{{Short description|German ice hockey player (born 2002)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | name = JJ Peterka | image = 2023-05-09 Deutschland gegen USA (Eishockey-Länderspiel) by Sandro Halank–010.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = JJ Peterka with Germany in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|1|14|df=y}} | birth_place = Munich, Germany | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 192 | position = Winger | shoots = Left | league = NHL | team = Utah Mammoth | prospect_team = | prospect_league = | former_teams = EHC Red Bull München<br>EC Red Bull Salzburg<br>Buffalo Sabres | ntl_team = GER | draft = 34th overall | draft_year = 2020 | draft_team = Buffalo Sabres | career_start = 2019 | career_end = }} '''John-Jason Peterka''' (born 14 January 2002) is a German professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 34th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2020 NHL entry draft, and made his NHL debut in 2021.
==Playing career== Peterka made his professional debut with EHC Red Bull München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). During the 2019–20 season he appeared in 42 games scoring seven goals and four assists for 11 points.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=JJ Peterka at eliteprospects.com |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/381855/jj-peterka |access-date=2022-11-28 |website=eliteprospects.com}}</ref> Following the season, Peterka was drafted 34th overall in the 2020 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres.<ref name=":0" /> Peterka was projected to be a first-round pick before the draft, but fell to the Buffalo Sabres in the second round.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Kerr |first=Ben |title=John-Jason Peterka Scouting Report: 2020 NHL Draft #22 |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/2020/05/03/john-jason-peterka-scouting-report/ |access-date=29 November 2022 |website=lastwordonsports.com |date=3 May 2020}}</ref> He was said to be a great skater with great hands and great ability to make plays at top speed, while drawing a comparison to Patrick Kane.<ref name=":1" /> He was also said to be an unrelenting player who never gives up on the puck.<ref name=":0" /> Following the draft, Peterka went back to the DEL and played 30 games while scoring 9 goals and 11 assists for 20 points in the 2020–21 season.<ref name=":0" />
On 12 June 2021, Peterka was signed by the Buffalo Sabres to a three-year, entry-level contract.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/sabres-sign-john-jason-j-j-peterka-to-entry-level-contract/c-325302082 | title = Sabres sign Peterka to entry-level contract | publisher = Buffalo Sabres | date = 12 June 2021 | accessdate = 12 June 2021}}</ref> During the 2021–22 season, Peterka played for the Rochester Americans, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. He appeared in 70 games during his rookie season, scoring 28 goals and 40 assists for a total of 68 points. He also played in 10 playoff games that year, recording 7 goals and 5 assists for 12 points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JJ Peterka at eliteprospects.com |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/381855/jj-peterka |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=eliteprospects.com}}</ref>
Peterka made his NHL debut with the Sabres on 29 December 2021, in a 4–3 loss against the New Jersey Devils.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Engel |first1=Heather |title=Hughes, Devils end six-game losing streak with win against Sabres |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-buffalo-sabres-game-recap-329231106 |website=NHL.com |access-date=26 June 2025 |date=29 December 2021}}</ref> After the game, the Sabres returned him to the AHL's Rochester Americans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/jj-peterka-named-ahl-player-of-the-week-rochester-americans/c-329446490|title=Peterka named AHL Player of the Week|first=Jordoun|last=LaBarber|website=NHL.com|date=3 January 2022|access-date=22 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121224633/https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/jj-peterka-named-ahl-player-of-the-week-rochester-americans/c-329446490|archive-date=21 January 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken - October 25, 2022 - Martin Jones, Vince Dunn and John-Jason Peterka (52458400611).jpg|thumb|Peterka (left) in a game against the Seattle Kraken in 2022.]] Peterka's first NHL goal came in the Sabres' 2022–23 season opener at home against the Ottawa Senators. His goal tied the game at 1–1 en route to a Buffalo 4–1 victory on 13 October 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=LaBarber |first1=Jourdon |title='Pure joy' {{!}} Peterka nets 1st NHL goal in opening night victory |url=https://www.nhl.com/sabres/news/buffalo-sabres-ottawa-senators-game-recap-season-opener-jj-peterka-1st-336341920 |website=NHL.com |access-date=25 October 2022 |date=13 October 2022}}</ref>
On 28 January 2025, Peterka scored his first career hat-trick in a 7–2 win over the Boston Bruins.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Engel |first1=Heather |title=Thompson, Peterka each has hat trick, assist for Sabres in win against Bruins |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-buffalo-sabres-game-recap-january-28 |website=NHL.com |access-date=26 June 2025 |date=28 January 2025}}</ref>
At the conclusion of the 2024–25 season, on 25 June 2025, as a pending restricted free agent, Peterka was traded from Buffalo to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan. Peterka was immediately signed to a long term five-year, $38.5 million contract extension with the Mammoth.<ref>{{citeweb| url = https://www.nhl.com/utah/news/utah-acquires-j-j-peterka-in-exchange-for-doan-and-kesselring-release-6-25-25 | title = Utah acquires J.J. Peterka in exchange for Doan and Kesselring | publisher = Utah Mammoth | date = 25 June 2025 | accessdate = 25 June 2025}}</ref>
==International play== {{MedalTableTop|name=}} {{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}} {{MedalCountry|{{ih|GER}}}} {{MedalCompetition|World Championships}} {{MedalSilver|2023 Finland/Latvia|}} {{MedalBottom}} Peterka made his international debut with the Germany under-18 team at the 2019 World U18 Championship Division I, before joining the junior team for the 2020 and 2021 World Junior Championships.
Joining the senior team for the first time, Peterka made his World Championships debut at the 2021 edition. Two years later, he rejoined the national team for the 2023 World Championship, where Germany embarked on an unexpected deep run through the knockout round, defeating the heavily-favoured United States senior team in the semifinals to reach the gold medal game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Detroit Red Wings' Moritz Seider's Germany stuns U.S. in World Championship semifinals |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2023/05/27/detroit-red-wings-nhl-moritz-seiders-germany-upsets-u-s-hockey-world-championship-semi/70263620007/ |last=St. James |first=Helene |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |date=29 May 2023 |access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref> Peterka scored the opening goal of the game, but Germany was ultimately defeated by Canada senior team, winning the silver medal, the nation's first at the World Championships since 1953.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Podnieks |first1=Andrew |title=Canada rallies to win gold |url= https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2023/wm/news/45424/gold |website=IIHF |access-date=28 May 2023 |date=29 May 2023}}</ref> With six goals and six assists in 10 games, Peterka was given the IIHF directorate award for best forward, and named to the Media All-Star Team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Top 10 players at the World Championship: Arturs Silovs sealed the door |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/top-10-players-at-the-world-championship-arturs-silovs-sealed-the-door |last=Kennedy |first=Ian |magazine=The Hockey News |date=29 May 2023 |access-date=29 May 2023}}</ref><ref name=WC23>{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Derek |title=Silovs MVP, All-Stars named |url=https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2023/wm/news/45430/silovs_mvp_all-stars_named |website=IIHF |access-date=29 May 2023 |date=28 May 2023}}</ref>
==Personal life== Peterka has two younger siblings, Tiffany and Jack. His German parents pointedly chose American sounding names for their children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/2828270|title='Such a threat': JJ Peterka is starting to live up to 'unicorn' projection |website=theScore.com |first=John |last=Matisz|date=29 January 2024 |accessdate=24 March 2025}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season !! Team !! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2017–18 || RB Hockey Academy || Czech.18 | 18 || 7 || 14 || 21 || 4 | 2 || 4 || 0 || 4 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 || RB Hockey Academy || Czech.19 | 48 || 45 || 49 || 94 || 52 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2019–20 || EHC Red Bull München || DEL | 42 || 7 || 4 || 11 || 14 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 || EC Red Bull Salzburg || ICEHL | 12 || 7 || 9 || 16 || 12 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2020–21 || EHC Red Bull München || DEL | 30 || 9 || 11 || 20 || 8 | 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021–22 || Rochester Americans || AHL | 70 || 28 || 40 || 68 || 28 | 10 || 7 || 5 || 12 || 6 |- | 2021–22 || Buffalo Sabres || NHL | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 || Buffalo Sabres || NHL | 77 || 12 || 20 || 32 || 26 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2023–24 || Buffalo Sabres || NHL | 82 || 28 || 22 || 50 || 28 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 || Buffalo Sabres || NHL | 77 || 27 || 41 || 68 || 34 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2025–26 || Utah Mammoth || NHL | 82 || 25 || 22 || 47 || 28 | 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"|DEL totals ! 72 !! 16 !! 15 !! 31 !! 22 ! 2 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 320 !! 92 !! 105 !! 197 !! 116 ! 6 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#fff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2019 | Germany | U18-D1 | DNQ | 5 || 2 || 6 || 8 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020 | Germany | WJC | 9th | 7 || 4 || 2 || 6 || 16 |- | 2021 | Germany | WJC | 6th | 5 || 4 || 6 || 10 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2021 | Germany | WC | 4th | 6 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2 |- | 2023 | Germany | WC | {{silver2}} | 10 || 6 || 6 || 12 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024 | Germany | WC | 6th | 8 || 5 || 4 || 9 || 2 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 17 !! 10 !! 14 !! 24 !! 18 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Senior totals ! 24 !! 12 !! 10 !! 22 !! 4 |}
==Awards and honours== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ! colspan="3"|AHL |- | All-Rookie Team | 2022 | <ref>{{cite web | url = https://theahl.com/2021-22-ahl-all-rookie-team | title = 2021-22 AHL All-Rookie Team named | publisher = American Hockey League | date = 27 April 2022 | accessdate = 27 April 2022 | archive-date = 29 April 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220429003302/https://theahl.com/2021-22-ahl-all-rookie-team | url-status = dead }}</ref> |- ! colspan="3"|International |- | WC best forward | 2023 | <ref name=WC23/> |- | WC Media All-Star Team | 2023 | <ref name=WC23/> |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}} * [https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/19781 John Peterka] at Milano Cortina 2026 * {{Olympics.com|john-peterka|John Peterka}} * {{Team Deutschland|john-jason-jason-peterka|John-Jason Peterka}} * {{Olympedia|name=J.J. Peterka}} * {{InterSportStats|name=J.J. Peterka}} * {{Instagram|name=JJ Peterka}}<!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterka, JJ}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century German sportsmen Category:Buffalo Sabres draft picks Category:Buffalo Sabres players Category:EC Red Bull Salzburg players Category:EHC München players Category:German expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:German expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:German ice hockey centres Category:German ice hockey forwards Category:German ice hockey left wingers Category:Ice hockey people from Munich Category:Ice hockey players at the 2026 Winter Olympics Category:Rochester Americans players Category:Utah Mammoth players Category:Olympic ice hockey players for Germany