Texas Born/Raised Professional Hockey Players

Article written by Adam Hayes




Despite having an extremely successful hockey NHL team, Texas will never be seen as a hockey hotbed. The short winters that rarely bring cold temperatures make it hard for children to focus on playing hockey when they can play football or baseball throughout the entire year. Despite the lack of ideal conditions, Texas has still produced a few great professional hockey players. These are the three current NHL Players that were born in the state of Texas.




Tyler Meyers, Winnipeg Jets


Tyler Meyers is easily the most successful of the three Texans currently playing in the NHL. Meyers was born in Houston, but he never considered playing hockey until moving to Calgary at the age of 10. A successful career in the Western Hockey League helped the big defensemen get drafted with the 12th overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Myers quickly became one of the most important players on a young Sabres squad. Tallying 48 points in his rookie season win the 2010 Calder Memorial Trophy. After failing to live up the promise of his rookie season, the Buffalo Sabres traded Tyler Meyers to the Winnipeg Jets before the 2014-2015 season.




Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets


Seth Jones was destined to be a professional athlete thanks to his great pedigree. Seth's dad, Popeye Jones played in the NBA for 12 seasons, and he is currently a coach on the Indiana Pacers. Seth was born in Arlington while his dad was playing for the Dallas Mavericks, but he didn't pick up the game until the age of while living in Denver. Seth Jones learned the fundamentals of hockey at a young age before his family moved to Frisco, Texas, when he was 12. Jones continued his love for hockey after returning to Texas, he eventually became a member of the U.S. National Development Team. His unprecedented size and athleticism help Seth get drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators. Nashville eventually traded Jones for Yan Johansen before the start of the 2015-2016 season. Despite struggling mightly in his rookie year. Seth Jones has quickly become one of the top young defensemen in the NHL.




Stefan Noesen, Anaheim Ducks


Stefan Noesen is a right winger currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks was born in Plano, Texas before moving to Canada as a child. Noesen had a successful junior hockey career with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League before getting drafted with the 21st overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators. Despite being a top draft pick. Stefan Noesen never appeared in a game during his two seasons with the Ottawa Senators. The team eventually traded Noesen and Silfverberg to the Anaheim Ducks for Bobby Ryan. Noesen appeared in two games during his first two pro seasons, but is finally getting extended time this season. Stefan Noesen scored the first goal of his career on December 7th, 2016, in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes.