Vince Dunn Bio
Vince Dunn is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenceman for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on October 29, 1996, in Peterborough, Ontario, Dunn has built his reputation as a smooth, puck-moving defenceman capable of contributing at both ends of the ice. After beginning his career with the St. Louis Blues and winning the Stanley Cup in 2019, he joined the Kraken in 2021 and emerged as one of the team’s most reliable top-pair blueliners.
Early Life and Background
Vince Dunn was born on October 29, 1996, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He was raised by his mother Tracy, a nurse, and his stepfather John, a police officer who adopted him and whose surname he now carries. His biological father, an Italian man, had divorced the family when Dunn was three years old. Dunn has a stepbrother, Nolan Dunn, who also played hockey before retiring.
Dunn grew up primarily in nearby Lindsay, Ontario, where he developed his early love for the sport. As a young fan, he cheered for the Toronto Maple Leafs and admired players such as Carl Gunnarsson and Alexander Steen. The family later created a Canadian Tire Jumpstart memorial fund in honour of Dunn’s grandfather, who played a meaningful role in his development as a hockey player. These early family connections and community roots helped shape his grounded approach to the game.
Path to Hockey
Dunn began his minor hockey career with the Central Ontario Wolves, though he became unhappy there and was unable to secure a release from his coach. He and his mother Tracy ultimately moved about an hour away so he could join the Peterborough Petes at the bantam and midget level. His performance with the Petes earned him an invitation to compete with the North American select team at the 2012 Lekov Cup tournament in the Czech Republic.
After being drafted 109th overall by the Niagara IceDogs in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection Draft, Dunn chose to spend a season with the Thorold Blackhawks of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. He felt the additional year of junior hockey would better prepare him for major junior competition, and he produced 28 points in 48 games with the Blackhawks. He then joined the IceDogs and steadily developed into one of the OHL’s most promising defencemen, leading all first-year OHL defencemen in scoring during his rookie season and earning the IceDogs Rookie of the Year Award.
Vince Dunn Career
Major Junior (2013-2016)
Dunn made the jump to major junior with the Niagara IceDogs for the 2013-14 season, recording 33 points in 63 games and earning praise from coach and general manager Marty Williamson. In his second season, he totaled 56 points in 68 games and clinched the IceDogs Top Defenceman of the Year Award. He was invited to the 2015 BMO Top Prospects Game and was ranked 32nd among North American Skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
During the 2015 OHL playoffs, Dunn scored four goals in Game 1 against the Ottawa 67s to help Niagara win the series, then led all defencemen in scoring during the second round against the Oshawa Generals before a two-game suspension and a knee injury cut his playoff run short. The St. Louis Blues selected him 56th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and he signed a three-year entry-level contract on September 25, 2015. In his final OHL season, Dunn led the IceDogs to the Eastern Conference championship over the London Knights and earned the team’s Top Defenceman of the Year Award for the second consecutive season.
St. Louis Blues Era (2016-2021)
Dunn began his professional career with the Blues’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, during the 2016-17 season. He scored his first professional goal on October 15, 2016, and led the Wolves’ defence with 45 points in 72 games as the youngest player on the roster. He made the Blues’ opening night roster for the 2017-18 season and debuted against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 4, 2017, before scoring his first NHL goal eight days later against the Florida Panthers. He finished his rookie year with a memorable four-point performance against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 18, 2018, becoming the first Blues rookie to reach that mark since Rik Wilson.
In 2018-19, Dunn set a new career high with 27 points and joined Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko as one of the first three Blues defencemen to reach 10 goals in the same season. During the Western Conference finals, a puck to the face broke his jaw and required multiple surgeries, but he returned for Game 4 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals and recorded a point in the win over the Boston Bruins. On June 12, 2019, Dunn won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis, the franchise’s first championship in its 52-year history. He spent his Day with the Cup in his hometown of Lindsay, Ontario, and Kawartha Lakes.
