You've probably seen the name popping up lately. Maybe it was in a hockey box score or a breaking news alert from Wisconsin. There is a massive amount of confusion floating around regarding Cole Guttman Random Lake, and honestly, it’s a classic case of the internet having a short memory and a long reach.
If you’re here because you’re trying to figure out if the pro hockey player for the Los Angeles Kings is the same guy from the headlines in Random Lake, Wisconsin, the short answer is no. They aren't the same person. Not even close. But the story of how these two names became intertwined is a wild example of how digital footprints can get messy.
The Two Coles: A Case of Mistaken Identity
Let’s get the facts straight. On one hand, you have Cole Guttman, the professional athlete. He was born in Northridge, California. He spent his youth playing for the LA Jr. Kings, then went to the University of Denver, and eventually landed in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks before moving to the Kings organization. He’s 26 years old and stands about 5’10”.
Then there’s the other story. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, a case out of the Random Lake School District in Wisconsin made major waves in local news. This case involved a teenager also named Cole Gutman (note the slight spelling difference in some court records, though often searched with the double 't').
This second individual was a high school student in Wisconsin. He was involved in a very serious criminal case involving the distribution of an explicit video. The fallout from that investigation led to a conviction and a prison sentence.
Why the Confusion Matters
It's kinda frustrating how Google works sometimes. When you type in "Cole Guttman," the algorithm tries to give you everything relevant. Because the Wisconsin case was so heavily reported by outlets like FOX6 Milwaukee and Seehafer News, those articles started ranking right alongside hockey stats.
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If you're a sports fan, you're looking for goal counts and contract details. If you're a Wisconsin resident, you're looking for updates on a local legal tragedy.
Basically, we have a "John Smith" problem in a digital age. One man is trying to carve out a career in the NHL, while the other's name is permanently attached to a legal filing in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties.
The Hockey Player's Journey
Cole Guttman (the athlete) has had a hell of a ride. He was a 6th-round pick for Tampa Bay back in 2017. He never signed with them, though. He bet on himself, finished four years at Denver—where he captained the team to a National Championship—and then signed with Chicago as a free agent.
He’s a "grit" guy. Scouts always talk about his faceoff percentage. At Denver, he was winning over 60% of his draws, which is basically elite status. He’s currently fighting for a permanent spot on the Kings' roster after being recalled from the Ontario Reign in early 2026.
The Random Lake Case Details
The situation in Random Lake was different. It wasn't about sports; it was about a digital crime that shook a small community.
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- The Investigation: It started when an explicit video began circulating among students at Random Lake High School.
- The Charges: The teen in this case, Cole Gutman, faced multiple felony charges including second-degree sexual assault of a child.
- The Outcome: He eventually pleaded no contest and was sentenced to four years in prison.
His mother, Angela Shane, actually went on the record to talk about the dangers of cell phone use and how quickly a teenager's life can be derailed by one bad decision on social media. It was a localized tragedy that, unfortunately, shares a keyword with an NHL player.
Deciphering the Search Results
When you search for Cole Guttman Random Lake, you're seeing the collision of two completely different worlds.
The internet doesn't always distinguish between a professional center from California and a teenager from Wisconsin. This creates a nightmare for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). For a journalist or a casual researcher, it's vital to check birthplaces.
Northridge vs. Wisconsin. 26 years old vs. 17-18 years old.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that the hockey player "went away" for a while or has a "troubled past." You'll see people on Reddit or Twitter asking if the guy on the ice is the same one who was in the news in Sheboygan.
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He isn't.
The pro hockey player has been consistently documented in the public eye since he was a teenager in the USHL with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. His timeline is accounted for year by year, game by game. There is no gap where he could have been involved in a high school legal case in Wisconsin while simultaneously playing NCAA hockey in Colorado.
Actionable Insights for Searchers
If you're trying to dig deeper into either of these stories, you've gotta be specific with your terms.
- For Hockey Info: Use "Cole Guttman NHL" or "Cole Guttman stats." This filters out the legal news from Wisconsin and gives you his current status with the Ontario Reign or the LA Kings.
- For Legal Updates: If you're following the Random Lake story, search "Random Lake school district case" or "Spencer Dietrich and Cole Gutman." This keeps the focus on the Sheboygan County legal proceedings.
- Verify Birthdates: Always look for the "Born" section in a bio. The athlete was born April 6, 1999.
It’s a weird quirk of the modern world. Names aren't unique, but digital trails usually are. Whether you're a fan of the Pioneers or just someone trying to make sense of a local news story, keeping these two identities separate is the only way to get the real story.
The pro athlete is currently focused on the 2025-26 NHL season, while the legal case in Wisconsin has reached its sentencing phase and is largely a matter of public record now. Don't let a shared name fool you into a false narrative.
Check the team roster and the court documents side-by-side. The differences in age, location, and career path make it clear that while the names are almost identical, the lives are worlds apart.