perfetti-says-wilds-hartman-admitted-to-high-sticking-him-on-purpose/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=Sportsnet}} The next night, 1:51 into the first period of the rematch, Hartman told Perfetti that he was going to intentionally high-stick him as retribution for Kaprizov's injury, despite Perfetti not being involved in the play which injured Kaprizov. On the ensuing faceoff, Hartman hit Perfetti in the face with an illegal high-stick. Although the play was not called a penalty by the referees, Perfertti was wearing a microphone when the exchange occurred which picked up audio of the interaction. Perfetti was not injured on the play but required stitches from the high-stick.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Hartman denies Perfetti's accusation, but adds 'I’m not sorry he got hit in the face' |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/minnesota-wild-f-ryan-hartman-denies-winnipeg-jets-cole-perfetti-s-accusation-adds-i-m-not-sorry-1.2058389 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=The Sports Network}} On January 2, 2024, the NHL fined Hartman $4,427.08 for high-sticking Perfetti, the maximum allowable under the league's collective bargaining agreement for an infraction which does not involve an injury or game misconduct penalty resulting from a play.{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2024 |title=Minnesota Wild F Ryan Hartman fined $4K for high-sticking |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39229509/minnesota-wild-f-ryan-hartman-fined-4k-high-sticking |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=ESPN}} After three days of silence following the breaking of the story, Hartman publicly denied that he had intentionally high-sticked Perfetti and instead claimed that Perfetti had baited Hartman into claiming responsibility for the incident during the match; audio of the exchange was not released after the Wild organization and National Hockey League Players' Association objected to its release.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Wild’s Ryan Hartman responds to intentional high-stick claim, denies he admitted it was payback |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5180812/2024/01/05/wild-jets-hartman-perfetti-high-stick/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |website=The Athletic}} On January 24, 2025, Perfetti scored his first career NHL hat trick in a 5–2 Jets victory over the Utah Hockey Club.

On May 4th, 2025, Perfetti scored the game-tying goal with 2.2 seconds left in regulation of Game 7 of his Jets' first round series to tie the game against the St. Louis Blues 3-3, which the Jets eventually won 4-3 in double overtime.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-edge-stats-behind-winnipeg-tying-goal-in-game-7-win-against-st-louis|title=EDGE stats behind Jets’ tying goal in Game 7 win|website=NHL.com|publisher=National Hockey League (NHL)|date=May 5, 2025|access-date=May 6, 2025}} It was the latest game-tying or winning goal in regulation in NHL playoff history.

{{MedalTableTop|name = no | image:Cole Perfetti 2019.jpg|220px|Perfetti during World Junior selection camp in 2019}}

{{MedalCountry|{{CAN}}}}

{{MedalSport|Ice hockey}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{MedalGold|2021 Latvia|}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}}

{{MedalSilver|2021 Canada|}}

{{MedalCompetition|Hlinka Gretzky Cup}}

{{MedalSilver|2019 Slovakia|}}

{{MedalBottom}}

Perfetti played for Team Canada White at the 2018-19 U17 World Hockey Challenge. He finished second in the tournament scoring 2 goals and 7 assists in five games.

