Kevin Rooney is an American professional ice hockey player who currently serves as a center for the Utah Mammoth in the National Hockey League. Born on May 21, 1993, in Canton, Massachusetts, Rooney has built a reputation as a reliable two-way forward throughout his professional career. He began his professional journey in 2016 and has since appeared in over 300 NHL games across multiple organizations, including the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, and Calgary Flames. Rooney is recognized for his defensive play, faceoff proficiency, and versatility as a checking-line center and penalty-kill specialist.
Kevin Rooney Bio
Kevin Rooney was born on May 21, 1993, in Canton, Massachusetts, to parents Dave and Dawn Rooney. He grew up in a hockey family with deep roots in the sport. His father Dave and uncle Steve both played ice hockey at Canton High School, where his brother Bryan and uncle Steve would later leave their mark. His uncle Steve Rooney won a Stanley Cup championship with the Montreal Canadiens, while cousins Joe and Chris both played NCAA college hockey. This family legacy helped shape Rooney’s early passion for the game and provided him with a strong foundation in hockey from a young age.
Early Life and Background
Rooney grew up in Canton, Massachusetts, playing alongside his older brother Bryan for the Canton High School Bulldogs in the Hockomock League. As a sophomore in 2009-2010, Rooney scored an empty-net goal in the Division 2 State championship to lead the Bulldogs to the title. After winning the state championship in 2010, Rooney transferred to Berkshire School where he also played baseball. Although he was eligible for graduation in 2011, he chose to repeat his junior year to further develop his skills. In his final season with the Berkshire Bears in 2012, Rooney helped the team defeat St. Sebastian’s in overtime to claim the NEPSAC Martin/Earl tournament championship. Over his two years at Berkshire, he recorded 58 points and earned MVP honors in the Large School playoffs. Prior to graduating, Rooney committed to continue his hockey career at Providence College.
Path to Professional Hockey
Despite going undrafted into the National Hockey League Entry Draft, Rooney earned a walk-on spot with the Providence College Friars of the Hockey East conference. He played four seasons with the Friars from 2012 to 2016 while majoring in finance. As a freshman, Rooney served as a fourth-line winger and appeared in 29 games, scoring his first collegiate goal during the Friars Hockey East Semifinals loss to UMass-Lowell on March 22, 2014. He finished his freshman campaign with one goal and three assists for four points. Rooney missed the beginning of his sophomore season due to a preseason injury but returned to play as the Friars fourth-line center, recording a career-high seven points that year. After receiving an invitation to participate in the New York Rangers Development Camp as a free agent following his sophomore season, Rooney returned to Providence for his junior year and developed into a shutdown forward.
Kevin Rooney Career
Providence College Years (2012-2016)
In his junior season, Rooney emerged as a key player in a shutdown forward role, alternating between third and fourth-line center positions. He recorded a career-high seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, helping the Friars qualify for the 2015 NCAA tournament. During the Frozen Four, Rooney contributed an assist in Providence’s 4-1 win over Omaha in the National Semifinal, advancing the Friars to their first National Championship game since 1985. In the championship, Rooney and the Friars neutralized Boston University’s top line led by Jack Eichel, helping Providence capture their first National Championship in program history. At the season banquet, Rooney received the team’s Unsung Hero Award and was named to Hockey East’s All-Academic Team for maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better. As a senior in 2015-16, Rooney served as team co-captain alongside Tom Parisi, recording four goals and six assists for 10 points through 38 games.
New Jersey Devils Organization (2016-2020)
On March 29, 2016, Rooney concluded his college career by signing an amateur try-out agreement with the Albany Devils of the American Hockey League. He played in the final seven regular season games, collecting three assists. On July 5, he signed a one-year contract extension with Albany. Rooney began his first full professional season strong, tallying five goals over 19 games. On February 27, 2017, he signed a one-year entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils and was called up to the NHL level. Rooney made his NHL debut in a 1-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on March 2, 2017, playing 9:48 minutes with one blocked shot, a hit, and winning 60 percent of his faceoffs. He appeared in three games with the Devils before being returned to the AHL. The following season, Rooney split time between Binghamton and New Jersey, finishing with 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points through 71 AHL games. On August 13, 2018, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Devils. On October 20, 2018, he was recalled to the NHL and remained with the team for the rest of the season. On January 14, 2019, Rooney recorded his first career NHL goal in an 8-5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He finished the 2018-19 season with six goals and four assists for 10 points through 41 games. In the 2019-20 season, Rooney was named to the Devils opening night roster and played a career-high 49 NHL games before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York Rangers (2020-2022)
After four seasons within the Devils organization, Rooney left as a free agent and signed a two-year contract worth $1.5 million with the New York Rangers on October 9, 2020. He began the 2021-22 season strong by recording his first career multi-goal game on November 24, 2021, against the New York Islanders. He continued his solid play and ranked third on the Rangers with six goals by early December. However, Rooney experienced a significant scoring drought in the latter part of the season. After playing in his 200th career NHL game on March 2 against the St. Louis Blues, he was placed on injured reserve and missed 15 games before returning on April 9. Despite the injury setback, he helped the Rangers clinch a spot in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. During the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rooney tallied his first two career postseason assists as the Rangers defeated the Penguins in seven games.
