Jackson Cates Bio
Jackson Cates (born September 28, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center who is currently playing with the Rockford IceHogs in the American Hockey League (AHL). Standing 6 feet tall and weighing roughly 190 pounds, he plays a responsible, two-way game and has represented both the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL) and several AHL affiliates throughout his young career.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Cates was born on September 28, 1997, in Stillwater, Minnesota, a community with a strong youth hockey tradition. He attended Stillwater Area High School, where he suited up for the Ponies and helped lead the program to two state tournament appearances in 2014 and 2016. His prep career was prolific, producing 57 goals and 63 assists for 120 points, totals that stand as the highest in school history.
At the conclusion of his senior season, Cates received the Herb Brooks Award, an honor presented each year to the state tournament player who best embodies the values and traits exemplified by the legendary coach. The recognition underscored both his on-ice production and the character that had become a hallmark of his game well before he reached the professional ranks.
Path to Hockey
Following high school, Cates played junior ice hockey with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League, one of the top development circuits in North America. On January 28, 2018, he scored a hat trick in a 7–3 victory over the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, signaling his scoring touch at the junior level.
Cates originally committed to play at Michigan Tech before changing course in August 2017, signing a National Letter of Intent with the University of Minnesota Duluth so he could line up alongside his younger brother. In his junior season with the Bulldogs, he posted 27 points, including 11 goals and 16 assists, in 28 games, building the résumé that would eventually attract NHL attention.
Jackson Cates Career
Early Career (2021)
On April 13, 2021, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Cates as a college free agent to a two-year entry-level contract with an average annual value of $925,000. Because of COVID-19 restrictions in effect at the time, Cates was required to quarantine after arriving in Philadelphia before he could skate with the team. He made his NHL debut on April 23, 2021, in a game against the New York Rangers, beginning his professional career on the sport’s biggest stage.
Scott Sandelin, Cates’ coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth, described him as a really smart skater who can make plays, praising his 200-foot game along with his power play and penalty kill abilities. That scouting report framed the role Philadelphia envisioned for him as a dependable, detail-oriented forward.
Philadelphia Flyers Era (2021–2023)
Cates earned his first extended look with the Flyers on December 15, 2021, when he was promoted from the taxi squad after Morgan Frost was placed in COVID-19 protocols. He scored his first NHL goal that night, putting Philadelphia ahead 2–1 in an eventual shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens. The milestone marked the arrival of a still-developing center on the NHL ledger.
New York Islanders Tryout and Bridgeport Stint (2023)
On September 11, 2023, the New York Islanders signed Cates to a professional tryout contract, and he joined their preseason training camp. After being released, he began the 2023–24 season on a professional tryout with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, on October 12. He scored one goal in 12 games before being released from the tryout on December 7.
Rockford IceHogs Era (2023–Present)
Looking to continue his season, Cates signed a professional tryout contract with the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, on December 12, 2023. The move gave him a fresh opportunity within the Blackhawks organization and a stable role heading into the next campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cates is regarded as a smart, two-way center whose game travels well in all three zones. Coaches have highlighted his reliable penalty killing, his composure on the power play, and his willingness to compete for pucks along the boards. That combination of hockey sense and work rate has made him a valued depth forward at the AHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Cates’ early career are his first NHL goal against the Montreal Canadiens in December 2021 and his hat trick for the Waterloo Black Hawks in January 2018. His receipt of the Herb Brooks Award following his senior season at Stillwater Area High School also stands out as a formative milestone.
Jackson Cates Career Wins
Jackson Cates’ professional wins are concentrated in the American Hockey League, where he has served as a steady contributor since signing his first NHL contract in 2021. While he has not yet established himself as a top-line scorer at the NHL level, his offensive flashes at both the junior and collegiate levels point to untapped upside as his career progresses.
Junior and Collegiate Highlights
With the Waterloo Black Hawks, Cates produced a memorable hat trick against the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in January 2018. At the University of Minnesota Duluth, he delivered a 27-point junior season in just 28 games, a pace that helped pave his path to a free-agent deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Other Wins and Performances
Cates also earned the Herb Brooks Award at Stillwater Area High School after finishing as the program’s all-time leading scorer. His NHL debut, first NHL goal, and professional tryout invitations with the New York Islanders and Rockford IceHogs round out a résumé built on persistence and steady growth.
Jackson Cates Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Cates family, with the brothers sharing both locker rooms and ice time across multiple levels of the sport. The family’s Minnesota roots and passion for the game helped shape Jackson Cates’ development from childhood through the professional ranks.
Personal Life
Jackson Cates is the older brother of Noah Cates, a forward who was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. The two brothers played together at the University of Minnesota Duluth, fulfilling a commitment Jackson made when he signed his National Letter of Intent.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 campaign, Jackson Cates remains in the Chicago Blackhawks organization as a member of the Rockford IceHogs, continuing the role he assumed after joining the club on a professional tryout in December 2023. He is expected to serve as a dependable two-way center for the IceHogs while remaining an option for call-up duty at the NHL level.
His blend of smart skating, penalty-killing reliability, and positional discipline gives Rockford a versatile piece in the middle of the lineup. If he can add consistent offensive production to his defensive responsibilities, he has a credible path back to the NHL on a full-time basis.
With the Blackhawks in a developmental phase of their own rebuild, Cates’ steady presence in Rockford offers value on both sides of the puck. The 2025 season represents an opportunity to solidify his standing within the organization and push for the next NHL opportunity of his career.