Tanner Kero
{{short description|American professional ice hockey player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Tanner Kero
| image = Tanner Kero (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 230px
| caption = Kero with the Rockford IceHogs in 2015
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|07|24}}
| birth_place = Hancock, Michigan, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 185
| position = Center
| shoots = Left
| league = SHL
| team = HV71
| prospect_team =
| prospect_league =
| former_teams = Chicago Blackhawks
Dallas Stars
| draft = Undrafted
| career_start = 2015
| career_end =
}}
Tanner James Kero{{cite web|url=http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2014-15/bios/kero_tanner_kyf4?view=bio|title=Tanner Kero|website=Michigan Tech Athletics}} (born July 24, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey player for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He has formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars.
Playing career
=Amateur=
Prior to his collegiate hockey career, Kero played for the Marquette Rangers in the NAHL where he led the league in goals (with 32) and was named the league's "Rookie of the Year". He also played for the Fargo Force in the USHL where he posted 13 goals, 24 assists and 37 points in 55 games and earned a spot on the USHL Western Conference All-Star Team.
Prior to turning professional, Kero attended Michigan Technological University where he played four seasons of NCAA Division I hockey with the Michigan Tech Huskies, where he registered 55 goals, 56 assists, 111 points, and 67 penalty minutes in 153 games. In his senior year, Kero's outstanding play was recognized with numerous awards including being selected as the 2014–15 WCHA Player of the Year{{cite web|url=http://collegehockeyinc.com/articles/developing-story-tanner-kero|title=Developing Story: Tanner Kero|work=collegehockeyinc.com}} and being named to the 2014–15 NCAA (West) First All-American Team.{{cite web | url = http://www.brownbears.com/sports/m-hockey/2011-12/bios/Kero_Tanner00.html | title = Tanner Kero player profile | publisher = brownbears.com | date = 2012-04-05 | accessdate = 2012-04-05 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}
=Professional=
On April 2, 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) signed Kero to a two-year entry-level contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/blackhawks/post/_/id/4688295/hawks-agree-to-terms-with-michigan-techs-tanner-kero|title=Chicago Blackhawks agree to terms with Michigan Tech's Tanner Kero – Chicago Blackhawks Blog – ESPN|work=ESPN.com|date=April 2, 2015 }} He began the 2015–16 season assigned to AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. On October 27, 2015, the Blackhawks recalled him to the NHL.{{Cite web|title = Blackhawks call up Tanner Kero, send Hinostroza to Rockford – Chicago|url = http://chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks-hockey/7/71/1049975/blackhawks-call-tanner-kero-send-hinostroza-rockford|website = Chicago|accessdate = 2015-10-27|language = en}} He made his NHL debut on October 29, 2015, in a 3–1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.{{cite journal|title=Kero Makes NHL Debut|url=http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2015-16/releases/2015103000fdvw|website=michigantechhuskies.com|accessdate=April 27, 2018|date=October 29, 2015|archive-date=June 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625132450/http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mice/2015-16/releases/2015103000fdvw|url-status=dead}} Just 4 games later, he scored his first NHL goal on November 6, shooting past Cory Schneider, in a 4–2 loss against the New Jersey Devils.{{cite web|title=Zajac has goal, assist in 1st as Devils beat Blackhawks 4-2|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/gametracker/recap/NHL_20151106_CHI@NJ/zajac-has-goal-assist-in-1st-as-devils-beat-blackhawks-4-2|website=cbssports.com|accessdate=April 27, 2018|date=November 6, 2015}} On March 23, 2017, the Blackhawks signed Kero to a two-year contract extension.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-blackhawks/blackhawks-tanner-kero-agree-two-year-contract-extension|title=Blackhawks, Tanner Kero agree to two-year contract extension|date=March 23, 2017|publisher=}}
On June 24, 2018, Kero was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Michael Chaput.{{cite web |title=Canucks Acquire Tanner Kero |url=https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/vancouver-canucks-acquire-tanner-kero/c-299256256 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=June 24, 2018 |date=June 24, 2018}}{{cite web| url = https://www.tsn.ca/canucks-acquire-kero-from-hawks-for-chaput-1.1121735 | title = Canucks acquire Kero from Hawks for Chaput | publisher = The Sports Network | date = June 24, 2018 | accessdate = June 24, 2018}}
On July 1, 2019, having left the Canucks as a free agent, Kero was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2019.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/dallas-stars-sign-center-tanner-kero-to-2-year-2-way-contract/c-308153776 | title = Stars sign center Tanner Kero to two-year, two-way contract | publisher = Dallas Stars | date = July 1, 2019 | accessdate = July 1, 2019}}
Following four seasons within the Stars organization, Kero as a free agent was signed to a one-year AHL contract for the 2023–24 season with the Colorado Eagles, affiliate to the Colorado Avalanche, on July 18, 2023.{{cite web | url = https://theahl.com/kero-signs-with-eagles | title = Kero signs with Eagles | publisher = American Hockey League | date = July 18, 2023 | accessdate = July 18, 2023}}
Upon completion of his contract with the Eagles, Kero left North America after 10 professional seasons and signed his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with Swedish club, HV71 of the SHL, on July 5, 2024.{{cite web| url = https://www.hv71.se/article/h2wasg5-3iaijd/view | title = Tanner Kero new forward in HV71 | publisher = HV71 | date = July 5, 2024 | accessdate = July 5, 2024 | language = Swedish }}
Personal life
Kero was born in Hancock, Michigan and is the son of Dale and Joan Kero. He has five sisters (one of them, Jordanna played for the Michigan Tech volleyball team) and four brothers; three of them: Dawson,{{cite web|url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=436854|title=Dawson Kero|website=Elite Prospects}} Devin{{cite web|url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=203821|title=Devin Kero|website=Elite Prospects}} and Hunter{{cite web|url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=381668|title=Hunter Kero|website=Elite Prospects}} play hockey as well. While attending Michigan Tech, Kero had a grade point average of 3.68 in mathematics.
Career statistics
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||||||
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5" | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM | ||||||||||||
| 2008–09 | Hancock High School | HSMI | 38 | 31 | 69 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2009–10 | Marquette Rangers | NAHL | 57 | 32 | 19 | 51 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010–11 | Fargo Force | USHL | 55 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2011–12 | Michigan Tech University | WCHA | 39 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | Michigan Tech University | WCHA | 33 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2013–14 | Michigan Tech University | WCHA | 40 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014–15 | Michigan Tech University | WCHA | 41 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2014–15 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 6 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 60 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2015–16 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016–17 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 28 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 47 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Chicago Blackhawks | NHL | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017–18 | Rockford IceHogs | AHL | 36 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 2018–19 | Utica Comets | AHL | 67 | 24 | 33 | 57 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | Texas Stars | AHL | 49 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 39 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021–22 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | Texas Stars | AHL | 28 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | Texas Stars | AHL | 69 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 40 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Colorado Eagles | AHL | 59 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 134 ! 11 ! 24 ! 35 ! 16 ! 4 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 ! 0 |
Awards and honors
| class="wikitable"
! Award ! Year ! |
| NAHL Rookie of the Year
| 2009–10 |
| WCHA Scoring Champion (46 points)
| 2014–15 |
| WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year
| 2014–15 |
| All-WCHA First Team
| 2014–15 |
| WCHA Player of the Year
| 2014–15 |
| NCAA (West) First All-American Team
| 2014–15 |
| Hobey Baker Award Finalist
| 2014–15 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{icehockeystats}}
{{s-start-collapsible|header={{S-ach}}}}
{{succession box | before = Cody Kunyk | title=WCHA Player of the Year | years = 2014–15| after=Alex Petan}}
{{succession box | before = Cody Kunyk | title=WCHA Scoring leader | years = 2014–15| after=Alex Petan}}
{{succession box | before = Chad Brears | title=WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year | years = 2014–15| after=Jamie Phillips}}
{{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kero, Tanner}}
Category:AHCA Division I men's ice hockey All-Americans
Category:American men's ice hockey centers
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Colorado Eagles players
Category:Ice hockey players from Michigan
Category:Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey players
Category:Rockford IceHogs (AHL) players