North Dakota Native Scores His First NHL Goal In Front of Grandma

You Always Remember Your First

Grand Forks native Judd Caulfield scored his first NHL goal for the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night in Winnipeg in front of his family, including his grandma, who was proudly wearing Caulfield's jersey. It was a pretty sweet tally too, as Caulfield crashed the net (literally) on a rebound shot and buried the biscuit. Here's that goal.

Homegrown Boy

Judd Caulfield joins a fairly small community of North Dakota-born and raised hockey players to make it to the NHL and score a goal. Caulfield was born in 2001 and played youth hockey in Grand Forks, including high school hockey for Grand Forks Central for two seasons, where he scored 38 goals and 53 assists, and played on an undefeated state champion team back in 2017, according to the NDHSAA. Caulfield then played in the USHL before attending the University of North Dakota and playing college hockey for the Fighting Hawks for four seasons. He was taken 145th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

His Professional Carear

After UND, Caulfield played three full seasons with the San Diego Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate. Caulfield would then make the opening-season roster with the Ducks in 2026, and is off to a good start. So far in 5 games this season, Caulfield has a goal and an assist for the Ducks.

(SEE ALSO: North Dakotans who have gone pro)

According to Sportrac, Caulfield signed a 2-year deal with the Ducks that is fully guaranteed, worth $1,750,000, with an average annual salary of $875,000.