Red River grad Jon Lizotte makes NHL debut
Oct. 29—There were many nights, about 10 years ago, where you could find Dave Hakstol sitting in the stands at Purpur Arena watching a game featuring Grand Forks Red River and Jon Lizotte.
That scenario played itself out again Thursday night, but in a new location and a much bigger stage.
Lizotte, the former Red River defenseman, made his NHL debut with the Minnesota Wild against the Seattle Kraken, who are coached by Hakstol.
Lizotte was called up to the Wild this week.
RELATED:
— Former SCSU, Grand Forks Red River defenseman Jon Lizotte excited to have 2-way deal with Wild
— Huskies Hockey Happy Hour Ep. 10 with Jimmy Schuldt, Will Borgen, Mikey Eyssimont, Mika Ilvonen, Jon Lizotte and Jacob Benson
— SCSU's Jon Lizotte, a North Dakota native, starts pro career in AHL
He's the fourth Greater Grand Forks player from a single high school season, 2009-10, to play in the NHL. Previously, Central's Paul LaDue, Central's Luke Johnson and East Grand Forks Senior High's Tucker Poolman made their NHL debuts.
Lizotte played 14 minutes, 43 seconds in Minnesota's 4-1 loss to the Kraken. He saw 1:01 on the penalty kill. Lizotte was credited with three hits and a team-high four blocked shots.
Lizotte has had a winding path to the NHL.
After graduating high school, he played two seasons with the Minot Minotauros, where he earned a scholarship offer from St. Cloud State. Lizotte committed to the Huskies and played four years there, tallying 10 goals and 46 points in 147 games.
Lizotte spent the last two seasons with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the top minor-league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
This summer, he signed a one-year NHL deal with the Wild.
Lizotte played four games with Minnesota's top minor-league affiliate, Iowa, before getting the call.
