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Steven Lorentz
Steven Lorentz (born April 13, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Carolina Hurricanes selected him in the seventh round, 186th overall, at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Lorentz won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024. Early lifeLorentz was born on April 13, 1996, in Kitchener, Ontario.[1] He was the only son of Mark and Karon Lorentz, he attended St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School and was raised with his sisters in nearby Waterloo, Ontario.[2] He began ice skating at the age of two, and started playing organized minor ice hockey three years later. Although players his age were usually divided randomly among the four local teams, the coaches held a "draft lottery" for the skilled Lorentz.[3] Growing up, Lorentz was a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.[4] His childhood bedroom was modeled after the team, including a Maple Leafs score clock for his light and several posters, and his favourite player was Mats Sundin.[5] In 2024, after signing with Toronto, Lorentz went viral within the hockey community when he posted his childhood yearbook from 15 years ago, where he claimed that in 15 years he would be playing in the NHL for the Maple Leafs.[6] Although many fans, commentators and media personality pronounce Lorentz's last name in the literal sense, often saying 'Lo-rentz', Lorentz's name is pronounced Lawrence.[7] Playing careerJuniorAfter leading the Waterloo Wolves AAA club in scoring, Lorentz was chosen by the Peterborough Petes in the 12th round, 226th overall, in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.[8] ProfessionalCarolina HurricanesOn June 27, 2015, the Carolina Hurricanes selected Lorentz in the seventh round, 186th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[9] Following his fourth completed junior OHL season with the Peterborough Petes, the Hurricanes signed Lorentz on a three-year, entry-level contract on April 21, 2017.[10] Lorentz was one of those 31 players[11] for the Hurricanes invited to the "bubble" as part of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, but he did not play.[12] On October 15, 2020, the Hurricanes signed Lorentz to a two-year, two-way contract.[13] In the pandemic delayed 2020–21 season, Lorentz made his NHL debut on January 28, 2021, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.[14] He subsequently recorded his first point on January 30 with an assist against the Dallas Stars.[15] Lorentz scored his first career NHL goal on March 2, 2021, in a game against the Nashville Predators.[16] San Jose SharksOn July 13, 2022, the Hurricanes traded Lorentz, goaltender Eetu Makiniemi and a conditional third-round selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Brent Burns and Lane Pederson.[17] On July 22, the Sharks signed Lorentz to a two-year contract extension.[18] Florida PanthersAfter a solitary season with the Sharks, on July 1, 2023, Lorentz was traded by the Sharks, along with a fifth-round selection in 2025, to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Anthony Duclair.[19] Toronto Maple LeafsFollowing his Stanley Cup success with the Panthers, Lorentz left as a free agent at the conclusion of his contract and was un-signed over the summer. On September 5, 2024, Lorentz accepted an invitation to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp for the 2024–25 season on a professional tryout. Following training camp, Lorentz signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on October 7, 2024.[20] Starting the season on the Maple Leafs roster, Lorentz would score his first goal of the season in the team's second game, a 4–2 win over the New Jersey Devils on October 10.[21] Playing styleCarolina Hurricanes Director of Amateur Scouting Tony MacDonald said of Lorentz in 2015, "He's a good two-way player who plays well with and without the puck."[22] Career statistics
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