Timeline of Jack Eichel’s hockey career prior to his Vegas Golden Knights debut

Jack Eichel is ready for his Vegas debut.

The center will suit up for the Golden Knights at home Wednesday against Colorado, in his first game action since March 7, 2021. Eichel, then with the Buffalo Sabres, suffered a herniated disk in his neck that night, and went through a prolonged disagreement with the Sabres on how to address it. The impasse led to Eichel being traded to Vegas in November, and then finally having the surgery he’d asked for all along.

Before Eichel dons the black and gold for real, we’re looking back at his path to Sin City — the individual highs, the team lows and when Eichel knew it was just time to move on.

Coming soon 👀 pic.twitter.com/aRQnsW4xI1

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 14, 2022

2013

January: Eichel, 16, scores three goals in five games to help Team USA win bronze at the IIHF under-17 challenge.

April: Eichel wins silver at the IIHF’s under-18 showcase.

December: At age 17, Eichel is the youngest member playing for Team USA at the world junior championships, where the Americans place fifth.

2014

April: Eichel is the top scorer for Team USA with 10 points in seven games as the U.S. takes home gold at the under-18 championship. When that tournament ends, Eichel signs a letter of intent to play for Boston University.

December: Eichel again appears for Team USA at the world juniors, and the U.S. again places fifth.

2015

April 10: Eichel becomes the second…