Hermantown Native Aaron Pionk Selected By Minnesota Wild in NHL Draft

It will be a few years before Pionk puts on the Wild sweater. He's set to play for UMD this upcoming season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Hermantown native Aaron Pionk would have to wait a little bit on Thursday to hear his name called in the NHL Draft.

Finally at pick number 149 in the 5th round, Pionk’s home state team, the Minnesota Wild would select the defenseman.

“The thought of that is crazy. I thought I had played my last game there junior year. Now, that opportunity might come around again is an amazing feeling. Just staying in Minnesota my whole life will be also cool. That’s one of the best rinks in the league and definitely one of the best fan bases as well, so I think it will be awesome. Hopefully somehow, someway I get to play my brother on that sheet of ice, that would be crazy. But yeah super excited for it,” said Pionk.

Pionk has spent all but one year playing hockey in the state of Minnesota.

He would play the 2022-2023 season with the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHSL. Pionk would tally 12 goals and 26 assists for the Blackhawks.

It will be a few years before Pionk puts on the Wild sweater. He’s set to play for UMD this upcoming season.