Cole Koepke Bio
Cole Tyler Koepke is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born in Two Harbors, Minnesota, he developed his game through youth hockey and a strong junior career before becoming a multi-year college standout with the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs. After being selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2018 NHL entry draft, Koepke worked his way through the minor leagues before establishing himself as a steady NHL contributor.
Across his professional career, Koepke has played for the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, the Boston Bruins, and now the Winnipeg Jets. Known for his work ethic and willingness to embrace bottom-six responsibilities, he has steadily grown into a reliable depth forward who can contribute offensively when called upon.
Early Life and Background
Cole Tyler Koepke was born on May 17, 1998, in Two Harbors, Minnesota, to parents Jim and Julie Koepke. Growing up in northern Minnesota, he was introduced to hockey by watching his older brother Travis play the sport. That early exposure quickly turned into a passion, and Koepke began skating and developing his game at a young age.
Koepke attended Hermantown High School, where he was a two-sport athlete. Beyond hockey, he played defense on the school’s varsity soccer team. On the ice, he served as a senior assistant team captain during the 2015–16 season, when the hockey team captured the Minnesota State High School Class A title. He was a major contributor in the state tournament, recording 11 total points, including four goals and two assists in an 11–3 quarterfinal win, capping off a memorable high school championship run.
Path to Professional Hockey
Following high school, Koepke joined the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for two seasons, where he eventually served as an assistant captain. As a rookie, he played 22 games and recorded five points while gaining valuable experience on both the penalty kill and the power play, before a knee injury cut his season short.
Early in the 2017–18 season, Koepke signed a letter of intent with the University of Minnesota Duluth. Heading into the 2018 NHL entry draft, he was ranked 215th among North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. He concluded his final USHL season with 28 goals and 39 points in 60 games, which was enough for the Tampa Bay Lightning to select him 183rd overall in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL entry draft. He was then invited to the Lightning’s development camp following the draft.
Cole Koepke Career
Collegiate Career at Minnesota Duluth (2018–2021)
Koepke joined the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men’s ice hockey team as a rookie for the 2018–19 NCAA season. He skated primarily on the left wing alongside Parker Mackay and Justin Richards, finishing his freshman year with 19 points. His efforts helped the Bulldogs capture their second consecutive national championship at the end of the season.
During his sophomore season, Koepke led the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) in goals and rode a 10-game scoring streak. He finished with 33 points in 34 games, earning first-team All-NCHC and second-team All-American honors. As a junior, he served as an assistant captain, led the Bulldogs with 115 shots, finished second on the team in goals, and helped the program reach the NCAA Frozen Four, where they lost in the semifinals to the eventual champion University of Massachusetts Minutemen. He was again named first-team All-NCHC and was a Hobey Baker Award nominee.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2021–2024)
On April 13, 2021, Koepke ended his collegiate career by signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, where he scored his first professional goal in his second game during a 7–1 win over the Utica Comets.
Koepke made his NHL debut on October 11, 2022, with the Lightning, skating on the third line in a loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. He continued to play fourth-line minutes before scoring his first NHL goal on November 13, 2022, against the Washington Capitals. He finished that first NHL stint with one point before returning to the Crunch. In 2023–24, after being called up early in the season, he appeared in nine NHL games and recorded two assists. Following the on-ice death of his friend Adam Johnson on October 28, 2023, Koepke opted to wear a neck guard.
Boston Bruins Era (2024–2025)
Following four seasons within the Lightning organization, Koepke left as a free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2024. After an impressive preseason, he made the Bruins’ opening night NHL roster for the first time in his career.
In the second game of the 2024–25 season, Koepke recorded his first career multi-point game with a goal and two assists against the Montreal Canadiens. With three goals and four assists through the first 11 games, he secured a permanent spot on the NHL roster and played his first full NHL season. On March 8, 2025, he scored his first multi-goal game with two goals against his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Overall, he finished with 10 goals and seven assists in 73 games, although the Bruins ultimately missed the playoffs.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2025–Present)
As a free agent after his contract with the Bruins expired, Koepke agreed to terms on a one-year, $1 million contract with the Winnipeg Jets for the 2025–26 season on July 1, 2025. The signing added another layer of experienced depth to the Jets’ forward group.
Koepke joined a competitive Winnipeg roster looking to build on recent playoff success. His role as a physical, defensively responsible winger with offensive upside made him a natural fit in the Jets’ bottom-six rotation as the 2025–26 season began.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the ice, Cole Koepke is recognized for his responsible two-way play, willingness to play in physical matchups, and steady penalty-killing ability. Coaches have valued his speed along the boards, his willingness to block shots, and his knack for making smart, simple plays in all three zones. His offensive game continues to develop, particularly his shot and finishing around the net.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of Cole Koepke’s most memorable career moments include helping the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs win back-to-back NCAA national championships, scoring his first NHL goal against the Washington Capitals in 2022, and recording his first career multi-goal game against his former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on March 8, 2025. He also became a full-time NHL player for the first time during the 2024–25 season with the Boston Bruins.
Cole Koepke Career Wins
Cole Koepke has compiled a series of memorable victories and championships across his amateur and professional hockey career. From high school state titles to NCAA championships and meaningful NHL performances, his résumé reflects consistent progress and timely contributions at every level.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
As a high school senior, Cole Koepke helped Hermantown capture the 2015–16 Minnesota State High School Class A title with 11 tournament points. With the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, he was part of back-to-back NCAA national championship runs in 2018–19 and contributed 19 points as a freshman. He led the NCHC in goals during his sophomore season, finished with 33 points in 34 games, and was named first-team All-NCHC and second-team All-American. As a junior, he helped Duluth return to the NCAA Frozen Four and was again named first-team All-NCHC, along with a Hobey Baker Award nomination.
Professional Highlights
In the professional ranks, Cole Koepke’s most notable wins include his NHL debut on October 11, 2022, his first NHL goal against the Washington Capitals on November 13, 2022, and his first career multi-point game against the Montreal Canadiens early in the 2024–25 season. He also scored two goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 8, 2025, in his first career multi-goal performance.
Cole Koepke Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cole Koepke comes from a close-knit family that has played a central role in his athletic development. He is the son of Jim and Julie Koepke, and he credits his older brother Travis as the original inspiration for his hockey career. Watching Travis play introduced Cole to the sport at a young age and set him on a path that led through high school, junior, collegiate, and professional hockey.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Cole Koepke has largely kept his personal life private. He has spoken publicly about the influence of his family, especially the support of his parents and his brother, throughout his hockey journey. His decision to begin wearing a neck guard after the passing of his close friend Adam Johnson in 2023 highlighted how relationships and personal connections shape his decisions on and off the ice.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025–26 season marks Cole Koepke’s first year with the Winnipeg Jets after signing a one-year, $1 million contract on July 1, 2025. Joining a deep Jets forward group, Koepke entered training camp competing for a regular role in the bottom six, where his defensive reliability and penalty-killing ability give him a clear path to ice time.
Throughout the early portion of the 2025–26 campaign, Koepke has continued to bring energy, physicality, and timely offensive contributions to Winnipeg’s lineup. His familiarity with playoff-style systems, developed through his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, has helped him adjust quickly to the Jets’ structure and expectations.
Looking ahead, Koepke’s combination of size, speed, and two-way responsibility makes him a valuable depth piece for a Winnipeg team with championship aspirations. With consistent playing time, he has the opportunity to further cement his role as a trusted NHL contributor and play a meaningful part in the Jets’ push through the 2025–26 season.