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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Odeen Tufto
Odeen Peter Tufto (born January 9, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey center who is currently playing with EHC Olten in the Swiss League (SL). After spending four seasons with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team, he signed an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2021–22 season.

Growing up in Minnesota, Tufto attended Saint Thomas Academy where he was in the running for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award after recording 27 goals and 63 points in 27 games. Upon graduating, Tufto joined the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League and three United States Hockey League teams. While playing with the Vipers, Tufto committed to play collegiate ice hockey with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team for the 2017–18 season.

Tufto played four seasons with the Bobcats, including one as team captain. He finished his collegiate career with the most assists in program history and third overall in Division I program history. He also accumulated 168 points ranking seventh of all-time. Once the Bobcats were eliminated from the playoffs in 2021, Tufto concluded his collegiate career by signing an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2021–22 season.

Early life

Tufto was born on January 9, 1997, in Chaska, Minnesota to parents Kris and Nancy Tufto. His older brother Andy also played hockey and his father built them a backyard rink. As a result, Andy's friends would skate on the rink so Tufto would often play against older players. He originally figure skated but switched to hockey. Growing up, Tufto was a fan of the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team and attended three of their model camps. His favorite hockey player was Martin St. Louis.

Playing career

Growing up in Minnesota, Tufto attended Saint Thomas Academy outside of Minneapolis where he was in the running for the Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award. He has recorded 27 goals and 63 points in 27 games as a senior, but lost the contest to Jake Jaremko. Following high school, Tufto joined the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).

During his only season with the Vipers, Tufto committed to play collegiate ice hockey with the Quinnipiac Bobcats men's ice hockey team for the 2017–18 season. While playing with the Vipers, he went by his middle name Peter before changing to Odeen in honor of his late grandfather. Tufto finished his season with the Vipers with 65 points in 57 games and was selected for the BCHL All-Rookie Team.

Following the 2016–17 season, he joined the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Tufto played 30 games with the Force before being traded to the Tri-City Storm alongside Charlie Dovorany in exchange for Paul Washe and Philip Alftberg. Tufto joined the Sioux City Musketeers midway through the 2016–17 season after recording 20 points in 21 games to help Sioux City win the Anderson Cup. Throughout his tenure in the USHL, Tufto was moved from wing to center where he flourished offensively.

College

In September 2017, Tufto started his NCAA hockey career with the Quinnipiac Bobcats while majoring in finance. He entered college standing at 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) but was praised by Rand Pecknold for his high offensive IQ. Tufto began the season tallying a point in his first three games, making him the first player to achieve this feat since Chase Priskie in 2015–16. Later in October, he also became the first rookie since Ben Nelson in 2005 to score an overtime game-winner. He received praise from teammates as a possible replacement for Travis St. Denis and Sam Anas who had left the team two years prior. By February 2018, Tufto was one of 31 players in the country to reach 30 points and led all NCAA Division I freshmen in multiple-point games. As a result of his success, he was announced as one of 16 semifinalists for the Walter Brown Award as the best American-born NCAA Division I hockey player in New England. The following month, Tufto was named one of three finalists for the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year Award and selected for the Third-team All-ECAC.

Tufto returned to the Bobcats for his sophomore season and began playing center instead of his original position of left winger. Upon returning to the lineup, he recorded his first collegiate hat-trick in a 7–2 win over the Maine Black Bears. He had recorded all three of his goals during the first period and added two assists for a five-point game. As the season continued, Tufto became the first Quinnipiac player to record back-to-back 40-point seasons since 2007. He was tied for sixth in the league with 15 goals and third with 27 assists. Due to his sophomore success, Tufto was again named a semi-finalist for the Walter Brown Award and was named to the ECAC Hockey Second team. Tufto was also honored with a selection to the New England Hockey Writers' Association All-New England Division I All-Star Team and ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team for a second straight season.

During the offseason prior to his junior season, Tufto was invited to attend the National Hockey League's (NHL) Detroit Red Wings 2019 Development Camp. Upon returning to the Bobcats, Tufto accepted the position of assistant captain and named to the ECAC Hockey Second Team for a second straight season.

As a senior, Tufto finished his collegiate career with the most assists in program history, third in Division I program history, and seventh all-time with 168 points. While serving as team captain, Tufto recorded an eight-game point streak from October 19 to November 16 with nine points. At the conclusion of the season, Tufto was named the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and AHCA First-Team All-American. He was later named to the All-College Hockey News Second Team, All-USCHO First Team, Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American, and ECAC Hockey First Team.

Professional

Once the Bobcats were eliminated from the playoffs by Minnesota State on March 27, Tufto concluded his collegiate career by signing an entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the 2021–22 season, saying that "[w]e felt Tampa does a really good job of developing players." Following the signing, he was immediately assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, on an amateur try-out contract. He made his professional debut with the Crunch on April 7 during an overtime win over the Rochester Americans. Tufto played three more games with the team, recording no goals or assists.

As a free agent from the Lightning, Tufto continued his career in the AHL after agreeing to a one-year contract with the Tucson Roadrunners, the primary affiliate to the Arizona Coyotes, on August 31, 2022. Tufto missed the beginning of the 2022–23 season through injury, and was re-assigned to the Atlanta Gladiators of the ECHL upon his return. Tufto made 12 appearances in the ECHL before he was recalled by the Roadrunners and later released without featuring for the club on January 21, 2023. For the remainder of the season, Tufto signed and appeared with second tier German club, Krefeld Pinguine in the DEL2.

