Background
Winkler was born to Rodney and Anne Karin Winkler in Asker, Norway. His father is a Canadian of Germanic descent, and a former ice hockey player for Frisk Asker, while his mother is Norwegian.
Winkler was born to Rodney and Anne Karin Winkler in Asker, Norway. His father is a Canadian of Germanic descent, and a former ice hockey player for Frisk Asker, while his mother is Norwegian.
He moved to the United States in 2007, where he graduated from Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas.
A third-round selection of the Dallas Stars in the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Winkler collected 38 points playing for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League in 2008-2009 before enrolling at Colorado College as a freshman. He compiled 63 points (24 goals, 39 assists) in 120 career games with the Tigers. On May 20, 2013, he graduated from Colorado College with a bachelor"s degree in economics.
In addition to club play, Winkler played three games for the Norway men"s national ice hockey team during Euro Ice Hockey Challenge in Slovenia in 2011.
The death was announced the following day, with no cause of death determined. Police have ruled out foul play.