Jordan Gross (ice hockey)

Playing career

Gross got his start playing school hockey at Maple Grove High School in Minnesota before moving on to junior hockey with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL. He went undrafted and then committed to the University of Notre Dame, starting his college career as a freshman in the 2014-15 season. By his senior year, even though he was considered undersized, Gross had become one of the top defensemen in the NCAA. That season, he put up 10 goals and 30 points in 40 games, which placed him third on the team in scoring and first among Notre Dame defensemen. He helped the Fighting Irish reach the Frozen Four championship game, earning a spot on the NCAA All-Tournament Team and later being named to the Big Ten Conference First All-Star Team. As a free agent, Gross drew interest from NHL teams and signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes on April 12, 2018. He immediately joined their AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, on an amateur tryout and made his professional debut on April 14, 2018, recording two assists in a 6-3 win over the San Diego Gulls. The next season, Gross was assigned to the Roadrunners for development. He was recalled by the Coyotes on December 22, 2019, making his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings and picking up his first NHL point with an assist. After two games, he went back to Tucson, where he tied for first among Roadrunners defensemen with 10 goals and finished second with 27 points in 56 games. On October 10, 2020, as a restricted free agent, Gross signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Arizona. During the pandemic-delayed season, he spent most of his time on the Coyotes' extended taxi squad. On April 2, 2021, he set a career high with three assists against the Anaheim Ducks, the most by a Coyotes rookie defenseman in a single game since Keith Ballard in 2006. Gross finished with three points in seven games before a lower body injury sidelined him for the final 14 games of the shortened season.