Odeen Tufto

Odeen Peter Tufto (born January 9, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL). After spending four seasons with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team, he signed an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2021–22 season.

Growing up in Minnesota, Tufto attended Saint Thomas Academy where he was in the running for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award after recording 27 goals and 63 points in 27 games. Upon graduating, Tufto joined the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League and three United States Hockey League teams. While playing with the Vipers, Tufto committed to play collegiate ice hockey with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team for the 2017–18 season.

Tufto played four seasons with the Bobcats, including one as team captain. He finished his collegiate career with the most assists in program history and third overall in Division I program history. He also accumulated 168 points ranking seventh of all-time. Once the Bobcats were eliminated from the playoffs in 2021, Tufto concluded his collegiate career by signing an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2021–22 season.

Early life
Tufto was born on January 9, 1997, in Chaska, Minnesota to parents Kris and Nancy Tufto. His older brother Andy also played hockey and his father built them a backyard rink. As a result, Andy's friends would skate on the rink so Tufto would often play against older players. He originally figure skated but switched to hockey. Growing up, Tufto was a fan of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team and attended three of their model camps. His favorite hockey player was Martin St. Louis.

Playing career
Growing up in Minnesota, Tufto attended Saint Thomas Academy outside of Minneapolis where he was in the running for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award. He has recorded 27 goals and 63 points in 27 games as a senior, but lost the contest to Jake Jaremko. Following high school, Tufto joined the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

During his only season with the Vipers, Tufto committed to play collegiate ice hockey with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team for the 2017–18 season. While playing with the Vipers, he went by his middle name Peter before changing to Odeen in honor of his late grandfather. Tufto finished his season with the Vipers with 65 points in 57 games and was selected for the BCHL All-Rookie Team.

Following the 2016–17 season, he joined the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Tufto played 30 games with the Force before being traded to the Tri-City Storm alongside Charlie Dovorany in exchange for Paul Washe and Philip Alftberg. Tufto joined the Sioux City Musketeers midway through the 2016–17 season after recording 20 points in 21 games to help Sioux City win the Anderson Cup. Throughout his tenure in the USHL, Tufto was moved from wing to center where he flourished offensively.

College
In September 2017, Tufto started his NCAA hockey career with the Quinnipiac Bobcats while majoring in finance. He entered college standing at 5 ft but was praised by Rand Pecknold for his high offensive IQ. Tufto began the season tallying a point in his first three games, making him the first player to achieve this feat since Chase Priskie in 2015–16. Later in October, he also became the first rookie since Ben Nelson in 2005 to score an overtime game-winner. He received praise from teammates as a possible replacement for Travis St. Denis and Sam Anas who had left the team two years prior. By February 2018, Tufto was one of 31 players in the country to reach 30 points and led all NCAA Division I freshmen in multiple-point games. As a result of his success, he was announced as one of 16 semifinalists for the Walter Brown Award as the best American-born NCAA Division I hockey player in New England. The following month, Tufto was named one of three finalists for the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year Award and selected for the Third-team All-ECAC.

Tufto returned to the Bobcats for his sophomore season and began playing center instead of his original position of left winger. Upon returning to the lineup, he recorded his first collegiate hat-trick in a 7–2 win over the Maine Black Bears. He had recorded all three of his goals during the first period and added two assists for a five-point game. As the season continued, Tufto became the first Quinnipiac player to record back-to-back 40-point seasons since 2007. He was tied for sixth in the league with 15 goals and third with 27 assists. Due to his sophomore success, Tufto was again named a semi-finalist for the Walter Brown Award and was named to the ECAC Hockey Second team. Tufto was also honored with a selection to the New England Hockey Writers' Association All-New England Division I All-Star Team and ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team for a second straight season.

During the offseason prior to his junior season, Tufto was invited to attend the National Hockey League's (NHL) Detroit Red Wings 2019 Development Camp. Upon returning to the Bobcats, Tufto accepted the position of assistant captain and named to the ECAC Hockey Second Team for a second straight season.

As a senior, Tufto finished his collegiate career with the most assists in program history, third in Division I program history, and seventh all-time with 168 points. While serving as team captain, Tufto recorded an eight-game point streak from October 19 to November 16 with nine points. At the conclusion of the season, Tufto was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and AHCA First-Team All-American. He was later named to the All-College Hockey News Second Team, All-USCHO First Team, Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American, and ECAC Hockey First Team.

Professional
Once the Bobcats were eliminated from the playoffs by Minnesota State on March 27, Tufto concluded his collegiate career by signing an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2021–22 season, saying that "[w]e felt Tampa does a really good job of developing players." Following the signing, he was immediately assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, on an amateur try-out contract. He made his professional debut with the Crunch on April 7 during an overtime win over the Rochester Americans. Tufto played three more games with the team, recording no goals or assists.