LOGAN AND CHASE PIETILA RELISHING SHARED DEV CAMP
CRANBERRY, Pa. – Chase Pietila’s day on the golf course started out like a dream. He was shooting lights out, but after the 15th hole, his game fell apart. His explanation? His mind had understandably wandered elsewhere, because another dream had been realized.
Chase Pietila had been drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“I ended up getting a call from my advisor, and he was like, ‘Pittsburgh, baby!’” Chase said. “Then my phone started blowing up with all my family and friends and stuff. So didn’t really get to golf much after that, but it was, for sure, fun.”
He was selected by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, which was a round or two sooner than he was expecting. To make things all the sweeter, he was drafted by the same organization that signed his older brother, Logan, this past spring.
Logan signed an AHL contract with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in early April. He skated in three regular-season games and was present for the Penguins’ two-game stint in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Now, Logan and Chase are sharing the ice together at Pittsburgh’s Development Camp.
“I found out a little bit before him that I would be coming here, but then when [Chase] was drafted to Pittsburgh, I was excited because I knew we’d be coming together,” Logan said. “It’s been fun so far. We’re rooming together, too. … I’m keeping tabs on him for our parents.”
Logan and Chase skated in the same practice group on Saturday at Development Camp, albeit at different positions. Logan skates at forward, whereas Chase is a defenseman. They also had the fortune of playing together last season at Michigan Tech University, where the Pietila family was all over the ice. The Huskies’ roster had Logan on offense, his twin brother, Blake, in net, as well as Chase and cousin Jed on the blue line.
The Pietila brothers has been in lockstep with one another throughout their hockey careers, and Chase has felt the love and support of his family through youth, junior and college hockey. It’s a special bond, one Chase does not take for granted.
“It means everything,” Chase said. “I mean them and my parents, they’ve always been a big, huge role in my career. They for sure helped me get to where I got, and it will be weird with fewer Pietilas at MTU next year.”
With Logan, Blake and Jed turning pro, Chase will be on his own at Michigan Tech this year. And while Chase has expressed trepidation over being the only Husky with “Pietila” on his nameplate this season, but Logan isn’t concerned about his younger brother at all.
“He’s going to pave his own path and do his own thing,” Logan said. “I’m excited for him. He’ll be alright by himself.”
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