Luke Kunin

Luke Kunin (born December 4, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center, currently playing with the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kunin was selected 15th overall by the Wild in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Early life
Kunin is the son of Sheri and Mark Kunin, and has an older brother Nick. He was born in Chesterfield, Missouri, and is Jewish.

In grade 6, Kunin was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His friend and, then, teammate Matthew Tkachuk arranged for Kunin to meet with St. Louis Blues player B. J. Crombeen who also had type 1 diabetes. Kunin and Tkachuk played in the 2010 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the St. Louis Blues minor ice hockey team. Kunin later went to Whitfield School in Missouri for one year and then spent time with the U.S National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He graduated from high school in three years.

College
In the 2015–16 season, his freshman year with the Wisconsin Badgers, he was the second-youngest player in college hockey. Kunin scored 19 goals (third-most among NCAA freshmen) and 32 points in 34 games and was named to the Big Ten Conference All-Rookie Team.

In the 2016–17 season, Kunin was elected as the Wisconsin team captain, becoming only the second sophomore captain in the team's history. The last sophomore to have had achieved this honor was Mike Eaves 40 years ago. He led the Badgers with 22 goals and 38 points in 35 games, good enough for Second Team All Big Ten.

On January 5, 2017, Kunin won a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior U20 Championship as Captain of Team USA in a 5-4 shootout win against Team Canada.

Minnesota Wild
At the conclusion the 2016–17 season, Kunin ended his collegiate career by signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild on March 23, 2017. He was assigned to conclude the season with AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, on an amateur try-out deal.

In the 2017–18 season, on October 26, 2017, Kunin recorded his first goal against the New York Islanders in an eventual 6–4 win. He became the first player in team history to score their first career NHL goal shorthanded. However, on October 29 Kunin was sent back to the Iowa Wild, Minnesota's AHL affiliate. On January 4, 2018, Kunin was selected to represent the Wild at the 2018 AHL All-Star game. He became the fourth player in team history to be named an All Star, joining former Wild players Alex Tuch, Mathew Dumba, and Gustav Olofsson. Kunin was called up to the Wild on February 28, 2018, however he received a season ending injury, a torn ACL, in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on March 4, 2018. He underwent surgery for his ACL a month later and was given a 6–7 month recovery time. On October 8, Kunin was medically cleared to return to the ice and was immediately assigned to the Iowa Wild to begin the 2018–19 season. Nearly two months later, on December 9, Kunin was called up the NHL for the first time that season as a replacement centerman for injured Mikko Koivu.

International play
In 2013-14 he won the U.S. National Team World Under-17 Hockey Challenge Gold Medal, and in 2014-15 he won the U.S. National Team WJC IIHF World Under-18 Championship Gold Medal.