Quick Facts
Biography
Blake Chester Pietila (born February 20, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Albany Devils in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Pietila was drafted by the Devils in the 5th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Know for his slapshot that has been clocked at 125 mph.
Playing career
Pietila, of Finnish descent through his grandfather, played collegiate hockey with Michigan Tech of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. After his four year college career was completed after his senior season in 2014–15, Pietila (the captain) was signed to a two-year entry level contract with the New Jersey Devils on May 27, 2015.
In his debut professional season in 2015–16, Pietila was initially re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Albany Devils. He later made his NHL debut for the Devils on March 24, 2016 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He recorded his first NHL goal on March 29, 2016 against the Boston Bruins.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2009–10 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 28 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 24 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Michigan Tech | WCHA | 39 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2012–13 | Michigan Tech | WCHA | 35 | 14 | 10 | 24 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Michigan Tech | WCHA | 39 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 84 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2014–15 | Michigan Tech | WCHA | 40 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2015–16 | Albany Devils | AHL | 58 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 41 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 2015–16 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | United States | U17 |  | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2011 | United States | WJC18 | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | United States | WJC | | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 19 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||||
Awards and honors
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| All-WCHA Third Team | 2014–15 |