After offseason surgeries that replaced five teeth, Dunn returned for the 2019-20 season and was reunited with defensive partner Robert Bortuzzo. Following the COVID-19 pause, he and teammates Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou won a league-wide Fortnite charity tournament and donated $100,000 split between St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the St. Louis Area Foodbank, and muscular dystrophy research. He signed a one-year, $1.875 million contract on December 31, 2020, to remain with the Blues.
Seattle Kraken Era (2021-Present)
Dunn’s tenure with the Blues ended on July 21, 2021, when he was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Kraken on August 6, 2021, to avoid arbitration, then joined the team for its inaugural training camp. He scored the first goal in the history of Climate Pledge Arena during a 4-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, though his first season was interrupted by injury and a stint on the NHL’s COVID protocol list.
Dunn enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2022-23, setting career highs with 14 goals and 64 points while anchoring the Kraken’s top defensive pairing with Adam Larsson. Seattle improved dramatically, reaching the playoffs for the first time and upsetting the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games before falling to the Dallas Stars in the second round. On July 21, 2023, Dunn signed a four-year, $29.4 million contract extension with the Kraken, keeping him under contract through 2027.
Driving Style and Strengths
Vince Dunn considers himself a puck-moving defenceman in the mould of Ryan Ellis, relying on strong stick work and positioning to handle one-on-one battles despite not being among the league’s larger defencemen. He has worked to round out his defensive game, using his skating and active stick to keep opponents to the outside. His partnership with Adam Larsson on Seattle’s top pair has allowed him to focus on transitioning the puck while trusting a steady defensive partner alongside him.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dunn’s most signature moment came on June 12, 2019, when he won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues, the franchise’s first championship in 52 years, after returning from a broken jaw to contribute in the Finals. He also scored the first goal in Seattle Kraken history at Climate Pledge Arena and produced a four-point game as a Blues rookie, the team’s first such performance since Rik Wilson. His breakout 64-point season in 2022-23 and subsequent four-year contract extension further cemented his standing as one of Seattle’s core players.
Vince Dunn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
This section is not applicable to a hockey player’s profile and has been omitted in favor of family details appropriate to his sport.
Family Background
Dunn was raised primarily by his mother Tracy, a nurse, and his stepfather John, a police officer who adopted him and whose surname he now uses. His biological father, of Italian descent, left the family when Vince was three years old. His stepbrother Nolan Dunn also played hockey before retiring, and the family created a Canadian Tire Jumpstart memorial fund in honour of Dunn’s late grandfather, who played an important role in his hockey development.
Personal Life
Dunn grew up in Lindsay, Ontario, and remains closely connected to the Kawartha Lakes community, having brought the Stanley Cup there during his Day with the Cup in 2019. Public details about his marital status, spouse, or children have not been confirmed in available sources, so those areas are left unspecified.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2024-25 season, Vince Dunn continued to anchor the Seattle Kraken’s top defensive pairing alongside Adam Larsson, building on the chemistry that powered the team’s 2022-23 playoff run. Under head coach Dave Hakstol, Dunn remained a fixture on the Kraken’s first power-play unit and averaged among the team’s highest ice-time totals for defencemen. His ability to drive offence from the back end helped Seattle remain competitive in a tightly contested Pacific Division.
Dunn’s 2024-25 campaign was highlighted by his continued production at even strength and on the man advantage, reinforcing his value as the Kraken’s top puck-moving blueliner. The four-year, $29.4 million extension signed in 2023 underscored the organization’s commitment to him as a foundational piece. With the contract running through 2027, Dunn is positioned to remain a central figure in Seattle’s long-term plans.
Looking ahead, Dunn’s blend of offensive skill, improved defensive detail, and partnership with Larsson gives the Kraken a reliable top pair as they chase another postseason berth. His veteran presence, paired with his championship experience from the 2019 Stanley Cup run with the Blues, makes him an important leader in Seattle’s locker room. As the season progresses, Dunn will be counted on to log heavy minutes, quarterback the power play, and help guide the Kraken back into playoff contention.