Neal Pionk

Pionk was born on July 29, 1995, in Omaha, Nebraska,{{cite web |title=Neal Pionk Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/neal-pionk-8480145 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=May 29, 2022}} to parents Karen and Scott Pionk.{{cite web |title=Neal Pionk – Men's Ice Hockey |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/neal-pionk/2321 |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |access-date=May 29, 2022}} His father played baseball for Proctor High School and the University of Wisconsin–Superior before coaching ice hockey at the youth level and for the United States Hockey League (USHL).{{cite news |title=Versatile Hawk commits to UMD |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/versatile-hawk-commits-to-umd |work=Duluth News Tribune |date=December 17, 2012 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Pionk was raised in Hermantown, Minnesota, a suburb of Duluth, where his father built a baseball diamond and an ice hockey rink for Pionk and his friends to practice.{{cite news |last=Ates |first=Murat |title=Q&A: Neal Pionk on his long road to the NHL, unique development path and his opportunity in Winnipeg |url=https://theathletic.com/1090778/2019/07/24/qa-neal-pionk-on-his-long-road-to-the-nhl-unique-development-path-and-his-opportunity-in-winnipeg/ |work=The Athletic |date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=May 29, 2022 |url-access=subscription}} All five Pionk brothers played baseball and ice hockey as children, and after school they would play two-on-two hockey in this backyard ice rink.{{cite news |last=Ates |first=Murat |title=Family, friends and shinny: How a Pionk tradition celebrates hockey in its purest form |url=https://theathletic.com/1325359/2019/12/23/family-friends-and-shinny-how-a-pionk-tradition-celebrates-hockey-in-its-purest-form/ |work=The Athletic |date=December 23, 2019 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} In his adolescence, Pionk played with future National Hockey League (NHL) player Dylan Samberg on youth teams and for Hermantown High School.{{cite news |last=Wiebe |first=Ken |title=Jets' Samberg, Pionk have hockey-mad hometown beaming with pride |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/jets-samberg-pionk-hockey-mad-hometown-beaming-pride/ |work=Sportsnet |date=January 16, 2022 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Pionk and his brothers also created an annual pick-up hockey tradition with fellow brothers Travis and Cole Koepke. They referred to this annual tournament as the Holiday Cup.{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Tim |title=Pionk has high expectations for Heritage Classic with Jets |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/neal-pionk-eager-for-heritage-classic-with-winnipeg-jets/c-310304592 |publisher=National Hockey League |date=October 21, 2019 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} In his final season for Hermantown, Pionk scored 14 goals and 29 points in 25 games.{{cite web |title=Neal Pionk |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/196583/neal-pionk |website=Elite Prospects |access-date=May 29, 2022}}

