Mason Appleton

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| alt =

| name = Mason Appleton

| image = Mason Appleton Winnipeg Jets 2024.jpg

| caption = Appleton with the Winnipeg Jets in 2024

| image_size =

| team = Winnipeg Jets

| league = NHL

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league = AHL

| ntl_team =

| former_teams = Seattle Kraken

| position = Center

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 194

| shoots = Right

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|01|15}}

| birth_place = Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.

| draft = 168th overall

| draft_team = Winnipeg Jets

| draft_year = 2015

| career_start = 2017

| career_end =

}}Mason Appleton (born January 15, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Early life

Appleton was born on January 15, 1996, in Green Bay, Wisconsin to parents Jim and Kim. He cites his father as the reason he began playing ice hockey.{{cite web|url=http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/mason_appleton_979088.html|title=Mason Appleton|publisher=Michigan State Athletics|access-date=April 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416200320/http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/mason_appleton_979088.html|archive-date=April 16, 2018|url-status=dead}} His younger cousin Collin also played ice hockey.{{cite web |title=Collin Appleton |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/300907/collin-appleton |website=eliteprospects.com |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=January 31, 2021}}

Playing career

Appleton was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he attended Ashwaubenon High School and Notre Dame Academy. During his freshman year at Ashwaubenon, he was the third-leading scorer with 15 goals with 23 assists. Appleton left for Notre Dame Academy (NDA) in 2011 where he played alongside his cousin Collin for the Tritons.{{cite web |title=Mason Appleton |url=https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/mason-appleton/ |website=hockeysfuture.com |publisher=Hockeys Future |access-date=January 31, 2021}} During that season, he helped the Tritons win their first state championship after scoring the game-winning goal during the second overtime against Wausau West.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Eric |title=Notre Dame wins on Appleton's goal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68979389/mason-appleton/ |access-date=January 31, 2021 |publisher=Green Bay Press-Gazette |date=March 4, 2012|via=newspapers.com}} The following year, Appleton helped the NDA Tritons dominate Wisconsin high school hockey by winning their first 20 games before tying Green Bay United. During the season, he scored 20 goals and recorded 25 assists in 28 games. As a result of his play, he attended USA Hockey’s Select 17 Camp, recording 1 assist in five games during tournament play.

In his senior year at NDA, Appleton led the Tritons with 70 points, earning Wisconsin Hockey Coaches Association all-state honors and was a finalist for player of the year.{{cite news|url=https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/sports/high-school/hockey/2014/07/18/notre-dames-mason-appleton-commits-michigan-state/12869541/|title=Notre Dame's Mason Appleton commits to Michigan State|publisher=Green Bay Press Gazette|date=July 18, 2014|access-date=April 15, 2018}} In May, Appleton was drafted third overall by the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the highest a member of NDA had ever been drafted. At the time of his selection, he stood at 6-foot-2 and weighed 185-pound.{{cite news |last1=Pekarek |first1=Andrew |title=Four Tritons make mark in Phase II |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68978678/mason-appleton/ |access-date=January 31, 2021 |publisher=Green Bay Press-Gazette |date=May 7, 2014}} Appleton finished his high school career with 66 goals and 110 assists.{{cite web |title=Mason Appleton|url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/266919/mason-appleton|website=eliteprospects.com |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=January 31, 2021}} He played one season of junior ice hockey with the Tri-City Storm before joining the Michigan State Spartans in 2015. During his time in the USHL, Appleton was the league's sixth-leading scorer and third on the Storm with 28 assists.

=Collegiate=

Appleton joined the Michigan State Spartans for their 2015–16 season where he recorded a team-high 17 assists and a total of 22 points in 37 games. He scored his first collegiate goal during a 5–0 win against the New Hampshire Wildcats on November 6, 2015.{{cite web |title=Spartans Overpower UNH, 5-0 |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2015/11/6/Spartans_Overpower_UNH_5_0.aspx |website=msuspartans.com |date=November 6, 2015 |access-date=January 31, 2021}} Following this, he became the first Spartan since 2009 to pick up a point in his first three collegiate contests. Appleton ended his rookie season leading all freshmen with 22 points and earned the teams' Outstanding Rookie Award.{{cite web |title=Spartans Host Annual Awards Program |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2016/4/18/Spartans_Host_Annual_Awards_Program |website=msuspartans.com |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=April 18, 2016}}

During the summer before his sophomore season, Appleton was drafted in the sixth round, 168th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL entry draft.{{cite web |title=Jets make six selections on Day 2 of 2015 NHL Draft |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-make-six-selections-on-day-2-of-2015-nhl-draft/c-772669 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=June 27, 2015}} After being drafted, Appleton said, "for me, I kind of don't look at myself as a 6th round pick...I look at myself as the type of hockey player that I am. I'm a confident player, I'm a confident guy. There is still more to prove. There is room to get better. My goal is to play in the NHL and I haven't achieved that yet."{{cite web |last1=Schroeder |first1=Dave |title=Green Bay's Appleton ready for NHL jump |url=https://www.wbay.com/content/news/Green-Bays-Appleton-ready-for-NHL--488060581.html |website=wbay.com |publisher=WBAY |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=July 12, 2018}}

