Blake Lizotte Explained

Position:Center
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lb:172
Team:Pittsburgh Penguins
Former Teams:Los Angeles Kings
League:NHL
Prospect League:AHL
Birth Date:13 December 1997
Birth Place:Lindstrom, Minnesota, U.S.
Career Start:2019
Draft Team:Undrafted

Blake Joseph Lizotte (born December 13, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for Los Angeles Kings.

Playing career

After going undrafted out of high school, Lizotte played in the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the Fargo Force from the 2015–16 season to the 2016–17 season. He then committed to play collegiate hockey at St. Cloud State University of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).[1]

In two seasons he helped lead the Huskies to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) regular-season championship in both years and helped secure the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. In his sophomore season in 2018–19, Lizotte ranked second on his team in points, tied for first in assists and fourth in goals. He was named to the NCHC First All-Star Team. Over the course of his two seasons in St. Cloud he tallied 69 points 76 games.[2]

After suffering a second consecutive early exit with the Huskies at the NCAA Tournament, Lizotte agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings on April 2, 2019.[3] He immediately joined the Kings to conclude the 2018–19 season, making his debut in the Kings' season finale, a 5–2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on April 6, 2019.[4] Lizotte scored his first career NHL goal and added an assist in a 3–2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on November 9, 2019.[5]

After scoring 10 points and leading the Kings in plus-minus rating during the 2020-21 season, Lizotte agreed to a one-year, $800,000 contract extension with the Kings on June 24, 2021.[6] He re-signed a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.675 million with the Kings on March 21, 2022.[7]

On July 1, 2024, Lizotte signed a two-year contract, worth an average $1.85 million annually, with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[8]

Personal life

Lizotte grew up in Lindstrom, Minnesota. His father, aged 45, died when Blake was 14 from complications of epilepsy, leaving his mother to raise him and his two brothers on her own.[9]

Lizotte is a Christian.[10] He is married to Abby Lizotte.[11]

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2012–13Chisago Lakes HighUSHS2581927431010
2013–14Chisago Lakes HighUSHS25112940033580
2014–15Minot MinotaurosNAHL561438521460334
2015–16Fargo ForceUSHL5412344626
2016–17Fargo ForceUSHL561946654230000
2017–18St. Cloud StateNCHC398192720
2018–19St. Cloud StateNCHC3714284228
2018–19Los Angeles KingsNHL10000
2019–20Los Angeles KingsNHL656172320
2019–20Ontario ReignAHL10002
2020–21Los Angeles KingsNHL41371016
2021–22Los Angeles KingsNHL7010142428701116
2022–23Los Angeles KingsNHL811123347030002
2023–24Los Angeles KingsNHL6278152051012
NHL totals32037691061541511220

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
NAHL
All-Central Rookie Team2015
All-Central Team2015
First All-Rookie Team2015
Rookie of the Year2015
USHL
Second All-Star Team2017
College
NCHC All-Rookie Team2018
NCHC All-Academic Team2018
NCHC Scholar Athlete2018
All-NCHC First Team2019[12]
AHCA West Second Team All-American2019[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Zupke. Curtis. 2019-04-02. Blake Lizotte signs pro contract with Los Angeles Kings. live. 2019-04-02. Los Angeles Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20190405151412/https://www.latimes.com/sports/kings/la-sp-blake-lizotte-kings-report-20190404-story.html . April 5, 2019 .
  2. Web site: SCSU players sign professional hockey contracts . . 2019-04-02 . 2019-04-02.
  3. Web site: St. Cloud State Forward Blake Lizotte signs three-year entry level contract . . 2019-04-02 . 2019-04-02.
  4. Web site: Kovalchuk scores twice in 5-2 win over Golden Knights . . 2019-04-06 . 2019-04-06.
  5. Web site: Blake Lizotte Scores First NHL Goal . National Hockey League . March 23, 2022 . November 11, 2019.
  6. Web site: LA Kings re-sign C Blake Lizotte to 1-year, $800,000 deal . apnews.com . June 25, 2021 . 25 June 2021.
  7. Web site: Kings sign forward Blake Lizotte to two-year, $3.35M contract . Sportsnet . March 23, 2022 . March 21, 2022.
  8. Web site: Penguins Sign Blake Lizotte to a Two-year Contract. July 1, 2024. July 1, 2024.
  9. https://thehockeynews.com/news/kings-rookie-lizotte-overcame-plenty-of-challenges-to-reach-nhl
  10. Web site: Mercer . Kevin . L.A. Kings' Blake Lizotte knows his 'identity is who I am in Christ' amid NHL playoffs . Sports Spectrum . 29 April 2024.
  11. Web site: blizotte46 . Instagram . 29 April 2024.
  12. Web site: March 13, 2019. SCSU, UMD DOMINATE 2018-19 NCHC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS. live. April 9, 2019. Nchchockey.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20190326071835/https://www.nchchockey.com/news_article/show/1004003 . March 26, 2019 .
  13. News: April 12, 2019. Total of 19 schools boast players on 2018-19 All-American selections. USCHO.com. April 13, 2019.