Josh Dunne
A versatile and hardworking forward who climbed from collegiate hockey at Clarkson to earn his shot in the NHL through sheer determination and defensive responsibility.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: December 8·Generation Z
Biography
Josh Dunne's path to professional hockey is a study in the virtues of the complete, two-way game. At Clarkson University, he wasn't just a scorer; he developed into a coach's dream—a centerman who could win key face-offs, kill penalties, and match up against an opponent's top line. This foundation made him an attractive, low-risk prospect for the Columbus Blue Jackets, who valued his maturity and structured play. His professional debut was a testament to that trust, stepping into the NHL lineup ready to handle defensive assignments from the outset. While his offensive numbers may not grab headlines, Dunne represents the essential depth piece every team needs: a player who understands his role, executes system details perfectly, and competes with a quiet intensity that earns the respect of teammates and coaches alike.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Josh was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as captain of the Clarkson University Golden Knights men's ice hockey team in his senior season.
- Made his NHL debut for the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2021-2022 season.
- Won the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward award in the 2020-2021 season.
Did You Know?
He comes from a family of athletes; both of his sisters, Jincy and Joy, are accomplished collegiate and professional ice hockey players.
He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top NCAA men's ice hockey player, in his senior year at Clarkson.
Before Clarkson, he played USHL hockey for the Green Bay Gamblers.
“My job is to win the draw and make sure my line is hard to play against.”
