{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 2001)}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | name = Cole McWard | image = Cole McWard IMG 4969.jpg | image_size = | caption = McWard with Ohio State in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|6|9}} | birth_place = Fenton, Missouri, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lb = 192 | position = Defense | shoots = Right | league = NHL | team = New York Islanders | prospect_league = AHL | prospect_team = Hamilton Hammers | former_teams = Vancouver Canucks | ntl_team = | draft = Undrafted | career_start = 2023 | career_end = }} '''Cole McWard''' (born June 9, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). McWard played collegiate ice hockey at Ohio State University.
==Personal life== McWard was born on June 9, 2001, in Fenton, Missouri,<ref name="EP">{{cite web |title=Cole McWard |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/376492/cole-mcward |publisher=Elite Prospects |access-date=July 8, 2023}}</ref> to parents Tina and Patrick. He began skating at the age of three after watching his older brother Gannon start playing ice hockey.<ref name="osubio">{{cite web |title=#3 Cole McWard |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/roster/cole-mcward/ |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=July 8, 2023}}</ref> He first played organized ice hockey with the Meramec Sharks before playing on multiple single-A and double-AA hockey teams growing up.<ref name="Machan">{{cite news|last1=Machan|first1=Cody |title=Men's Ice Hockey: Inside Cole McWard's journey to the Canucks |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2023/05/mens-ice-hockey-inside-cole-mcwards-journey-to-the-canucks/ |access-date=July 8, 2023 |publisher=The Lantern |date=May 10, 2023}}</ref>
==Playing career==
===Amateur=== While playing with the St. Louis AAA Blues during the 2016–17 season, McWard was drafted 80th overall by the Tri-City Storm in the 2017 United States Hockey League Phase I draft.<ref>{{cite web |title=TI Elite League Produces Draft Picks |url=https://pointstreak.com/news_story.html?id=485394 |publisher=PointStreak |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=May 4, 2017}}</ref> Although he remained with the Blues through 2018, he also played with the Westminster Wildcats at the Westminster Christian Academy and helped them to back-to-back state championships.<ref name="Mayes">{{cite web |last1=Mayes |first1=Warren |title=Cole McWard heats up ice playing for Westminster Wildcats, St. Louis AAA Blues |url=https://www.westnewsmagazine.com/sports/cole-mcward-heats-up-ice-playing-for-westminster-wildcats-st-louis-aaa-blues/article_bd0e2357-2ffb-5749-8a3b-32d8b106aa29.html |publisher=WestNews Magazine |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Greige">{{cite web |last1=Greige |first1=Emily |title=Wildcat Alum Scores his First NHL Goal |url=https://www.thewildcatroar.com/800-sporting/2023/05/01/wildcat-alum-scores-his-first-nhl-goal/ |publisher=The Wildcat Roar |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=May 1, 2018}}</ref> As a result of his outstanding play, McWard was a member of Team USA that won the 2017 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Ostrava, Czech Republic.<ref name="Mayes"/>
McWard eventually made his USHL debut on December 28, 2017, as an affiliate list call-up<ref name="commitment">{{cite web |title=Cole McWard Announces Commitment to Ohio State |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/cole-mcward-announces-commitment-to-ohio-state/n-5657191 |publisher=Our Sports Central |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=December 17, 2020}}</ref> but remained with the Wildcats and Blues for the remainder of the season.<ref name="Greige"/> He finished the 2017–18 season with 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points with the Wildcats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hockey |url=https://stats.stlhighschoolsports.com/sports/hockey/stats/leaguestatoverall.php?t=201&s=722 |website=stlhighschoolsports.com |access-date=July 8, 2023}}</ref> McWard joined the Tri-City Storm full-time during the 2018–19 season and scored his first career USHL goal on November 9, 2018.<ref name="commitment"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Lancers can't break through against Storm; Cole McWard lifts Tri-City to 1-0 victory |url=https://omaha.com/sports/lancers/lancers-can-t-break-through-against-storm-cole-mcward-lifts/article_2b84e2dc-b69f-579c-90e2-99154b7ae435.html |access-date=July 8, 2023 |publisher=Omaha World-Herald |date=November 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716054723/https://omaha.com/sports/lancers/lancers-can-t-break-through-against-storm-cole-mcward-lifts/article_2b84e2dc-b69f-579c-90e2-99154b7ae435.html |archive-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref> McWard finished his rookie season with the Storm accumulating one goal and five assists for six points through 48 games<ref name="EP"/> and was named to the USHL All-Academic Team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ronnie Attard, Zac Jones, Isaiah Saville Win USHL End of Year Awards |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/ronnie-attard-zac-jones-isaiah-saville-win-ushl-end-of-year-awards/n-5477257 |publisher=Our Sports Central |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> McWard returned to the Storm for the 2019–20 season, which was eventually shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=James |first1=Zach |title=USHL cancels season over coronavirus pandemic |url=https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/hockey/ushl-cancels-season-over-coronavirus-pandemic-musketeers-finish-with-40-points/article_62f5b765-f2e7-5eeb-991f-1a1568ab398b.html |access-date=July 8, 2023 |publisher=Sioux City Journal |date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> Prior to the league stopping play, McWard brokout with eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points through 48 games.<ref name="EP"/>
