Get to know your Jet: Neal Pionk

Neal Pionk is the 31-year-old undrafted defenceman for the Winnipeg Jets. After being born in Nebraska and raised in Minnesota, he has been with the Jets for eight seasons, first coming over from the New York Rangers in a trade for Jacob Trouba. Pionk, who prefers baseball and card games over hockey activities, is known for being a talented card player and has a fondness for following baseball games.

Among his teammates, Josh Morrissey and Gabe Vilardi are considered to be most skilled at stand-up comedy. If he were to become NHL commissioner for a day, Pionk would implement a rule stating that teams must win at least half their games to make the playoffs. Growing up in Minnesota, Pionk admired players like Pavel Datsyuk and appreciated the hockey-crazed atmosphere in Winnipeg.

He shared that his first childhood hockey memory was winning the City Championship in Squirt hockey at the age of 10. Pionk reminisced about his early working experiences, including landscaping and working at a car wash, which instilled valuable lessons in him. As for superstitions, Pionk always puts on his left skate first and ties it before his right one, as well as eating a salad and pasta before each game.

Pionk is not picky about food and enjoys trying new dishes, often adding unconventional toppings like peas and black olives to his meals.