The Sioux City Musketeers selected Pionk in the fifth round, 66th overall, of the 2012 USHL Draft.{{cite news |title=Pionk Named 2014–15 USHL Defenseman of the Year |url=https://www.musketeershockey.com/news_article/show/518800 |publisher=United States Hockey League |agency=Sioux City Musketeers |date=May 26, 2015 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Immediately after taking Hermantown to a state championship title in 2013, Pionk left the school to begin his junior ice hockey career in Sioux City.{{cite news |last=Sega |first=Tom |title=Leader Of The Pack Summary: NHL Legend Neal Pionk |url=https://www.duluthpack.com/blogs/leader-of-the-pack-summary-nhl-legend-neal-pionk/ |work=Duluth Pack |date=January 5, 2022 |access-date=May 29, 2022}}{{cite news |title=Bulldogs sign pair of Sioux City Musketeers to 2015–16 recruiting class |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/story.aspx?filename=MHOCKEY_1118141811&file_date=11/18/2014 |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=November 18, 2014 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} He played 12 games for the Musketeers during their 2012–13 season, recording one goal and six points in the process. The next season, he recorded two goals and 23 points in 54 regular season games for the Musketeers. Sioux City advanced to the Western Conference Finals of the 2014 USHL championships, where they were swept by the Waterloo Black Hawks.{{cite news |last=Giese |first=Jerry |title=Younger brother of Musketeers' captain shines at training camp |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/hockey/amateur/musketeers/younger-brother-of-musketeers-captain-shines-at-training-camp/article_8b3c4fce-5039-5b83-b5da-32da6aef719f.html |work=Sioux City Journal |date=June 17, 2014 |access-date=May 29, 2022 |url-access=limited}} Overlooked in the 2014 NHL Draft, Pionk served as captain of the Musketeers for the 2014–15 season.{{cite news |last=Giese |first=Jerry |title=Musketeers' captain is USHL's second-leading scoring defenseman |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/hockey/amateur/musketeers/musketeers-captain-is-ushls-second-leading-scoring-defenseman/article_10f40759-1844-5c9e-b420-e4465e3076d0.html |work=Sioux City Journal |date=February 15, 2015 |access-date=May 29, 2022 |url-access=limited}} With seven goals and 41 assists in 53 regular season games, Pionk led all USHL defensemen in scoring, and he was named the USHL Defenseman of the Year at the end of the season. The Musketeers were eliminated by the Sioux Falls Stampede in a five-game Western Conference Semifinal series that postseason.{{cite news |last=Giese |first=Jerry |title=Musketeers deal with early playoff exit |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/hockey/amateur/musketeers/musketeers-deal-with-early-playoff-exit/article_0ca1f11b-05bb-531a-bbe6-b18a1c6d9212.html |work=Sioux City Journal |date=April 24, 2015 |access-date=May 29, 2022 |url-access=limited}} In 119 career games for Sioux City, Pionk recorded 10 goals, 77 points, a +44 plus–minus rating, and 199 penalty minutes.{{cite news |title=Rangers Agree To Terms With Free Agent Defenseman Neal Pionk |url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-agree-to-terms-with-free-agent-defenseman-neal-pionk/c-289205100 |publisher=National Hockey League |agency=New York Rangers |date=May 1, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}}

Pionk committed to play college ice hockey for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 2012, and he signed a National Letter of Intent in 2014 to join Duluth for their 2015–16 season. On October 24, 2015, Pionk scored the first goal of his collegiate career, the game-tying point in a 3–3 overtime draw against Notre Dame.{{cite news |title=UMD and Notre Dame fit to be tied for second night in a row |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2015/10/24/MHOCKEY_1024154647.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=October 24, 2015 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} After recording two points, two blocked shots, and a +2 rating in the two-game Notre Dame series, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) named Pionk their Defensive Player of the Week.{{cite news |title=NCHC weekly honors bestowed on Cameranesi and Pionk |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2015/10/26/fsjdakd.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Pionk received weekly honors again on March 7 after generating a team-high three points and four blocked shots in a two-game sweep of Miami University.{{cite news |title=NCHC weekly citations bestowed on UMD's Kaskisuo and Pionk |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2016/3/7/mens-hockey-nchc-weekly-citations-bestowed-on-umds-kaskisuo-and-pionk.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Appearing in all 40 games for Duluth during his freshman season, Pionk recorded four goals and 17 points, and the Bulldogs named him the Jerry Chumola Rookie of the Year.{{cite news |title=Welinski voted UMD's most valuable player for 2015–16 |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2016/5/9/mens-hockey-welinski-voted-umds-most-valuable-player-for-2015-16.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=May 9, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} At the end of the 2015–16 season, all Duluth freshmen, including Pionk, were named to the NCHC All-Academic Team.{{cite news |title=All five UMD freshmen qualify for 2015–16 NCHC All-Academic honors |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2016/6/20/mens-hockey-all-five-umd-freshmen-qualify-for-2015-16-nchc-all-academic-honors.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=June 20, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2022}}

