Kunin scores first three pro goals for Iowa

Photo: Ted Sandeen

Less than a week after turning pro, Luke Kunin recorded a hat trick for the Iowa Wild in a 4-0 win over the Rockford IceHogs on Tuesday night.

Kunin, 19, was a first-round selection by the Minnesota Wild (15th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He signed with Minnesota on Mar. 23 and joined Iowa on an amateur tryout contract after completing his sophomore season at the University of Wisconsin.

After being held off the scoresheet in his first two games with the AHL Wild over the weekend, Kunin scored twice in the first period of his home debut at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Tuesday before adding an empty-net goal late.

Kunin totaled 22 goals and 16 assists in 35 games at Wisconsin this season, ranking second in the Big 10 conference in goals. He served as captain of the Badgers in 2016-17, and also captained Team USA at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, where they won gold.