C. J. Suess
Born (1994-03-17) March 17, 1994
Roseville, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
AHL team
Former teams		 Manitoba Moose
Winnipeg Jets
San Jose Sharks
NHL Draft 129th overall, 2014
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 2018–present

Clint Joseph "C.J." Suess (/siːs/;[1] né Franklin; March 17, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Manitoba Moose in the American Hockey League (AHL). Prior to playing professionally, Suess played college hockey for the Minnesota State Mavericks at Minnesota State University, Mankato. At the time of his graduation, his 127 career points were tied for fifth on the school's career scoring list during the NCAA Division I era. He also represented Team USA in the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, helping them win a gold medal.

Early life

Suess was born "Clinston R. Franklin" to mother Cheryl Suess on March 17, 1994, in Roseville, Minnesota.[2] He began skating at the age four in White Bear Lake, Minnesota with his cousins before his family moved to Forest Lake, Minnesota.[3] His mother was his primary caregiver and he considers both her and his grandmother the "two people that have meant more to him than anyone else in the world."[1] As a person of color himself, Suess admired hockey player Jarome Iginla as a successful black athlete.[4]

Playing career

Amateur

Suess attended Forest Lake Area High School where he played ice hockey under the tutelage of former Minnesota State defenseman Aaron Forsythe.[2] During his high school hockey career, he was a three-time letter winner, two-time Suburban East All-Conference selection, and served as a team captain during his junior and senior seasons.[5] In his sophomore season, Suess scored 19 goals and 21 assists in 27 games, ranking as the second-leading scorer on the team. With his assistance, the team finished second to Cretin-Derham Hall High School in the Suburban East Conference and defeated Grand Rapids before falling to Elk River in the Section 7AA semi-finals.[6]

While playing for the men's ice hockey team, Suess also competed on their baseball team. He helped them qualify for the 2010 state tournament but broke his ankle during his junior year.[7] In June 2012, Suess attended the tryout camp for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[8] After qualifying for the team, he led the Stampede with 32 goals and 28 assists in 63 regular season games.[6] During his second (and final) season with the Stampede, Suess was selected to serve as an alternate captain with Team USA at the 2013 World Junior A Challenge, helping them win a gold medal.[9] Upon returning from the tournament, Suess signed a Letter of Intent to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato, an NCAA Division I school.[10] By mid-season, he had recorded 16 goals and 25 assists in 41 games and was selected for the USHL Western Conference All-Star Second Team.[11] With his help, the Stampede finished fourth in the Western Conference and qualified for the USHL playoffs before being swept by the Waterloo Black Hawks.[6] Prior to joining the Minnesota State Mavericks, Suess was drafted 129th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2014 National Hockey League Entry Draft.[5]

Collegiate

Suess played college hockey for the Minnesota State Mavericks at Minnesota State University, Mankato from 2014 until 2018. In his rookie season, Suess recorded 9 goals and 19 assists for 28 points, which tied for sixth amongst team scoring leaders.[2] He recorded his first collegiate goal on October 16 in a 5–4 overtime win over the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.[12] Suess played the majority of the season on the top line with juniors Teodors Bļugers and Bryce Gervais.[13] He later recorded the game-winning goal in the team's North Star College Cup 4–5 overtime win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers.[14] At the conclusion of the season, Suess was selected for the 2014–15 Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Rookie Team.[15]

During his sophomore season, Suess switched from left wing, a position he had spent his entire hockey career playing, to center due to a slow start. When speaking of his decision, he said: "I think I switched mainly so I could get speed coming through the zone and attacking from the middle...I did go through a slump earlier this year but then we made the switch and it's helped a lot I think."[16] After making the change, Suess finished third on the season in scoring and second in goals with 14.[2] At the conclusion of the season, he attended the Winnipeg Jets' NHL Developmental Camp.[17]

