Keegan Kolesar Explained

Keegan Kolesar (born April 8, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kolesar is a 1 time Stanley Cup champion, winning it in 2023.

Playing career

Kolesar was drafted 69th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.^[1] On June 24, 2017, Kolesar was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Vegas' second-round draft pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.^[2] He was called up to the Golden Knights on January 10, 2020, and made his NHL debut the following night against the Blue Jackets.^{[3] [4]}

On March 22, 2021, Kolesar scored his first NHL goal in the third period of the Golden Knights 5–1 win against the St. Louis Blues.^[5]

On June 13, 2023, Kolesar won his first Stanley Cup, with Vegas defeating the Florida Panthers 9-3 to win their first championship in franchise history.^{[6] [7]}

Personal life

Kolesar was born on April 8, 1997, in Brandon, Manitoba^[8] to former NFL and CFL linebacker K. D. Williams and Corrinne. The parents divorced following his birth and Corrinne remarried to Charles Peterson who played for the Kansas City T-Bones of the Northern League.^[9] During the 2019–20 NHL season, Peterson contracted COVID-19. When Peterson's death became imminent in mid-September 2020, Kolesar left his team's bubble to say goodbye to his step-father.^[10]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

										Playoffs
	Team	League		GP				PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
		WHL		1	0	0	0	0		2	0	0	0	0
	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		60	2	6	8	45		9	0	2	2	2
	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		64	19	19	38	85		—	—	—	—	—
	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		64	30	31	61	107		16	7	8	15	8
	Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL		54	26	34	60	101		19	12	19	31	37
		ECHL		20	9	7	16	10		—	—	—	—	—
		AHL		44	5	8	13	46		3	1	0	1	0
	Chicago Wolves	AHL		74	20	16	36	90		21	6	5	11	48
	Chicago Wolves	AHL		33	3	15	18	21		—	—	—	—	—
		NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		44	3	10	13	30		17	1	3	4	4
	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		77	7	17	24	68		—	—	—	—	—
	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		74	8	10	18	68		22	2	3	5	50
	Vegas Golden Knights	NHL		79	8	10	18	49		6	0	0	0	2
NHL totals				275	26	47	73	215		45	3	6	9	56

International

Notes and References

1. Web site: Blue Jackets sign forward Keegan Kolesar to a three-year Entry Level contract . NHL.com . January 11, 2020 . December 20, 2015.
2. Web site: Golden Knights' Keegan Kolesar: Trade sends him to 'The Strip' . . January 11, 2020 . June 24, 2017.
3. Web site: Golden Knights' Keegan Kolesar: Called up Friday . . January 11, 2020 . January 10, 2020.
4. Web site: Gotz . Ben . Golden Knights' Keegan Kolesar to make NHL debut Saturday . . January 11, 2020 . January 11, 2020.
5. Web site: Kolesar scores 1st NHL goal, Golden Knights top Blues . . July 20, 2021 . March 23, 2021.
6. Web site: Names engraved on Stanley Cup . . 2023-07-07 . . July 7, 2023 . July 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230707193153/https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/vegas-golden-knights-names-engraved-on-stanley-cup/c-345264294 . live .
7. Web site: Granger . Jesse . Here's how all 52 Golden Knights names on the Stanley Cup contributed to the championship . The Athletic . July 10, 2023 . June 27, 2024.
8. Web site: Keegan Kolesar . eliteprospects.com . Elite Prospects . April 24, 2021.
9. Web site: Graves . Wendy . A FATHER-SON FIELD OF DREAMS . hockeycanada.ca . Hockey Canada . April 24, 2021 . August 1, 2016.
10. Web site: Hobson . Russ . 'Got to say goodbye to my dad': Keegan Kolesar left NHL playoff bubble for father's final moments . globalnews.ca . Global News . April 24, 2021 . October 23, 2020.
11. Web site: Brewer . Contessa . Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win cements Las Vegas as a big-time sports city . CNBC . June 18, 2023 . June 14, 2023.