Returning to North America in the off-season, Tufto was signed to a ECHL contract in joining the Iowa Heartlanders on July 14, 2023.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 St. Thomas Academy USHS 22 4 10 14 0 5 1 7 8 0
2013–14 St. Thomas Academy USHS 24 16 27 43 21 3 1 1 2 0
2014–15 St. Thomas Academy USHS 25 27 36 63 4 6 7 11 18 0
2015–16 Vernon Vipers BCHL 57 25 40 65 22 5 3 0 3 4
2016–17 Fargo Force USHL 30 5 16 21 4 — — — — —
2016–17 Tri-City Storm USHL 8 3 4 7 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 21 8 12 20 0 13 6 5 11 2
2017–18 Quinnipiac University ECAC 38 9 32 41 10 — — — — —
2018–19 Quinnipiac University ECAC 38 15 27 42 16 — — — — —
2019–20 Quinnipiac University ECAC 34 7 31 38 10 — — — — —
2020–21 Quinnipiac University ECAC 29 8 39 47 22 — — — — —
2020–21 Syracuse Crunch AHL 4 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2021–22 Syracuse Crunch AHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2021–22 Orlando Solar Bears ECHL 36 7 24 31 24 — — — — —
2022–23 Atlanta Gladiators ECHL 12 3 4 7 12 — — — — —
2022–23 Krefeld Pinguine DEL2 12 5 10 15 6 12 6 5 11 12
2023–24 Iowa Heartlanders ECHL 29 3 19 22 22 — — — — —
AHL totals 8 0 0 0 4 — — — — —

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
BCHL
BCHL All-Rookie Team 2016
College
ECAC Hockey First Team 2021
ECAC Hockey Player of the Year 2021
Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American 2021
AHCA First-Team All-American 2021
All-College Hockey News Second Team 2021
All-USCHO First Team 2021
Hobey Baker Award finalist 2021
New England Division I All-Star 2019
ECAC Hockey Third Team 2018
ECAC Hockey Second team 2019
ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year Award Finalist 2018

References

  1. ^ "Odeen Tufto". Elite Prospects. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "Odeen Tufto". Quinnipiac University. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Mason, Tyler (January 13, 2021). "Backyard Rink Powers College Hockey's Top Scorer". Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Rutigliano, Victoria (October 20, 2017). "Get To Know Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey Freshman Odeen Tufto". Quinnipiac University. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Johnson, Randy (January 19, 2021). "Odeen Tufto is right at home at Quinnipiac". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  6. ^ Fornabaio, Michael (April 10, 2019). "Odeen Tufto saw in Tampa Bay Lightning what he'd seen in Quinnipiac". New Haven Register. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "Tufto inks with Quinnipiac". BCHL. January 4, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  8. ^ Mitchell, Kevin (June 10, 2016). "Tufto leaves Vipers for Fargo". Vernon Morning Star. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "Tufto makes All-Rookie Team". BC Local News. March 20, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ^ "FORCE ACQUIRE TWO FROM TRI-CITY STORM". Fargo Force. January 16, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  11. ^ Hoops, Tanner (February 1, 2021). "Five Former Musketeers Selected As Hobey Baker Finalists". Sioux City Musketeers. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  12. ^ Seguin, Joshua (February 14, 2018). "Tufto the Latest Quinnipiac Freshman to Make Big Impact". College Hockey News. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  13. ^ "Odeen Tufto". Senior CLASS Award. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  14. ^ "Odeen Tufto Named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week". Quinnipiac University. October 17, 2017. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  15. ^ Malafronte, Chip (March 8, 2018). "Quinnipiac's Odeen Tufto not your average freshman". New Haven Register. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  16. ^ "Quinnipiac Men's Ice Hockey Freshman Odeen Tufto Named Semifinalist For Walter Brown Award". Quinnipiac University. February 5, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  17. ^ "Odeen Tufto Named Finalist for ECAC Rookie of the Year Award". Quinnipiac University. March 8, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  18. ^ "Chase Priskie, Odeen Tufto Honored on All-ECAC Teams for QU Men's Ice Hockey". March 13, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "Tufto Tallies Hat Trick, Five Points in 7-2 Rout of Maine". Quinnipiac University. November 23, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Priskie, Shortridge, Tufto Named Semi-Finalists for 67th Walter Brown Award". Quinnipiac University. February 4, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  21. ^ "Five Men's Ice Hockey Players Named to All-ECAC Hockey Teams". Quinnipiac University. March 18, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  22. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Trio Named New England Division I All-Stars". Quinnipiac University. March 28, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  23. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Places 23 on ECAC Hockey All-Academic Team". Quinnipiac University. July 10, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  24. ^ "Men's Ice Hockey Sends Nine Players to NHL Development Camps". Quinnipiac University. June 24, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  25. ^ "Tufto Named Men's Ice Hockey Captain for 2020-21 Season". Quinnipiac University. June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  26. ^ "Tufto Awarded ECAC Hockey Player of the Year". Quinnipiac University. March 18, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "Tufto Named CCM/AHCA First Team All-American". Quinnipiac University. April 9, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  28. ^ "2020-21 All-CHN Teams". March 31, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  29. ^ "Tufto Named First Team All-USCHO". Quinnipiac University. April 15, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  30. ^ "ECAC Hockey Announces First Team All-League". ECAC. March 17, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  31. ^ Fornabaio, Michael (March 27, 2021). "Quinnipiac hockey season ends with OT loss in NCAA Tournament". New Haven Register. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  32. ^ "Lightning sign college free agent forward Odeen Tufto". National Hockey League. March 31, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  33. ^ "Roadrunners add five to AHL contracts". Tucson Roadrunners. August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  34. ^ "Heartlanders add Tufto". ECHL. July 14, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  35. ^ "Odeen Tufto - 2021 Hobey Baker Top 10". Hobey Baker Award. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by ECAC Hockey Player of the Year
2020–21 		Succeeded by
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