Prior to his junior year, Suess was named co-captain of the Mavericks alongside senior defenseman Carter Foguth and alternate captains Michael Huntebrinker, Sean Flanagan, and Brad McClure.[18] During the season, he was named the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week after the team's 5–3 win over the Bowling Green Falcons.[19] He tied for second on the team in points and finished fourth in goals scored.[2] In the off-season, he was again invited to participate at the Winnipeg Jets' NHL Developmental Camp.[20]

Suess, Brad McClure, and Max Coatta were named captains of the Mavericks prior to Suess's senior year.[21] In December, Suess officially changed his last name from Franklin to Suess in honor of his mother.[22] At the conclusion of his senior year, Suess was named to the WCHA First All-Star Team[23] and was named the WCHA Player of the Year, becoming the first Maverick to capture the award.[24] Suess was also the recipient of the WCHA Offensive Player of the Year[25] and selected for the WCHA All-American First Team.[26]

Suess officially concluded his collegiate career on March 25, 2018, by signing an amateur tryout agreement with the Manitoba Moose, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets.[27] At the time of his graduation, his 127 career points were tied for fifth on the school's career scoring list during its time at the NCAA Division I level.[2]

Professional

After attending the Winnipeg Jets' training camp prior to the 2018–19 season, Suess was re-assigned to the Manitoba Moose to begin the year.[28] He played 26 games for the team, recording 12 points before suffering a season-ending upper body injury in mid-December. In spite of this, he was resigned by the Jets to a one-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $700,000 if he played in the NHL.[29]

Upon being medically cleared to play, Suess participated in the Jets' 2019 training camp but was again re-assigned to the Moose.[30] As a result of injuries, Suess made his National Hockey League debut with the Winnipeg Jets on November 11, 2019, against the San Jose Sharks, playing a total of 6:26 on the ice.[31][32] He was returned to the Moose for the remainder of the season and finished with 27 points in 57 games. On October 10, 2020, Suess signed a two-year, two way contract extension with an average annual value in the NHL of $725,000 to remain with the Jets organization.[33] When the NHL returned for the 2020–21 season due to COVID-19, he was re-assigned to the Moose.[34]

On July 13, 2022, he signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the San Jose Sharks.[35]

Following one season in the Sharks organization, Suess left the club as a free agent and opted to return to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL after agreeing to a two-year contract on July 10, 2023.[36]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2009–10 Forest Lake State High School USHS 2518193718 21230
2010–11 Forest Lake High School USHS 2523103322 10000
2011–12 Forest Lake High School USHS 2515233826 20442
2012–13 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 6332286060 101347
2013–14 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 5322295143 32134
2014–15 Minnesota State WCHA 379192821 ––––—
2015–16 Minnesota State WCHA 4114112543 ––––—
2016–17 Minnesota State WCHA 3912193138 ––––—
2017–18 Minnesota State WCHA 4022214353 ––––—
2017–18 Manitoba Moose AHL 61122 30110
2018–19 Manitoba Moose AHL 2684126 ––––—
2019–20 Manitoba Moose AHL 5714132733 ––––—
2019–20 Winnipeg Jets NHL 10000 ––––—
2020–21 Manitoba Moose AHL 31861410 ––––—
2021–22 Manitoba Moose AHL 4614142816 51124
2021–22 Winnipeg Jets NHL 30002 ––––—
2022–23 San Jose Barracuda AHL 4610122243 ––––—
2022–23 San Jose Sharks NHL 10002 ––––—
NHL totals 50004 –––––

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
2014 United States WJAC 42136
Junior totals 42136

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
USHL
All-Star Game 2014 [11]
College
WCHA All-Rookie Team 2015 [15]
WCHA Second All-Star Team 2017 [37]
WCHA First All-Star Team 2018 [23]
WCHA Offensive Player of the Year 2018 [25]
WCHA Player of the Year 2018 [24]
West First All-American Team 2018 [26]
Hobey Baker Award Finalist 2018 [38]

