Blake Coleman Bio
Blake Coleman (born November 28, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey player who serves as a forward and alternate captain for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed “Pickles,” he was selected 75th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Known for his speed, grit, and reliability in clutch situations, Coleman has built a reputation as a hardworking two-way forward who consistently elevates his linemates.
Born and raised in Plano, Texas, Coleman became the first player exclusively trained in the state to win the Stanley Cup, highlighting his unusual path to professional hockey. His journey from Texas youth rinks to championship hockey has made him a notable figure in the continued growth of the sport across non-traditional American markets.
Early Life and Background
Blake Coleman was born on November 28, 1991, in Plano, Texas, to parents Sandy and Rusty Coleman. He grew up in an athletic household, with his father Rusty having played football at the University of Oklahoma and his sister Brooke playing volleyball at Ohio University. In addition to Brooke, Blake has three older siblings: a sister and two brothers who encouraged his early interest in sports.
Coleman was introduced to ice hockey by his grandmother, who took him to Dallas Stars games as a toddler. He learned to skate at the age of five at a rink in Irving, Texas, before a facility even opened in his hometown of Plano. Because local ice time was scarce, he often practiced in the early morning hours and frequently played against children above his age group. As a youth, he represented the Dallas Alliance minor ice hockey team at the 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
While in middle school, Coleman was recruited to attend a Catholic school in Detroit and play for the Belle Tire 16U AAA team in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League. His coach, Kyle Krug, encouraged him to embrace a tougher, more defensive style of play, helping him build the physical foundation that would later define his professional career.
Path to Hockey
After losing in the national championship semifinals with Belle Tire, Coleman returned to Texas and played two seasons with the Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club. He helped the team finish fifth and then second at the national midget major tournament, drawing attention from collegiate recruiters. Although he was invited to play in the North American Hockey League, he instead chose to develop in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
Coleman began his USHL career with the Tri-City Storm, recording two goals and nine assists in 22 games before being traded to the Indiana Ice. After going undrafted in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, he returned to the Ice for the 2010-11 season and produced a breakout campaign. He finished with 34 goals and 58 assists for 90 points, capturing the USHL scoring title and becoming the first player to surpass 90 points since 2001-02. He was named USHL Player and Forward of the Year, earned the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award, and was selected to the USHL First All-Star Team.
Although the University of Denver recruited him, Coleman had already committed to Miami University. Before joining the RedHawks, he was drafted in the third round, 75th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Members of the Devils organization developed custom physical assessment tests for Coleman after he was not invited to the NHL Combine.
Blake Coleman Career
Early Career (2011-2015)
Blake Coleman played for the Miami RedHawks at Miami University from 2011 to 2015 while studying in the Farmer School of Business. He recorded his first collegiate assist on October 8, 2011, against Bemidji State and his first collegiate goal on October 28, 2011, against Lake Superior State. Coleman quickly emerged as a key offensive contributor alongside fellow freshmen Tyler Biggs and Jimmy Mullin, earning CCHA Rookie of the Week honors in January 2012.
During his four seasons with the RedHawks, Coleman steadily developed his two-way game and leadership skills. He set career highs in goals, assists, and points during his senior year and was named NCHC Tournament MVP after recording a hat trick in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game against St. Cloud State. His consistent production and physical maturity helped solidify his reputation as a future NHL contributor.
New Jersey Devils Era (2015-2020)
After graduating from Miami University, Coleman signed a two-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Albany Devils. He made his NHL debut on November 12, 2016, and recorded his first career NHL point four games later by assisting on a Beau Bennett goal against the Minnesota Wild. Coleman became the fourth Texas-born player in NHL history to score against the Dallas Stars during the 2016-17 season.
Coleman posted 13 goals and 12 assists in his first full NHL campaign (2017-18) and added two goals in his postseason debut during the Devils’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He signed a three-year, $5.4 million contract extension in July 2018 and continued to elevate his game, reaching the 30-point milestone for the first time in 2018-19. On February 16, 2020, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Nolan Foote and a conditional first-round pick.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2020-2021)
Coleman joined the Tampa Bay Lightning in February 2020 and was quickly integrated into a third line with Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde. Although the regular season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and became a key contributor. He scored his first goal as a member of the Lightning in Game 5 against Columbus and added two goals in Game 2 against the Boston Bruins to help even the series.
During the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals against the Dallas Stars, Coleman’s line helped hold Dallas to one power-play goal on 19 chances. He scored the Lightning’s second goal of Game 6, securing Tampa Bay’s second Stanley Cup in franchise history and making him the first born-and-raised Texan to win the championship. The following season, Coleman helped the Lightning capture their second consecutive Stanley Cup in 2021, cementing his legacy as a clutch playoff performer.
Calgary Flames Era (2021-Present)
On July 28, 2021, Coleman signed a six-year, $29.4 million contract with the Calgary Flames as a free agent. He joined a competitive roster and was initially paired with Mikael Backlund and Tyler Pitlick before eventually finding chemistry on the third line with Sean Monahan and Trevor Lewis. By mid-January 2022, he tied with Alex Ovechkin for fifth in the NHL with 102 shots during five-on-five play.
On December 31, 2023, Coleman became the fourth Texas-born player to reach the 500-game milestone in the NHL, recording two assists against the Philadelphia Flyers. He was named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week for the week ending January 14, 2024, after collecting four goals and three assists. He currently serves as an alternate captain for the Flames, providing veteran leadership and two-way play.
Driving Style and Strengths
Coleman is widely recognized for his speed, forechecking ability, and penalty-killing reliability. He excels in a bottom-six or third-line role, consistently generating offensive chances while remaining defensively responsible. His willingness to play a physical game and his chemistry with linemates such as Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde have made him a valuable asset in both regular-season and postseason play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Coleman’s career highlights are his back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021, his status as the first Texas-born player exclusively trained in the state to win the Cup, and his 500-game NHL milestone reached in December 2023. He also recorded his first career NHL hat trick while with the New Jersey Devils and was named NCHC Tournament MVP during his senior year at Miami University.
Blake Coleman Career Wins
Blake Coleman has won two Stanley Cup championships, both with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. He has also earned individual accolades at the collegiate and junior levels, including USHL Player of the Year honors and NCHC Tournament MVP recognition.
NHL Highlights
Coleman won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021, playing a pivotal role on the team’s third line during both playoff runs. He scored key goals against Boston and Dallas in the 2020 postseason and continued to contribute during the Lightning’s 2021 championship run.
Junior and Collegiate Honors
During his junior career, Coleman won the USHL scoring title and was named Player and Forward of the Year in 2010-11. At Miami University, he earned NCHC Tournament MVP honors and was selected to multiple all-conference and all-tournament teams throughout his four collegiate seasons.
Blake Coleman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Blake Coleman comes from an athletic family rooted in Texas. His father, Rusty Coleman, played football at the University of Oklahoma, while his sister Brooke played volleyball at Ohio University. His grandmother played a formative role in his hockey development by taking him to Dallas Stars games as a toddler, sparking his lifelong passion for the sport.
Personal Life
Coleman married his fiancée, Jordan Daigle, in the summer of 2019. Daigle previously worked as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and a college football sideline reporter with CBS. Together they have two daughters. In 2018, Coleman launched the Pickles Pals program, a community initiative supporting the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Newark Ironbound, with the name inspired by a childhood nickname he received after being caught sipping pickle juice in the penalty box.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Blake Coleman continues to serve as an alternate captain and dependable two-way forward for the Calgary Flames. His veteran presence and penalty-killing expertise remain central to the team’s identity as they pursue a return to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Throughout the early portion of the season, Coleman has provided consistent secondary scoring and physical play on the lower lines. His shot generation and willingness to engage physically have helped set the tone for the Flames’ bottom-six forwards, while his leadership in the locker room continues to influence younger teammates.
Looking ahead, Coleman’s experience from two Stanley Cup runs in Tampa Bay positions him as a stabilizing force for Calgary’s playoff push. His ability to log important minutes in all situations, combined with his track record of postseason success, makes him a key piece of the Flames’ aspirations for the 2025 postseason.