Juniors Erne grew up playing hockey in
North Branford, Connecticut before moving to
Los Angeles at the age of 13 to skate for a select team. He began his junior career with the
Indiana Ice of the
United States Hockey League. In his one-season, he recorded 10 goals and 18 points over 45 games. The Ice's head coach, Charlie Skjodt, told
The Hockey News that Erne often led the team in hits. He was eventually offered a scholarship to play ice hockey at
Boston University. On April 1, 2014, the Lightning signed Erne to an entry-level contract. In his final season with the
Quebec Remparts, Erne was awarded the
Guy Lafleur Trophy as the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff most valuable player, following the team's game seven President Cup final victory. The Remparts ultimately fell to the
Kelowna Rockets in the
2015 Memorial Cup. During the regular season, Erne recorded 41 goals and 45 assists for 86 points, along with a plus-21 and 102 penalty minutes.
Professional On September 19, 2013, the
NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Erne would have a hearing for an incident during a preseason game against the
St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night at the
Amway Center in
Orlando, Florida. In the first period, Erne was assessed a minor penalty for an illegal check to the head for a hit on St. Louis forward
Vladimir Sobotka. Sobotka left the game after the hit and did not return. On the same day, the NHL announced that Erne had been suspended for three preseason games for delivering an illegal check to the head of Sobotka. in 2023. On January 2, 2017, the Lightning recalled Erne from the
Syracuse Crunch. On January 3, 2017, Lightning head coach,
Jon Cooper, informed the media that Erne would be making his NHL debut. Erne found out that he was making his NHL debut when he walked into the room that morning and saw his number on the board. Erne made his NHL debut that night against the
Winnipeg Jets. On March 3, 2017, Erne recorded his first career NHL goal and point against the
Pittsburgh Penguins at
PPG Paints Arena. On March 20, 2018, Erne recorded his first career NHL assist. The assist came in a 4–3 Lightning win over the visiting
Toronto Maple Leafs. On August 14, 2019, Erne was traded to the
Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the
2020 NHL entry draft. During the shortened 2020-21 season, Erne scored 11 goals, tied for the team lead with teammate
Anthony Mantha. On September 12, 2023, Erne signed a professional tryout agreement with the
Edmonton Oilers. On October 13, 2023, Erne was signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 by the Oilers. In the season, Erne made 24 regular season appearances with the Oilers registering 1 goal and 1 assist. He split the season with the Oilers AHL affiliate, the
Bakersfield Condors, posting 6 goals and 12 points through 36 games. As a free agent from the Oilers, he went un-signed over the summer. On September 10, 2024, Erne accepted an invitation to attend the
New York Rangers training camp for the season on a
professional tryout (PTO). Without a contract offer from the Rangers, Erne was signed to a PTO with affiliate the
Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL to begin the season. Following 10 appearances with the Wolf Pack, registering just 1 assist, Erne was released from his PTO on November 16, 2024. Again unsigned entering the
2025–26 season, Erne joined the
Dallas Stars on a PTO on September 10, 2025; several weeks later, on October 7, Erne signed a one-year contract with the team, returning to the NHL. ==Career statistics==