Tanner James Kero (born July 24, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Playing career
Amateur Prior to his collegiate hockey career, Kero played for the Marquette Rangers in the NAHL where he led the league in goals (with 32) and was named the league's "Rookie of the Year". He also played for the Fargo Force in the USHL where he posted 13 goals, 24 assists and 37 points in 55 games and earned a spot on the USHL Western Conference All-Star Team.
Prior to turning professional, Kero attended Michigan Technological University where he played four seasons of NCAA Division I hockey with the Michigan Tech Huskies, where he registered 55 goals, 56 assists, 111 points, and 67 penalty minutes in 153 games. In his senior year, Kero's outstanding play was recognized with numerous awards including being selected as the 2014–15 WCHA Player of the Year and being named to the 2014–15 NCAA (West) First All-American Team.
Professional On April 2, 2015, the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL) signed Kero to a two-year entry-level contract. He began the 2015–16 season assigned to AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. On October 27, 2015, the Blackhawks recalled him to the NHL. He made his NHL debut on October 29, 2015, in a 3–1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Just 4 games later, he scored his first NHL goal on November 6, shooting past Cory Schneider, in a 4–2 loss against the New Jersey Devils. On March 23, 2017, the Blackhawks signed Kero to a two-year contract extension.
On June 24, 2018, Kero was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Michael Chaput.
On July 1, 2019, having left the Canucks as a free agent, Kero was signed to a two-year, two-way contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2019.
Following four seasons within the Stars organization, Kero as a free agent was signed to a one-year AHL contract for the 2023–24 season with the Colorado Eagles, affiliate to the Colorado Avalanche, on July 18, 2023.
Upon completion of his contract with the Eagles, Kero left North America after 10 professional seasons and signed his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with Swedish club, HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on July 5, 2024. In his lone season in Jönköping in 2024–25, Kero featured in every game in a top nine forward role posting 9 goals and 13 assists for 22 points. Helping the club avoid relegation to the Allsvenskan in a play-out series, Kero left HV71 at the conclusion of the season.
Personal life Kero was born in Hancock, Michigan and is the son of Dale and Joan Kero. He has five sisters (one of them, Jordanna played for the Michigan Tech volleyball team) and four brothers; three of them: Dawson, Devin and Hunter play hockey as well. While attending Michigan Tech, Kero had a grade point average of 3.68 in mathematics.
Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2008–09Hancock High School HSMI 383169 — — — — — 2009–10Marquette Rangers NAHL57321951393 1 0 1 0 2010–11 Fargo Force USHL 551423372251012 2011–12Michigan Tech UniversityWCHA 39971614 — — — — — 2012–13Michigan Tech UniversityWCHA3311132427 — — — — — 2013–14Michigan Tech UniversityWCHA4015102516 — — — — — 2014–15Michigan Tech UniversityWCHA4120264610 — — — — — 2014–15Rockford IceHogsAHL65050 6 2 1 3 0 2015–16Rockford IceHogsAHL6020193923 3 0 2 2 0 2015–16Chicago BlackhawksNHL171232 — — — — — 2016–17Rockford IceHogsAHL287132014— — — — — 2016–17Chicago BlackhawksNHL47610168 4 0 0 0 0 2017–18Chicago BlackhawksNHL81230— — — — — 2017–18Rockford IceHogsAHL3681220812 0 3 3 8 2018–19Utica CometsAHL6724335737— — — — — 2019–20Texas StarsAHL498253320— — — — — 2020–21Dallas StarsNHL3937106— — — — — 2021–22Dallas StarsNHL230330— — — — — 2021–22Texas StarsAHL2851217102 0 0 0 0 2022–23Texas StarsAHL69173350408 1 4 5 0 2023–24Colorado EaglesAHL59122133243 1 1 2 0 2024–25HV71SHL529132214— — — — — NHL totals 134 11 24 35 16 4 0 0 0 0
Awards and honors Award Year NAHL Rookie of the Year 2009–10 WCHA Scoring Champion (46 points) 2014–15 WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year 2014–15 All-WCHA First Team 2014–15 WCHA Player of the Year 2014–15 NCAA (West) First All-American Team 2014–15 Hobey Baker Award Finalist 2014–15
References
External links