Calgary Flames (2022-2025)
On July 13, 2022, Rooney signed a two-year contract worth $2.6 million with the Calgary Flames. After playing in 17 games for the Flames and recording one point, he was reassigned to their AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers. Rooney made an immediate impact with the Wranglers, scoring an assist in his debut against the San Diego Gulls. He later scored his first goal with the Wranglers during teammate Brett Sutter’s 1,000th AHL game on December 21. Rooney remained with the Wranglers for the rest of the 2022-23 season, finishing with five goals and 12 assists for 17 points through 51 games. His efforts helped the Wranglers win the Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL’s regular season champions. During the 2023 offseason, Rooney underwent shoulder surgery and was expected to be out long-term. On March 8, 2024, he signed a one-year contract extension worth $1.3 million with the Flames.
Utah Mammoth Era (2025-Present)
On October 6, 2025, Rooney signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Utah Mammoth. The Mammoth entered their inaugural season under new ownership and coaching staff following their relocation. Rooney brought veteran experience and depth to the Mammoth’s roster, expected to contribute at center ice while providing leadership in the dressing room. His established two-way game and penalty-killing abilities made him a valuable addition to the organization as they aimed to compete for a playoff spot in the Pacific Division.
Playing Style and Strengths
Rooney is known as a reliable two-way center who excels in defensive situations and faceoff circles. Throughout his career, he has been deployed as a checking-line center and penalty-kill specialist, valued for his ability to play a responsible defensive game while contributing timely offense. His versatility has allowed him to adapt to various roles within different team systems, making him a dependable depth player at both the NHL and AHL levels.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rooney reached several career milestones including his NHL debut on March 2, 2017, with the New Jersey Devils and his first NHL goal on January 14, 2019, against the Chicago Blackhawks. He played his 200th career NHL game on March 2, 2022, with the Rangers and recorded his first career postseason assists during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 2023, he helped the Calgary Wranglers capture the Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular season champions.
Kevin Rooney Career Achievements
Throughout his collegiate and professional career, Rooney has accumulated several notable achievements at both the NCAA and professional levels.
College Career Highlights
Rooney’s most significant career achievement came in 2015 when he helped Providence College capture their first NCAA National Championship in program history. He received the team’s Unsung Hero Award at the end of the 2014-15 season and was named to Hockey East’s All-Academic Team for maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better while majoring in finance. He served as team co-captain during his senior season in 2015-16.
Professional Highlights
At the AHL level, Rooney helped the Calgary Wranglers win the Kilpatrick Trophy as the league’s regular season champions in 2023. He was named captain of the Binghamton Devils in November 2018 during his time with the Devils organization.
Kevin Rooney Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Rooney comes from a distinguished hockey family with deep roots in the sport. His father Dave Rooney played ice hockey at Canton High School, where his brother Steve also played and went on to win a Stanley Cup championship with the Montreal Canadiens. Rooney’s brother Bryan also played hockey at Canton High School, following in the family’s footsteps. Beyond his immediate family, Rooney’s cousins Joe and Chris both played NCAA college hockey, continuing the family’s tradition in the sport.
Personal Life
Rooney attended Providence College from 2012 to 2016, where he majored in finance while playing for the Friars hockey team. He graduated from the college with his degree while developing into a player who would eventually reach the NHL. Rooney continues to maintain connections to his Massachusetts roots while pursuing his professional hockey career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter in Rooney’s career as he joined the Utah Mammoth organization on a one-year, two-way contract. The Mammoth entered their first season following the franchise relocation, providing Rooney with an opportunity to contribute to a team in transition. His veteran presence and established two-way game were expected to provide stability and leadership for a club building toward sustained success. The Mammoth coaching staff planned to utilize Rooney in checking-line minutes while leaning on his experience in various situations. His ability to win faceoffs and contribute on the penalty kill made him a valuable depth piece for the organization as they competed for positioning in the Western Conference standings.