After recording a goal and an assist in a two-game series against the UMass Lowell River Hawks, Pionk began the 2016–17 season as the NCHC Defenseman of the Week for the week ending October 10.{{cite news |title=UMD's Deery and Pionk collar NCHC Player of the Week citations |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2016/10/10/mens-hockey-deery-and-pionk-collar-nchc-player-of-the-week-citattions.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=October 10, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} He received the award again on December 12 after recording three points, six blocked shots, and a +2 rating against the Denver Pioneers.{{cite news |title=Pionk receives NCHC Defenseman of the Week citation |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2016/12/12/mens-hockey-pionk-receives-nchc-defenseman-of-the-week-citation.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=December 12, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} His third weekly honor of the season came on February 6, 2017, after a three-point weekend against Omaha.{{cite news |title=UMD's Miska and Pionk both honored with NCHC citations |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2017/2/6/mens-hockey-umds-miska-and-pionk-both-honored-with-nchc-citations.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=February 6, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} With seven goals and 28 points in the regular 2016–17 season, Pionk was named to both the All-NCHC Second Team and the All-USCHO Third Team as a sophomore.{{cite news |title=All-NCHC honors bestowed on trio of Bulldogs |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2017/3/8/mens-hockey-all-nchc-honors-bestowed-on-trio-of-bulldogs.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=March 8, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}}{{cite news |title=Trio of Bulldogs secure All-USCHO honors |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2017/4/17/mens-hockey-trio-of-bulldogs-secure-all-uscho-com-honors.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=April 17, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} In the postseason, Pionk and the Bulldogs defeated the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 4–3 to capture the 2017 NCHC Tournament championship, their first conference championship since 2009.{{cite news |last=Wellens |first=Matt |title=College men's hockey: Bulldogs win penalty-filled Frozen Faceoff final |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/college-mens-hockey-bulldogs-win-penalty-filled-frozen-faceoff-final |work=Duluth News Tribune |date=March 19, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Pionk was one of four Duluth players named to the Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team that year.{{cite news |last=Hatten |first=Mick |title=Frozen Faceoff: UMD scores late, wins NCHC title, 4–3 |url=https://www.sctimes.com/story/sports/college/hockey/husky-hockey/2017/03/18/frozen-faceoff-umd-scores-late-wins-nchc-title-4-3/99326516/ |work=St. Cloud Times |date=March 18, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022 |url-access=limited}} The Bulldogs then advanced to the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, where they fell 3–2 to Denver in the national championship.{{cite news |last=Wellens |first=Matt |title=Frozen Four: Bulldogs' last rally falls short, Denver claims national championship |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/frozen-four-bulldogs-last-rally-falls-short-denver-claims-national-championship |work=Duluth News Tribune |date=April 9, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Pionk added another six points in eight postseason games, and he was named to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey All-Tournament Team.{{cite news |title=All-NCHC defenseman Pionk signs on with NHL's New York Rangers |url=https://umdbulldogs.com/news/2017/5/1/mens-hockey-all-nchc-second-team-defensman-pionk-signs-on-with-nhls-new-york-rangers.aspx |publisher=Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs |date=May 1, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}}

After Duluth's loss to Denver in the NCAA tournament finals, Pionk announced that he would forfeit his final two seasons of college hockey eligibility in order to begin a professional career.{{cite news |last=Wellens |first=Matt |title=College men's hockey: Former Bulldog, Hermantown native Pionk signs with Rangers |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/college-mens-hockey-former-bulldog-hermantown-native-pionk-signs-with-rangers |work=Duluth News Tribune |date=May 1, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} He finished his career in Duluth with 11 goals, 51 points, and a +35 rating in 82 games.

