Dylan Duke Explained

Dylan Duke
Birth Date:4 March 2003
Birth Place:Strongsville, Ohio, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:175
Position:Forward
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Tampa Bay Lightning
Prospect League:AHL
Prospect Team:Syracuse Crunch
Draft:126th overall
Draft Year:2021
Draft Team:Tampa Bay Lightning
Career Start:2024

Dylan Duke (born March 4, 2003) is an American professional ice hockey player for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League (AHL), as a prospect for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the fourth round, 126th overall, by the Lightning in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He played college ice hockey at Michigan.

Playing career

Junior

Duke spent two seasons with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. During the 2019–20 season, he recorded 12 goals and 11 assists in 32 games. During the 2020–21 season, he recorded ten goals and seven assists in 26 games.[1]

College

Duke began his collegiate career for the Michigan Wolverines during the 2021–22 season. In his freshman year he recorded ten goals and nine assists in 41 games. During the 2022–23 season, in his sophomore year, he recorded 18 goals and 14 assists in 41 games.[2] [1] During the regional finals at the 2023 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament against Penn State, he recorded the assist on Mackie Samoskevich's game-winning overtime goal to help Michigan advance to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive year.[3]

He was named an alternate captain for the 2023–24 season.[4] In his junior year he recorded 26 goals and 23 assists in 41 games. He led the team with 26 goals and ranked third on the team in scoring with 49 points. During the regional semifinals at the 2024 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament against North Dakota he scored two goals, including the game-winning goal.[5] During the regional finals against Michigan State, he scored two goals and one assist, including the game-winning goal to help Michigan advance to the Frozen Four for the third consecutive year. He was subsequently named MVP of the NCAA Regional in Maryland Heights after his five-point performance.[6] [7] Following the season he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team.[8]

He finished his collegiate career with 54 goals and 46 assists in 123 games, and helped lead Michigan to back-to-back Big Ten Tournament championships in 2022 and 2023, and the NCAA Frozen Four all three seasons.[9]

Professional

On April 15, 2024, Duke signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was assigned to the Lightning's AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, for the remainder of the 2023–24 AHL season on an amateur tryout (ATO).[10] [11]

International play

Duke represented the United States at the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded three goals and one assist in five games.[12]

On December 12, 2022, Duke was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[13] During the tournament he recorded one goal and three assists in seven games and won a bronze medal.[14]

Personal life

Duke was born to Steve and Sharon Duke. His father played hockey at Western Michigan and in both the ECHL and AHL. He has two siblings, a sister, Alyssa, and a brother, Tyler.[1] His brother began his college ice hockey career at Ohio State before transferring to Michigan after his freshman year.[15] [16]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2019–20U.S. National Development TeamUSHL3212112322
2020–21U.S. National Development TeamUSHL261071720
2021–22University of MichiganB1G411091920
2022–23University of MichiganB1G41181432 43
2023–24University of MichiganB1G41262349 30
2023–24Syracuse CrunchAHL3000 05 0 2 2 2
AHL totals3000050222

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021United StatesU185th53144
2023United StatesWJC71344
Junior totals 124488

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dylan Duke . . MGoBlue.com . April 15, 2024.
  2. Web site: Duke determined to be part of winning culture with Lightning . NHL.com . Corey . Long . August 21, 2023 . April 15, 2024.
  3. Web site: Meet the 2 Lightning prospects in tonight’s Frozen Four in Tampa . Matt . Baker . . April 6, 2023 . April 15, 2024.
  4. Web site: Meet the alternate captains: A closer look at Michigan’s leadership . Ellie . Richard . . October 4, 2023 . April 15, 2024.
  5. Web site: Dylan Duke and linemates take over third period, lead Michigan to NCAA Regional win over North Dakota . Rekha . Leonard . . March 30, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  6. Web site: Michigan Knocks Off Michigan State to Clinch Third Straight Frozen Four Bid . Kristy . McNeil . . MGoBlue.com . March 31, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  7. Web site: With Michigan’s season on the line in NCAA Regional Final, Duke and Brindley deliver . Rekha . Leonard . . March 31, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  8. Web site: Big Ten Hockey's Awards, First Team & Second Team . Dylan . Loucks . . March 19, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  9. Web site: Duke Signs with Tampa Bay Lightning . Kristy . McNeil . . MGoBlue.com . April 15, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  10. Web site: Lightning sign F Dylan Duke to a three-year NHL contract . NHL.com . April 15, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  11. Web site: Lightning sign Michigan forward Dylan Duke to 3-year contract . Eduardo A. . Encina . . April 15, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  12. Web site: Dylan Duke's Draft Stock Improved After Strong U-18 Worlds Effort . Steven . Ellis . . May 5, 2021 . April 15, 2024.
  13. Web site: 2023 World Junior Championship rosters . NHL.com . Adam . Kimelman . December 12, 2022 . April 15, 2024.
  14. Web site: Wolverines at the 2023 World Junior Championship: Fantilli and Canada Win Gold; USA Takes Bronze . Kristy . McNeil . . MGoBlue.com . January 2, 2023 . April 15, 2024.
  15. Web site: Men's Ice Hockey: Brotherly rivalry set to be renewed . Cody . Machan . . February 15, 2023 . April 15, 2024.
  16. Web site: The ‘Ohio guy’ in maize and blue: Tyler Duke’s transfer of brotherly love . Lys . Goldman . . February 2, 2024 . April 15, 2024.
  17. Web site: Big Ten Conference Announces Hockey Postseason Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20240319162317/https://bigten.org/news/2024/3/14/mens-ice-hockey-big-ten-conference-announces-hockey-postseason-awards.aspx . dead . March 19, 2024 . BigTen.org . . March 19, 2024 . March 19, 2024.