During the 2020–21 season, McWard committed to Ohio State University starting in 2021–22. At the time, he led all Storm defensemen with one goal and four assists over seven games.<ref name="commitment"/> Following the commitment, McWard and Carter Mazur were named co-captains alongside alternate captains Matthew Knies, Nick Portz, Kyle Aucoin, and goaltender Todd Scott.<ref>{{cite web |title=Storm Announce Captains for 2020-2021 Season |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/storm-announce-captains-for-2020-2021-season/n-5658506 |publisher=Our Sports Central |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=December 31, 2020}}</ref> On February 10, 2021, McWard was named the USHL's Defenseman of the Week after he led all Storm players with four goals over two games against the Sioux Falls Stampede.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cole McWard Named USHL Defenseman of the Week |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/cole-mcward-named-ushl-defenseman-of-the-week/n-5665847 |publisher=Our Sports Central |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=February 10, 2021}}</ref> He finished the season with a career-high 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points to rank fourth in scoring among all USHL defensemen. As a result, he was selected for the All-USHL Team Second Team.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griek |first1=David |title=McWard lands all-USHL honor to close out career |url=https://nebraska.tv/newsletter-daily/mcward-lands-all-ushl-honor-to-close-out-career |publisher=Nebraska TV |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=June 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=USHL Announces All-USHL Teams for 2020-21 Season |url=https://ushl.sportngin.com/news_article/show/1169498 |publisher=USHL |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=June 14, 2021}}</ref>
===Collegiate=== McWard played for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2021 to 2023. There, he enrolled in the Fisher College of Business where he majored in business.<ref name="osubio"/> McWard scored his first collegiate point, an assist, on October 15, 2021, during a game against the UConn Huskies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shaffer |first1=Cameron |title=Men's Hockey: Ohio State mounts huge comeback, wins thrilling home opener |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2021/10/mens-hockey-ohio-state-mounts-huge-comeback-wins-thrilling-home-opener/ |access-date=July 8, 2023 |publisher=The Lantern |date=October 16, 2021}}</ref> He later scored his first collegiate goal on January 1, 2022, against the LIU Sharks.<ref>{{cite web |title=NO. 17 OHIO STATE WINS 7-2 OVER LIU FOR SWEEP |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/no-17-ohio-state-wins-7-2-over-liu-for-sweep/ |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=January 1, 2022}}</ref> McWard finished his freshman season at Ohio State with four goals and 12 assists for 16 points through 36 games. He was also recognized as an Ohio State Scholar-Athlete.<ref name="osubio"/> Before his sophomore season, McWard attended the New Jersey Devils development camp as a free agent invitee but he returned to the Buckeyes for the 2022–23 NCAA season.<ref>{{cite web |title=BUCKEYES AT NHL DEVELOPMENT CAMPS |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/buckeyes-at-nhl-development-camps-4/ |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=July 11, 2022}}</ref> In his sophomore season, McWard continued to build off his successful freshman season. By early December 2022, he had accumulated two goals and three assists and was recognized as the Big Ten Third Star of the Week.<ref>{{cite web |title=MCWARD NAMED B1G THIRD STAR OF THE WEEK |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/mcward-named-b1g-third-star-of-the-week/ |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=December 6, 2022}}</ref>
===Professional===
====Vancouver Canucks==== On April 4, 2023, after his sophomore season at Ohio State concluded, McWard signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks.<ref>{{cite web |title=COLE MCWARD SIGNS WITH VANCOUVER CANUCKS |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/cole-mcward-signs-pro-contract/ |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=July 8, 2023 |date=April 4, 2023}}</ref> Two days following the signing, McWard made his NHL debut with the Canucks against the Chicago Blackhawks.<ref name="Machan"/> He scored his first career NHL goal in his second career game against the Calgary Flames on April 9.<ref name="Greige"/>
McWard started the 2023–24 season with the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. He was called up to Vancouver on November 24, 2023, playing one game before being sent back down.<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Patrick |title=Canucks: Injuries lead to roster shuffle, two now on injured reserve |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-injuries-roster-shuffle |access-date=April 18, 2024 |website=The Province |date=November 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Canucks Reassign Cole McWard |url=https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/11/canucks-reassign-cole-mcward.html |access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Pro Hockey Rumors |date=November 30, 2023}}</ref>
On June 20, 2024, the Canucks announced that they had re-signed McWard to a one-year, two-way contract.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nestler |first=Sam |title=Vancouver Canucks sign Linus Karlsson, Cole McWard to one-year contracts |url=https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/vancouver-canucks-sign-linus-karlsson-cole-mcward-to-one-year-contracts |access-date=May 1, 2025 |website=Daily Faceoff |date=June 20, 2024}}</ref>
