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USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Pionk Proves his Ability

June 29, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa - Almost 14 months ago, the Waterloo Black Hawks used their first pick during Phase II of the 2022 USHL Draft to select defenseman Aaron Pionk; on Thursday, Pionk was picked again when the Minnesota Wild made him a Fifth Round choice during the 2023 NHL Draft.

One season in Waterloo highlighted the 20-year-old's all-around, 200-foot game. Pionk's +21 plus/minus differential ranked third among Black Hawks players and seventh when compared with all other USHL defensemen. Meanwhile, the Minnesota-Duluth recruit ended the season tied for sixth in team scoring with 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists). Across the league, only three blue-liners scored more goals.

During the 2022 USHL Fall Classic, Pionk recorded Waterloo's first goal of the season. The tally came just 1:53 into a 5-2 win against the Youngstown Phantoms during his first shift for the Hawks. Weeks later on October 12th, Pionk was named the USHL's Defenseman of the Week following a two-goal night against the Tri-City Storm. His season was also highlighted by a game-winning shootout goal against the Sioux City Musketeers during a 4-3 road win on January 7th and a game-winner in regulation versus the same opponent at Young Arena April 15th.

Pionk's success was particularly notable considering that he moved to defense at the junior level; throughout his high school career in Hermantown, Minnesota, Pionk was a forward.

His ties to Waterloo predate the 2022 USHL Draft and even his birth in January of 2003. During the 1997/98 and 1998/99 seasons, his father - Scott Pionk - was the Black Hawks' head coach. Meanwhile, Aaron's older brother, Neal, is currently playing in the NHL as a defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets.

No NHL club is geographically closer to Waterloo than Minnesota, and recently the Wild have been finding prospects in the Cedar Valley. In 2017, Nick Swaney was the first Black Hawk to be chosen by Minnesota. Swaney made his NHL debut on April 13th, during the final Wild game of 2022/23. Vladislav Firstov was picked in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Three other former Hawks have skated for the Wild at the NHL level in recent years: Minnesota natives Rem Pitlick, Justin Kloos and J.T. Brown have all taken the ice for their home state club since the beginning of the 2017/18 season.

Minnesota selected Pionk with the 150th overall pick Thursday.

Before coming to Waterloo, Pionk played for the Minnesota Wilderness of the North American Hockey League in 2021/22. While there, Pionk had a +14 plus/minus differential in 51 games. He also contributed nine goals and 19 assists. NHL Central Scouting placed him 132nd in their final ranking of draft eligible North American skaters released in May of 2022. For this summer's draft, Pionk moved up to the 117th position on the NHLCS final North American list.

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