Jackson Cates

Jackson Cates (born September 28, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center who is currently playing for the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played with the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Jackson Cates
Born (1997-09-28) September 28, 1997
Stillwater, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Left
AHL team
Former teams		 Bridgeport Islanders
Philadelphia Flyers
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Early life

Cates was born on September 28, 1997, in Stillwater, Minnesota.[1] He played ice hockey for the Stillwater Area High School Ponies, a tenure which included two state tournament appearances in 2014 and 2016. His career totals of 57 goals and 63 assists, for a total of 120 points, was the highest in school history, and at the end of his senior year, Cates was given the Herb Brooks Award, bestowed annually on the state tournament player who best demonstrates the values and traits exemplified by Herb Brooks.[2]

Playing career

Amateur

Cates played junior ice hockey with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League. He scored a hat trick with the team on January 28, 2018, in a 7–3 rout of the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.[3]

Cates originally committed to play hockey at Michigan Tech, but decided to sign a National Letter of Intent with the University of Minnesota Duluth in August 2017 so that he could play alongside his younger brother.[4] In his junior season, Cates posted 27 points (11 goals and 16 assists) in 28 games with the Bulldogs.[5]

Professional

On April 13, 2021, the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL) signed Cates as a college free agent to a two-year entry-level contract with an average annual value of $925,000.[6] Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Cates was required to quarantine after arriving in Philadelphia before he could skate with the team.[7] Cates made his NHL debut on April 23, 2021, in a game against the New York Rangers.[5]

When Morgan Frost was placed in COVID-19 protocols on December 15, 2021, Cates was promoted to Philadelphia for their road game against the Montreal Canadiens.[8] He scored his first NHL goal in that game, putting the Flyers up 2–1 in a shootout loss.[9]

On September 11, 2023, he was signed to a professional tryout (PTO) contract by the New York Islanders and spent time with the team during their preseason training camp.[10] Released from his tryout with New York, he began the 2023–24 season on a PTO with AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, on October 12, 2023.[11]

Player profile

Scott Sandelin, Cates' coach at Minnesota Duluth, referred to him as "a really smart skater who can make plays", and emphasized Cates' 200-foot game, power play, and penalty kill abilities.[6]

Personal life

Cates is the older brother of Noah Cates, who was selected by the Flyers in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[6]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 561110218 82130
2017–18 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 5733306318 82242
2018–19 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs NCHC 39861414 —————
2019–20 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs NCHC 29815236 —————
2020–21 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs NCHC 281116274 —————
2020–21 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 40110 —————
2021–22 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 3728102 —————
2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 111010 —————
2022–23 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 50000 —————
2022–23 Lehigh Valley Phantoms AHL 6511122318 10000
NHL totals 201120 —————

References
  1. "Flyers sign forward Jackson Cates from University of Minnesota-Duluth". NHL.com. National Hockey League. April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  2. Groskreutz, Stuart (April 13, 2021). "Hockey: Jackson Cates signs contract with Philadelphia Flyers". The Stillwater Gazette. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  3. Nelson, Jim (January 28, 2018). "USHL hockey: Cates has hat trick as Waterloo routs Cedar Rapids, 7-3". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  4. Wellens, Matt (April 29, 2018). "College men's hockey: Stillwater's Cates brothers bringing offense to UMD in 2018-19". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  5. Hall, Jordan (April 23, 2021). "A center prospect will make his NHL debut tonight for Flyers". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  6. Hall, Jordan (April 13, 2021). "Flyers sign a college free agent, who is the brother of a prospect". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  7. Barkowitz, Ed (April 15, 2021). "Five minutes with Flyers prospect Jackson Cates. Will we see him with the big club soon?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  8. Carchidi, Sam (December 15, 2021). "With Flyers' Morgan Frost in COVID-19 protocol, Oskar Lindblom moved to second line, Jackson Cates promoted". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  9. Han, Giana (December 16, 2021). "Flyers drop shootout decision to Montreal, 3-2, at an empty Bell Centre". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  10. Luscher, Rachel (September 11, 2023). "Four Takeaways: Lou Lamoriello's Season-Opening Press Conference". NHL.com. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  11. Bridgeport Islanders (October 12, 2023). "Bridgeport sign Jackson Cates to PTO". Twitter. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
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