Blake Pietila

Blake Chester Pietila (born February 20, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the San Diego Gulls in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Pietila was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 5th round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
As a youth, Pietila played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Compuware minor ice hockey team.

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, who was 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 reassigned 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 31, 2016, against the Florida Panthers with only 5.1 seconds remaining in a 3-2 loss.

On July 26, 2017, the Devils re-signed Pietila to a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.335 million and $667,000 annually.

On July 2, 2019, Pietila left the Devils organization after four seasons as a free agent to sign a one-year, two-way contract with the Anaheim Ducks.