Ross Colton
A tenacious forward who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning, cementing his place in hockey folklore.
Born 1996 (age 30)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: September 11·Millennials
Biography
Ross Colton’s journey to an NHL championship moment is a classic hockey story of seizing an opportunity. A later-round draft pick, he developed not as a can't-miss prospect, but as a hard-nosed, intelligent forward at the University of Vermont and in the American Hockey League. When he finally cracked the stacked lineup of the Tampa Bay Lightning, he did so with a clear purpose: to provide energy, responsible two-way play, and a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. That knack produced the ultimate payoff in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. In Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens, Colton positioned himself perfectly to redirect a pass into the net, scoring the only goal of the game and clinching the championship for his team. The goal transformed him from a role player into a permanent part of hockey history, a testament to the impact of preparation meeting a singular moment.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ross was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ross Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Ross's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
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
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the 2021 Final.
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021.
- Recorded a 20-goal season in the NHL, demonstrating consistent offensive ability from a middle-six role.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Colton grew up in Robbinsville, New Jersey, and played his youth hockey for the Jersey Hitmen.
His Cup-winning goal was just his fourth career playoff goal at the time.
“You have to be ready when your number is called. I just wanted to make a play.”
