Minnesota Wild forward Justin Fontaine broke records Saturday, Oct. 12 after scoring his first career goal in just 12 seconds--the fastest start in franchise history. For many people across the country, his name might not ring a bell. But things are different in Duluth, Minn., where Fontaine is one of the biggest names in hockey and this community.
Bonnyville, Alberta native Justin Fontaine, 25, started out his career for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in 2007, but his career took off his sophomore year leading the Bulldogs with 33 assists that season. That year he was also honored to be on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association WCHA Second All-Star team.
His junior year got even better; Fontaine led the Bulldogs with 21 goals and 15 assists and was named a second time for the WCHA Second All-Star team.
His senior year was the year the Bulldogs made college hockey history. During Fontaine’s 2010-11season, he and his team won the NCAA national championship after finishing fourth in the WCHA during the regular season. He was also the second leading scorer for his team and for a third time was named on the WCHA Second All-Star team.
On April 19, 2011, just 10 days after Fontaine and his team won the NCAA national championship, Fontaine signed a two year entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild, and made his way to Houston to prepare for a once in a lifetime chance: make it big in the NHL.
Fontaine played for the Wild's American Hockey League team and the Houston Aeros, where he was the second leading scorer on the team with a total of 16 goals. He became the 50th Bulldog Alumni to make it to the NHL when he played in the Wild’s 2013-14 regular season game on Oct. 3, 2013 against the Los Angeles Kings.
On Saturday October 13, 2013, Fontaine made his biggest NHL debut scoring his first career goal and breaking records. His name will now be known across the country and in countless record books, and forever be known in Duluth Minn., as a hockey legend.