When Appleton returned to the Spartans for his sophomore season, he earned praise from the coach and teammates for his offseason training.{{cite web |title=Neil's Notebook: Competitive Appleton Striving to Continue Production |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2016/11/3/neil_amp_8217_s_notebook_competitive_appleton_striving_to_continue_production_.aspx |website=msuspartans.com |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=November 3, 2016}} He played on a line with Patrick Khodorenko and Taro Hirose, who accounted for 23 points within the teams' first nine games. By late November, Appleton reached his goal total of five and added 11 points to lead the team. At the conclusion of the 2016–17 season, Appleton was named Team MVP and Outstanding Offensive Player after finishing with a career-best 31 points.{{cite web |title=Spartan Hockey Hosts Annual Awards Program |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2017/4/15/Spartan_Hockey_Hosts_Annual_Awards_Program.aspx |website=msuspartans.com |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=April 15, 2017}} Following his sophomore season, Appleton was named the 72nd captain in program history alongside assistant captains Carson Gatt, Brennan Sanford, and Sam Saliba.{{cite web |title=Spartan Hockey Captains Announced for 2017-18 Season |url=https://msuspartans.com/news/2017/5/18/Spartan_Hockey_Captains_Announced_for_2017_18_Season.aspx?path=mhockey |website=msuspartans.com |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=May 18, 2017}}

=Professional=

File:Mason Appleton 04.jpg in 2022.]]

After two seasons with the Spartans, Appleton left college to sign a three-year entry level contract with the Jets with an average annual value of $758,333.{{cite web |title=Jets sign Mason Appleton |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-sign-mason-appleton/c-290384190 |website=nhl.com |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=July 13, 2017}} He attended their training camp prior to the 2017–18 season and was reassigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, for the season.{{cite web |title=Jets reduce training camp roster by 13 |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-reduce-training-camp-roster-by-13/c-291317042 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=September 24, 2017}} Appleton started the season centering the Moose's fourth line but quickly moved up the depth chart as a left winger on the team’s top line.{{cite web |last1=Peacock |first1=Mitch |title=Started From The Bottom |url=https://moosehockey.com/blog/appleton-aug1518/ |website=moosehockey.com |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=August 15, 2018}} On October 21, he recorded his first career AHL goal on the power-play as the Moose beat the Iowa Wild 4–2.{{cite web |last1=Fink |first1=Daniel |title=Game Recap: Moose 4 at Iowa 2 |url=https://moosehockey.com/news/recap-oct2117/ |website=moosehockey.com |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=October 21, 2017}} As a result of his play, Appleton was selected as CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the week of November 20 after recording six points in three games, which also included two game-winning goals.{{cite web |title=Mason Appleton named CCM/AHL Player of the Week |url=https://moosehockey.com/news/appleton-playeroftheweek/ |website=moosehockey.com |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=November 20, 2017}} By April 2018, Appleton led the Moose with 61 points in 71 games and set a new franchise records in assists and points by a rookie. He also led all AHL rookies in scoring and placed fourth in the league’s overall points race. He was subsequently named to AHL All-Rookie Team and represented the Moose at the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic.{{cite web |title=Appleton and Niku Named to AHL All-Rookie Team |url=https://moosehockey.com/news/rookie-awards-apr418/ |website=moosehockey.com |publisher=Manitoba Moose |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=April 4, 2018}} He also won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as AHL Rookie of the Year and was named to the AHL's First All-Star.{{cite web |title=Appleton voted AHL's top rookie for 2017-18 |url=https://theahl.com/appleton-voted-ahls-top-rookie-for-2017-18 |website=theahl.com |publisher=American Hockey League |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=April 12, 2018}} However, as the Moose qualified for the 2018 Calder Cup playoffs, Appleton suffered a concussion and was forced to sit out for their first round matchup with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Following his rookie season, Appleton was again invited to participate at the Jets' training camp prior to the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |last1=Clinton |first1=Mitchell |title=Appleton, Samberg building on great seasons at development camp |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/appleton-samberg-building-on-great-seasons-at-development-camp/c-299287298 |website=nhl.com |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=January 31, 2021 |date=June 26, 2018}} Appleton made his NHL debut on December 1, 2018 against the New Jersey Devils. He recorded an assist on Andrew Copp's goal in the third period.{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Jason |title=Appleton makes NHL debut count with first NHL point |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/appleton-making-his-nhl-debut-for-the-jets-in-jersey-501708421.html |access-date=December 21, 2018 |publisher=Winnipeg Free Press |date=December 1, 2018}} On December 20, Appleton scored his first NHL goal against Martin Jones in a 5–3 win over the San Jose Sharks.{{cite web |title=Ehlers records hat trick to lead Jets past Sharks |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets-san-jose-sharks-1.4955366?cmp=rss |website=cbc.ca |access-date=December 21, 2018 |date=December 21, 2018}}

On July 21, 2021, Appleton was selected from the Jets at the 2021 NHL expansion draft by the Seattle Kraken.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/seattle-kraken-2021-expansion-draft-running-blog/c-325707088 | title = Seattle Kraken make their picks | publisher = Seattle Kraken | date = July 22, 2021 | accessdate = July 22, 2021}}

On March 20, 2022, one day before the trade deadline, Appleton was traded back to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2023 fourth round draft pick.{{cite web |url= https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2319641/amp |title= Report: Jets reuniting with Mason Appleton |publisher= theScore.com |date= March 20, 2022 |accessdate= March 20, 2022}}