Jackson LaCombe

Jackson LaCombe
LaCombe with the United States in 2025
Born (2001-01-09) January 9, 2001
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 208 lb (94 kg; 14 st 12 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team Anaheim Ducks
National team  United States
NHL draft 39th overall, 2019
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2023–present

Jackson Trevor LaCombe[1] (born January 9, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman and alternate captain for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). LaCombe was drafted 39th overall by the Ducks in the 2019 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut with the team in 2023. Internationally he has played for the American national team at multiple tournaments, winning a gold medal at the 2025 World Championships, and being named to the team for the gold medal-winning team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, though he did not play at the latter.

Playing career

High school

LaCombe attended Shattuck-Saint Mary's where he helped SSM win the 2016 USA Hockey Youth Tier I 14 U national championship. During his senior year in the 2018–19 season, he set a school record for points by a defenseman with 89 points.[2][3]

Collegiate

LaCombe began his collegiate career for the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the 2019–20 season. During freshman year he recorded three goals and 10 assists in 37 games and led all Big Ten freshman defenseman with 61 blocked shots and ranked second in scoring. He was subsequently named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.[4]

During the 2020–21 season, his sophomore year, he recorded four goals and 17 assists in 27 games. Following an outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team and named an AHCA Second Team All-American.[5][6][7]

Professional

On April 10, 2023, LaCombe was signed by the Anaheim Ducks to a two-year, entry-level contract.[8] On April 11, he made his NHL debut against the Vancouver Canucks in a 3–2 loss.[9] On January 20, 2024, LaCombe scored his first NHL goal against the San Jose Sharks in a 5–3 loss.[10] On October 2, 2025, LaCombe signed an eight-year extension with the Ducks, taking effect at the start of the 2026–27 season.[11]

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
2026 Milano Cortina
World Championships
2025 Sweden/Denmark
World Junior Championships
2021 Canada

LaCombe represented the United States at the 2021 World Junior Championships, where he recorded one assist in six games and won a gold medal.[12]

LaCombe made his senior national team debut for the United States at the 2025 World Championship, where he recorded two goals and three assists in 10 games and helped the United States win their first gold medal since 1933.[13]

On January 21, 2026, he was named to the United States' roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, replacing the injured Seth Jones. Although he dressed for the games, he was in the final roster and joined the team in the podium to get his gold medal, LaCombe did not play through the competition.

Personal life

Amid online backlash faced by the men's Olympic hockey team regarding the inclusion of FBI director Kash Patel during their gold medal celebrations and members of the team laughing at President Trump's comments of being impeached if he did not invite the women's team to the White House, the team was invited to meet with the president and attend the State of the Union. LaCombe did not attend either the State of the Union or tour the White House.[14][15][16][17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2018–19 Chicago Steel USHL 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2019–20 University of Minnesota B1G 37 3 10 13 14 — — — — —
2020–21 University of Minnesota B1G 27 4 17 21 8 — — — — —
2021–22 University of Minnesota B1G 39 3 27 30 12 — — — — —
2022–23 University of Minnesota B1G 37 9 26 35 13 — — — — —
2022–23 Anaheim Ducks NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2023–24 Anaheim Ducks NHL 71 2 15 17 24 — — — — —
2024–25 Anaheim Ducks NHL 75 14 29 43 28 — — — — —
NHL totals 148 16 44 60 52 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2021 United States WJC 6 0 1 1 0
2025 United States WC 10 2 3 5 2
Junior totals 6 0 1 1 0
Senior totals 10 2 3 5 2

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
College
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2020 [4]
All-Big Ten First Team 2021 [7]
AHCA West Second Team All-American 2021 [6]
All-Big Ten Second Team 2022, 2023 [18]
Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2022 [19]

References

  1. ^ Anaheim Ducks [@anaheimducks]; (November 5, 2025). "How would you react if someone called you by your full government name?". Retrieved November 6, 2025 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ "Jackson LaCombe". gophersports.com. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Johnson, Randy (June 18, 2019). "Competitive fire burns bright for Shattuck-St. Mary's Jackson LaCombe". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. May 11, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  5. ^ "Gophers Announce Team Awards for 2020-21". gophersports.com. July 1, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Boston College, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin lead way with three All-American college hockey players apiece for '20-21 season". USCHO.com. April 9, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten Conference. March 16, 2021. Archived from the original on March 16, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ducks Sign LaCombe to Two-Year Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  9. ^ Reinhardt, Jordan (April 13, 2023). "Ducks' LaCombe Makes Debut & Shows Glimpses of NHL Future". thehockeywriters.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Lee, Derek (February 6, 2024). "Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe making strides in first NHL season". thehockeynews.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "Ducks Sign LaCombe to Eight-Year Contract". Anaheim Ducks. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  12. ^ "The U.S. is Golden Once Again at WJC". gophersports.com. January 5, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (May 25, 2025). "U.S. men's hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  14. ^ Trela, Nate. "Brock Nelson among 5 US men's hockey players not in Washington". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
  15. ^ Superville, Darlene (February 24, 2026). "US men's hockey team feted at State of the Union; Trump says women's team will be honored 'soon'". AP News. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  16. ^ Gentille, Sean; Salvian, Hailey (February 25, 2026). "Jack and Quinn Hughes respond to 'backlash' faced by U.S. men's Olympic hockey team". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  17. ^ DeGrushe, Alison (February 27, 2026). "U.S. men's Olympic hockey controversy explained: All about the backlash (and how the women's team responded)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  18. ^ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. Big Ten Conference. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  19. ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 19, 2022). "Michigan Scores Four Straight to Win Second B1G Tournament Championship". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
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