On May 1, 2017, Pionk signed a two-year, $3.55 million contract with the New York Rangers of the NHL.{{cite news |last=Stephenson |first=Colin |title=Rangers' Neal Pionk and Tony DeAngelo are the same, but different |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/rangers-neal-pionk-and-tony-deangelo-are-the-same-but-different-m73370 |work=Newsday |date=September 24, 2018 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} After attending training camp with New York, Pionk was assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) to begin the 2017–18 season.{{cite news |title=Wolf Pack receive four from Rangers |url=https://www.hartfordwolfpack.com/news/detail/wolf-pack-receive-four-from-rangers |publisher=American Hockey League |agency=Hartford Wolf Pack |date=September 28, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} He made his professional hockey debut on October 6, 2017, against the Charlotte Checkers, and recorded his first point two days later against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. After recording one goal and 17 points in 48 games, Pionk was promoted to the Rangers on February 8, 2018.{{cite news |title=Rangers Recall Neal Pionk From Hartford |url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-recall-neal-pionk-from-hartford/c-295740728 |publisher=National Hockey League |agency=New York Rangers |date=February 8, 2018 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} He made his NHL debut the next night, blocking three shots in a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames.{{cite news |title=NHL: Pionk makes NHL debut |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/nhl-pionk-makes-nhl-debut |work=Duluth News Tribune |date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Pionk scored his first NHL goal on March 24 against the Buffalo Sabres, the culmination of a stretch of 13 points in 12 games.{{cite news |last=Best |first=Neil |title=Rangers rookie Neal Pionk continues to impress since his call-up from AHL |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/neil-pionk-rangers-a38036 |work=Newsday |date=March 25, 2018 |access-date=May 29, 2022}} Despite playing on a team that struggled defensively throughout the {{NHL Year|2017}} season, Pionk finished his rookie year with 14 points in 28 games, and he received frequent playing time down the final stretch of the season.{{Cite news |last=Goldman |first=Shayna |title=Why the contrast between the eye test and underlying numbers make it so difficult to evaluate Neal Pionk |url=https://theathletic.com/644617/2018/11/09/why-the-contrast-between-the-eye-test-and-underlying-numbers-make-it-so-difficult-to-evaluate-neal-pionk/ |work=The Athletic |date=November 9, 2018 |access-date=May 29, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}

Pionk joined the Rangers full-time during the 2018–19 season. He recorded six goals and 26 points in 73 games, leading all Rangers' defencemen with 13 power play points.

On June 17, 2019, Pionk and a 2019 first-round pick were traded to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Jacob Trouba. The first-round pick originally belonged to the Jets.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-acquire-neal-pionk-and-a-first-round-draft-pick/c-307887432 | title = Jets acquire Neal Pionk and a first-round draft pick | publisher = Winnipeg Jets | date = June 17, 2019 | accessdate = June 17, 2019}} On July 21, the Jets signed Pionk to a two-year, $6 million contract extension.{{cite web |title=Jets sign Neal Pionk to a two-year contract |url=https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/jets-sign-neal-pionk-to-a-two-year-contract/c-308312418 |website=Winnipeg Jets |accessdate=July 21, 2019}}

On August 11, 2021, Pionk signed a four-year, $23.5 million contract with the Jets.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/neal-pionk-signs-deal-with-winnipeg/c-325947174?tid=281072352|title=Pionk signs four-year contact with Jets, avoids arbitration hearing|website=National Hockey League|accessdate=August 12, 2021}}

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{{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}}

{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}

{{Medal|Bronze|2018 Denmark|}}

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As a citizen of the United States, Pionk has represented his home country at both the junior and senior levels. He first represented Team USA at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge where he helped them earn a gold medal and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team.{{cite web |title=UNITED STATES WINS GOLD MEDAL AT 2013 WORLD JUNIOR A CHALLENGE |url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/united-states-wins-gold-medal-at-2013-world-junior-a-challenge |publisher=Hockey Canada |access-date=October 29, 2021 |date=November 10, 2013}} Following this, Pionk never represented Team USA again until 2018, when he along with teammate Chris Kreider, were the only Rangers players selected to represent the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.{{cite web |last1=Calamia |first1=Matt |title=Kreider, Pionk Named to Team USA World Championship Roster |url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-kreider-pionk-named-to-team-usa-world-championship-roster/c-298311210 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=October 29, 2021 |date=April 28, 2018}} During the tournament, Pionk recorded three points through 10 games to win a bronze medal.{{cite web |title=QUINTET OF NCHC ALUMNI EARN BRONZE MEDAL AT 2018 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP |url=https://www.nchchockey.com/news_article/show/920108 |publisher=NCHC |access-date=October 29, 2021 |date=May 21, 2018}}

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• {{Ice hockey stats|nhl=8480145}}

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Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen

Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players

Category:Ice hockey players from Minnesota

Category:Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's ice hockey players

Category:New York Rangers players

Category:People from Hermantown, Minnesota

Category:Ice hockey people from St. Louis County, Minnesota

Category:Sioux City Musketeers players

Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players

Category:Winnipeg Jets players

Category:21st-century American sportsmen