Jordan Schroeder

Lore & Background

Schroeder grew up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and moved to Lakeville at age thirteen. He first played hockey at age four, and his first organized team was the Lakeville Ponys. He attended St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, for two years, then graduated from Ann Arbor Pioneer High School in Michigan after accelerating his education to play NCAA hockey a year early. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota in fall 2008, majoring in business and marketing education, and was named to the WCHA All-Academic team in 2010.

Schroeder played two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program before joining the Minnesota Golden Gophers. In his freshman year he was the youngest player on the team and was named WCHA Rookie of the Year. He was drafted 22nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2009, dropping from his fifth-ranked projection due to concerns about his size and his play at the end of the 2009 World Junior Championships. He signed with the Canucks in March 2010 and was assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, scoring two goals in his first professional game.

Schroeder made his NHL debut on January 23, 2013, against the Calgary Flames. He scored his first two NHL goals on February 9, 2013, against the Calgary Flames, with the first being the game winner. He spent parts of two seasons with the Canucks, but after the 2013–14 season the team did not tender him a qualifying offer, and he subsequently joined the Minnesota Wild.

Reader's Guide

Jordan Schroeder's career illustrates the trajectory of a highly touted prospect whose draft position fell due to size concerns, yet who still reached the NHL. His record-setting performances at the World Junior Championships—most career assists and points by an American—underscore his offensive skill at the junior level. After being drafted 22nd overall by the Vancouver Canucks, Schroeder developed in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, Chicago Wolves, and Utica Comets, showing consistent scoring ability. His NHL tenure was limited by injuries, including a fractured left ankle that required surgery, and he played only 25 games in his final season with the Canucks before the team declined to re-sign him. Schroeder's path from a WCHA Rookie of the Year to an NHL player, and later to the SHL, reflects both the promise and the challenges faced by smaller forwards in professional hockey. His academic achievements, including WCHA All-Academic honors and high school graduation with high honors, also mark him as a player who balanced athletics with education.

Did You Know?

• He scored a hat trick in his first professional playoff game with the Manitoba Moose on April 19, 2010.
• He was named WCHA Rookie of the Year in 2009.
• Schroeder graduated from high school with high honors and was named to the WCHA All-Academic team in 2010.