References

  1. 1 2 Thomas, Jamie (January 24, 2018). "Prospect Profile: C.J. Suess". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "C.J. Suess". msumavericks.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  3. ↑ Frederick, Shane (December 5, 2017). "Consistent 'C'". minnesotahockey.org. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Moose forward C.J. Suess reflects on Black History Month's meaning". boom1019.com. CJSS-FM. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Former Ranger selected in NHL Draft". Forest Lake Times. July 2, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "Clinston Franklin". hockeysfuture.com. Hockeys Future. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Paitich, Aaron (April 6, 2012). "New season, same goal". mnbaseballhub.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  8. ↑ Augustoviz, Roman (June 1, 2012). "Sioux Falls Stampede holding training camp at 'U'". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ "USA Wins World Junior A Challenge; Tops Russia, 4–1, in Final". usahockey.com. USA Hockey. November 10, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Mavericks Ink Duo During Early Signing Period". msumavericks.com. November 12, 2013. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  11. 1 2 "FRANKLIN NAMED USHL MIDSEASON ALL-STAR". b1027.com. February 20, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Mavericks Forge Overtime Win at Minnesota Duluth Friday". msumavericks.com. October 17, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  13. ↑ Frederick, Shane (December 12, 2014). "Dynamic duo". ncaa.com. NCAA. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  14. ↑ "North Star College Cup: Gophers trounced by MSU-Mankato". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. January 22, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  15. 1 2 "WCHA All-Rookie Team". wcha.com. Western Collegiate Hockey Association. March 12, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Franklin Finding His Niche". msumavericks.com. March 9, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Mavericks Headed to 2016 NHL Developmental Camps". msumavericks.com. June 28, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Ninth-Rated Mavericks Face Nanooks in Fairbanks This Weekend". msumavericks.com. October 19, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  19. ↑ "MSU's Franklin And Huggins, BGSU's Hawkins And FSU's Smith Named WCHA Men's Players of the Week". wcha.com. WCHA. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Mavericks at 2017 NHL Development Camps". msumavericks.com. June 27, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Mavericks Name Tri-Captains for 2017–18". msumavericks.com. September 14, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  22. ↑ Hermann, Adam (December 22, 2017). "Minn. St.'s Suess is making a (new) name for himself". ncaa.com. NCAA. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  23. 1 2 "Nine Mavericks Earn All-WCHA Honors". msumavericks.com. March 8, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Suess Tabbed 2017–18 WCHA Player of the Year". msumavericks.com. March 15, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  25. 1 2 "Suess Named WCHA Offensive Player of the Year". msumavericks.com. March 13, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Suess Named First Team All-American". msumavericks.com. April 6, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  27. ↑ "C.J. Suess Joins Moose on Amateur Tryout". moosehockey.com. Manitoba Moose. March 25, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Jets assign 10 players to Moose; place five on waivers". National Hockey League. September 28, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Jets sign Logan Shaw and C.J. Suess". National Hockey League. May 31, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Jets assign five players to the Manitoba Moose". National Hockey League. September 30, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  31. ↑ Billeck, Scott (July 4, 2020). "PIPELINE: Jets' Suess focused on here and now". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  32. ↑ Wyman, Ted (November 1, 2019). "JETS SNAPSHOTS: Suess makes NHL debut against Sharks after getting called up from Moose". San Jose, California: Winnipeg Sun. Archived from the original on November 2, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Jets sign C.J. Suess to a two-year, two-way contract". National Hockey League. October 10, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Four Assigned to Moose Including Two First Round Picks". moosehockey.com. Manitoba Moose. January 13, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Sharks Sign Forward C.J. Suess". National Hockey League. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Suess returning to Moose". American Hockey League. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Five Mavericks Garner 2016–17 WCHA Awards". msumavericks.com. March 8, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Suess Named Top Ten Finalist for 2017–18 Hobey Baker Award". msumavericks.com. March 14, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
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