McWard once again started the season with Abbotsford to start the 2024–25 season. He was recalled to the NHL squad on December 5, 2024, but did not appear in a game with them before being sent down.<ref>{{cite web |last=Quadrelli |first=David |title=Canucks recall Lekkerimäki, McWard, and Sasson from AHL Abbotsford |url=https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-recall-jonathan-lekkerimaki-cole-mcward-max-sasson-ahl-abbotsford |access-date=May 1, 2025 |website=CanucksArmy |date=December 5, 2024}}</ref> Although McWard would not get the chance to play at the NHL level during the season, he did show his offensive potential in the AHL, recording six goals and 20 assists in 67 games. McWard would also score a goal and an assist in 12 games in the Calder Cup playoffs as the Canucks would go on to win the Calder Cup.<ref name="CC25" />
At season's end, the Canucks announced that they would not be given a qualifying offer to McWard, making him a free agent on July 1, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canucks extend qualifying offers to players |url=https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-extend-qualifying-offers-to-players |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 17, 2026 |date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>
====New York Islanders==== On July 1, 2025, McWard signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Islanders.<ref>{{cite web |title=Islanders Sign Bear, Highmore, McWard, Terry, Berg, Dorrington, Drew, Mitton, and Rowe |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/islanders-sign-bear-highmore-mcward-terry-berg-dorrington-drew-mitton-and-rowe |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=July 1, 2025}}</ref>
On January 3, 2026, after scoring five goals and 11 assists with the Bridgeport Islanders, New York's AHL affiliate, McWard was called up to the NHL, and made his Islanders debut that same day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosner |first=Stefen |date=2026-01-03 |title=Islanders Recall Defenseman Cole McWard From Bridgeport Ahead Of Game vs. Toronto Maple Leafs |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/islanders-recall-defenseman-cole-mcward-135404822.html |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sears |first=Ethan |date=2026-01-04 |title=Cole McWard calls his Islanders debut ‘a confidence-builder’ |url=https://www.aol.com/articles/cole-mcward-calls-islanders-debut-050017081.html |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=www.aol.com |language=en-US}}</ref> McWard would play three games with New York, going scoreless, before getting sent back down to Bridgeport on January 24.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foley |first=Gabriel |date=2026-01-24 |title=Islanders Recall Isaiah George, Assign Cole McWard To AHL |url=https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2026/01/islanders-expected-to-recall-isaiah-george.html |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=Pro Hockey Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref> On January 15, McWard was announced as Bridgeport's representation to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic as part of the Atlantic Division Team.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2026-01-16 |title=NY Islanders defenseman Cole McWard named AHL All-Star for Bridgeport |url=https://eyesonisles.com/ny-islanders-defenseman-cole-mcward-named-ahl-all-star-for-bridgeport-01kf23ab2p55 |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=Eyes On Isles |language=en-US}}</ref> McWard would finish his first season with the Islanders organization scoring six goals and 21 assists in 63 games with Bridgeport, and going scoreless in two playoff games.
==Career statistics== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="103" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="103" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2017–18 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 48 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 31 | 6 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- | 2019–20 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 48 || 8 || 10 || 18 || 16 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 52 || 14 || 19 || 33 || 54 | 3 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 |- | 2021–22 | Ohio State University | B1G | 36 || 4 || 12 || 16 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | Ohio State University | B1G | 39 || 9 || 12 || 21 || 8 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2022–23 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 5 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |-bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2023–24 | Abbotsford Canucks | AHL | 57 || 4 || 13 || 17 || 16 | 6 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- | 2023–24 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |-bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Abbotsford Canucks | AHL | 67 || 6 || 20 || 26 || 16 | 12 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 |- |2025–26 |Bridgeport Islanders |AHL |63 |6 |21 |27 |24 |2 |0 |0 |0 |0 |-bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2025–26 |New York Islanders |NHL |3 |0 |0 |0 |0 |— |— |— |— |— |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |NHL totals ! 9 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |}
== Awards and honors == {| class="wikitable" !Award !Year !Ref |- ! colspan="3" |USHL |- | All-USHL Second Team | 2021 | <ref name="osubio" /> |- ! colspan="3" |AHL |- | Calder Cup champion | 2025 | <ref name="CC25">{{cite web |last1=Kuzma |first1=Ben |title=Abbotsford Canucks: The journey really was the adventure to capture 2025 Calder Cup crown |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/abbotsford-canucks-the-journey-was-capture-2025-ahl-calder-cup-title |access-date=June 23, 2025 |website=The Province |date=June 23, 2025}}</ref> |- |AHL All-Star |2026 |<ref name=":0" /> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McWard, Cole}} Category:2001 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Abbotsford Canucks players Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen Category:Bridgeport Islanders players Category:New York Islanders players Category:Ice hockey people from Missouri Category:Ohio State Buckeyes men's ice hockey players Category:Sportspeople from St. Louis County, Missouri Category:Tri-City Storm players Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players Category:Vancouver Canucks players