Spencer Stastney

Spencer Stastney (born January 4, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman playing for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey at Notre Dame.

Early life
Stastney was born in Mequon, Wisconsin. He attended elementary school and middle school in Mequon, before moving to Woodridge, Illinois where he attended Bridgedale Academy. He also played youth hockey for the Chicago Mission of the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League.

College
During the 2018–19 season, his freshman year, Stastney recorded one goal and three assists in 39 games for Notre Dame. He led the Chicago Blackhawks onto the ice for the 2019 NHL Winter Classic. He scored his first collegiate goal during the championship game of the 2019 Big Ten men's ice hockey tournament. He was subsequently named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team. During the 2019–20 season, his sophomore year, he recorded three goals and 17 assists in 36 games.

During the 2020–21 season, his junior year, he recorded five goals and seven assists in 29 games. His five goals were tied with Nick Leivermann and Michigan's Nick Blankenburg for the most by a Big Ten defenseman. Following the season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team. During the 2021–22 season, his senior year, he recorded a career-high seven goals and 20 assists in 39 games. He ranked second on the team in scoring with 27 points. He also ranked second in the conference with 69 blocked shots. Following the season he was named the team's Monogram Club MVP. He finished his career at Notre Dame with 16 goals and 47 assists in 143 games.

Professional
Stastney was drafted in the fifth round, 131st overall, by the Nashville Predators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

On March 31, 2022, Stastney signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators. During his rookie season, he recorded five goals and eight assists in 56 games for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his NHL debut for the Predators on April 1, 2023. During the 2022–23 season, he recorded two points in eight games. Following the regular season, he was returned to the Admirals for the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs. During the playoffs, he recorded one goal and five assists in 16 games. During game five of the division semifinals, he scored the game-winning goal with 27 seconds remaining in the game to help the Admirals advance to the Western Conference finals.

On November 14, 2023, Stastney was recalled by the Nashville Predators. Prior to being recalled, he recorded one goal and three assists in ten games for the Milwaukee Admirals.

International play
Stastney represented the United States at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships where he recorded one goal and four assists in seven games and won a silver medal. He represented the United States at the 2020 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he was scoreless in five games.