Zach Werenski
Zach Werenski was born on July 19, 1997. See ranking, bio blurb, and everyone else born that day.
About Zach Werenski
Zachary Kenneth Werenski (born July 19, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman and alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted eighth overall by Columbus in the 2015 NHL entry draft, Werenski has become one of the most accomplished players in franchise history. In 2026, he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman. Werenski was co-recipient in June 2026 of the Excellence in Sports Award from the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Troy, Michigan. Following his draft selection, Werenski joined the Lake Erie Monsters and helped lead them to the 2016 Calder Cup championship. He made his NHL debut later that year and was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie in 2017. Over the following decade, Werenski established himself as one of the league's premier offensive defensemen, earning multiple NHL All-Star selections and becoming the Columbus Blue Jackets' all-time leader in assists, points, and goals among defensemen. Internationally, Werenski represented the United States at the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Championships. In the 2025 World Championship, he helped the United States capture its first gold medal in the World Championship since 1933 and was named the tournament's best defenseman. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, he assisted on Jack Hughes' overtime winner against Canada, helping the United States win its first gold medal in the Winter Olympics since 1980.