Following his success at the U17 World Hockey Challenge, Perfetti was chosen to represent Team Canada at the 2019 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.{{cite web |title=Byfield, Perfetti headline Canada's roster at Hlinka Gretzky Cup |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/byfield-perfetti-headline-canadas-roster-hlinka-gretzky-cup/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=July 30, 2019}} During the tournament, he scored 8 goals and 4 assists. In the semi-finals he scored two goals in regulation and added another three goals through eight rounds of shootout to lead Team Canada to the gold medal round.{{cite web |title=Perfetti powers Canada to gold medal showdown at Hlinka Gretzky Cup |url=https://chl.ca/article/perfetti-powers-canada-to-gold-medal-showdown-at-hlinka-gretzky-cup |publisher=Canadian Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=August 9, 2019}} He led the tournament with 12 points through five games to set a new tournament record{{cite web |title=Hlinka Gretzky Cup 2019: Russians triumph after 24 years, Perfetti sets scoring record |url=https://hlinkagretzkycup.cz/clanek.asp?id=Hlinka-Gretzky-Cup-2019-Russians-triumph-after-24-years-Perfetti-sets-scoring-record-555 |publisher=Hlinka Gretzky Cup |access-date=October 25, 2022}} as Canada clinched a silver medal.{{cite web |title=O'Rourke, Canada grab silver medal at Hlinka Gretzky Cup |url=https://soogreyhounds.com/article/orourke-canada-grab-silver-medal-at-hlinka-gretzky-cup |publisher=Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=August 14, 2019}} He was invited to participate in Team Canada's camp for the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships but was cut before the final roster decisions.{{cite web |title=Canada makes nine cuts to World Junior roster |url=https://www.tsn.ca/canada-makes-nine-cuts-to-world-junior-championship-roster-1.1412293 |publisher=The Sports Network |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=December 12, 2019}}

Perfetti eventually made Team Canada's junior team for the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships after scoring impressing the coaching staff through intrasquad games during the camp.{{cite web |last1=Clinton |first1=Mitchell |title=Perfetti earns spot on Canada's World Junior roster |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/perfetti-earns-spot-on-canadas-world-junior-roster/c-319794516 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=December 11, 2020}} Perfetti also made Canada's 2022 World Junior Team and was named alternate captain. The tournament, being held in Edmonton, was cancelled after 2 games due to COVID. Perfetti scored 1 goal and 5 assists to lead the tournament in scoring though the first two games.

Perfetti made his senior international debut with Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship in Latvia.{{cite web |title=Jets forward Cole Perfetti joins Canada for 2021 IIHF World Championship |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-forward-cole-perfetti-joins-canada-for-2021-iihf-world-championship/c-324710826 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=May 14, 2021}} During the tournament, he helped Team Canada overcome a 0–3 record by scoring two goals en route to a gold medal.{{cite web |last1=Clinton |first1=Mitchell |title=Perfetti caps off memorable season with gold at World Championship |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/perfetti-caps-off-memorable-season-with-gold-at-world-championship/c-325288072 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=June 10, 2021}}

Described as a player with a high hockey IQ, Perfetti has drawn comparisons to Nikita Kucherov by hockey pundits before his draft.{{cite web |title=Jets select Cole Perfetti with 10th-overall pick in 2020 NHL Draft |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/jets-select-cole-perfetti-10th-overall-pick-2020-nhl-draft/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=October 6, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Sachdeva |first1=Sonny |title=Prospect of Interest: Could Cole Perfetti become the Canadian Kucherov? |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/prospect-interest-cole-perfetti-become-canadian-kucherov/ |publisher=Sportsnet |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=October 4, 2020}} Craig Button of TSN described Perfetti as "an elite scoring left winger in the mold of New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin." After being drafted by the Jets, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff cited his playmaking, his creativeness, and his ability to manipulate defenders as reasons for drafting him, seeing it as ideal for the team.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Perfetti started a non-profit organization called "Fetts’ Friends" to provide meals to the Environmental Service and Supply Chain employees at Covenant HealthCare.{{cite web |title="Fetts' Friends" partners with Covenant HealthCare, Bringer Inn to donate meals to hospital workers |url=https://saginawspirit.com/article/fetts-friends-partners-covenant-healthcare-bringer-inn-donate-meals-hospital-workers |publisher=Saginaw Spirit |access-date=October 25, 2022 |date=May 1, 2020}}

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• {{Ice hockey stats |nhl=8482149}}

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{{succession box | before = Ville Heinola | title = Winnipeg Jets first round draft pick | years = 2020 | after = Chaz Lucius}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Perfetti, Cole}}

Category:2002 births

Category:Living people

Category:Canadian ice hockey centres

Category:Ice hockey people from Whitby, Ontario

Category:Manitoba Moose players

Category:NHL first-round draft picks

Category:Saginaw Spirit players

Category:Winnipeg Jets draft picks

Category:Winnipeg Jets players

Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen