Ian Douglas Cole was born on February 21, 1989 in Ann Arbor, Michigan and currently plays defense for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. Ian was drafted in the first round, 18th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Ian is the highest drafted hockey player in University of Notre Dame school history, where he starred as an All-American from 2007-2010. After Ian’s junior year at Notre Dame, he turned pro with the St. Louis Blues, making his National Hockey League debut on November 6, 2010. After five seasons in St. Louis, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired Ian Cole from the Blues in exchange for Robert Bortuzzo and a 2016 7th-round draft pick. Cole signed a three-year contract extension to remain in Pittsburgh where he won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. After the 2017-18 season, Ian became an unrestricted free agent and agreed to a 3-year, $12.75 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche. On January 19th, 2020 Ian was traded to the Minnesota Wild. Ian inked an one-year, $2.9 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 28, 2021. Cole signed a 1 year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2022 for $3 million. On July 1, 2023, Ian signed a 1 year contract with the Vancouver Canucks for $3 million. Cole signed a 1 year contract with the Utah Hockey Club on July 1, 2024 for $3.1 million.
“When we first started talking to Mags when I was 15-16 years old . . . I kind of viewed them as more of a parental type . . . Now it’s certainly a friendship and there is a lot of mutual respect there.”