When the opportunity presented itself to join Western Michigan before the 2023-24 season, it was a place that “felt like home,” and a place where Bump believed those dreams could become a reality.

The Prior Lake native got a taste of the tournament last March as the Broncos played in the Maryland Heights Regional, where they fell to Michigan State in overtime.

However, the Broncos are back in the dance again, this time with loftier expectations. WMU won the Penrose Cup as NCHC regular-season champs, won the conference tournament in overtime and the Broncos head into the Fargo Regional as the nation’s No. 4 overall seed.

As he’s done all season, Bump is playing a key role in their success.

“These are the type of games you grow up thinking about playing in yourself one day and everyone’s goal is to be playing games in March,” Bump said. “So I’m really excited for it and want to do my part as a leader and a player, and we just want to take it one game at a time and be the best version of ourselves.”

Alex Bump looks at the puck after he shot it into the net 22 seconds into double overtime to defeat Denver in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 22, 2025 at Xcel Energy Center. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Bump and the Broncos are averaging an NCAA-best 4.1 goals per game and allow just 2.1 – which ranks fifth. They’ve lost in regulation just four times all season and WMU is 19-3-0 since the calendar flipped to 2025.

They’ll face Minnesota State at 4 p.m. on Thursday. With a win, WMU will play either Minnesota or UMass on Saturday with a Frozen Four berth on the line. This is WMU’s fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

“We’re obviously excited to still be playing and believe we have a group that can do something special, but I think we’re all just trying to focus on ourselves right now and control what we can,” Bump said. “We’re not trying to get ahead of ourselves and worry about who we could potentially be playing or anything. We’re just focused on the next day, but we’ve got a really excited group and we’re ready to go.”

As for Bump individually, the sophomore forward leads the team in goals (23), points (46), power-play goals (7) and is a plus-9. The Philadelphia Flyers pick (2022, 5th) also has fired an NCAA-leading 225 shots at opposing goalies – 44 more than the next closest player.

“His numbers are tremendous, but honestly, they’re still way lower than his quality of play, and it’s not even close,” said Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler. “This kid’s been a superstar every game this season and if a few plays here and there got finished, he’d easily have 65 or 70 points, and he’s been spectacular. His shots on goal are off the charts, his vision is excellent, he’s dynamic with the puck on his stick and has dynamic hands, and he just thinks the game at such a high level.

“I think the most important thing he’s done this year though is take his compete to an entirely different level. He was a great player last year as a freshman, but he’s taken so many steps in year two and it’s been incredible to watch.”

Bump is impressive in many ways
Ferschweiler added that Bump’s personality immediately impressed him on the recruiting trail and he’s continued to emerge as a leader. He’s wearing a letter this winter as an assistant captain. The numbers speak for themselves, too, and the left-shot forward offers his team skill, play-making ability and an elite hockey IQ.

Bump has also scored several timely goals of late. He netted the overtime winner last Saturday at Xcel Energy Center and scored three times at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, which landed him MVP honors.

He has 16 points (11-5-16) over his past 12 games.

“He’s played the same way the entire year,” Ferschweiler said. “Some more pucks have started to go in the second half of the year and his linemates have elevated their games too, but he’s been the same player since the start. If you watched our first three or four games, he could’ve easily left those games with 15 points. It just didn’t go in for him.

“He came into camp ready and his play showed that, and he just stuck with it. He had zero frustration, just determination, and the quality of play has been there all season.”

Alex Bump leads Western Michigan in goals, points and power-play goals this season. He was defended during the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship by Minnesota Wild prospect Zeev Buium from the University of Denver. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Bump’s 2024-25 season follows a 2023-24 campaign that yielded 14 goals, 36 points and a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team.

“Last year was an adjustment, but I think I’ve made a big jump this year and just try to keep getting better every day,” Bump said. “You expect to get better each year as a player and the coaching staff does such a great job putting you in a spot to do so, and there’s so many great people to listen to and learn from here so you can be successful.”

So what’s led to that success?

“I’ve played with two great linemates and they’ve made it easy for me, and I think that’s been a big part of it,” Bump said. “We’re a fast line and we like to get up and down the ice, and we use our transition game well.

“I think my transition is one of the strengths of my game, so that’s been a big piece of it too, and I’ve had a lot of confidence shooting the puck. But I know I’ve put in the work to be here and get to this point, and my confidence has only kept growing throughout the year.”

Now the hope is Bump can do more of the same and lead Western Michigan on a deep postseason run.

“He comes to the rink every day with a smile on his face and he just loves hockey,” Ferschweiler said. “You probably think every kid loves hockey but the reality is they don’t. Alex is someone that plays because he loves the sport and he’s always determined to get better.

“So when you combine that determination with his play-making ability, work ethic and his compete level, he checks a lot of boxes. He’s someone that thrives in these types of environments and big games too, so we’re excited to see what he can do the rest of the way.”

The post Bump Leads The Broncos appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — If there’s one thing that Alex Bump definitely does well, it’s scoring goals at Xcel Energy Center.  

Denver players Kent Anderson (left) and Zeev Buium (middle) celebrate one of their three second-period goals. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

For the Pioneers, who won last year’s Frozen Faceoff on their way to a national championship, it was a tough ending as they held what appeared to be a secure lead going into the third.  

Alex Bump scores the overtime-winner 22 seconds into the second OT period while being defended by Denver’s Zeev Buium. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Early in the second, Western still stayed in control, but then the Pioneers caught fire. At 5:46, DU got on the scoreboard on a goal by Jake Fisher. After Slukynsky stopped Samu Salminen’s shot, the rebound went right to Fisher, who tapped it into an open net to make it 1-0.  

Western Michigan players celebrate their NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 22, 2025. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

“That is a huge hill to climb, down 3-0 to Denver in the third,” Ferschweiler said. “That’s such a great hockey team, and they’re so dangerous. But I thought our players were getting better throughout the game and there was lots of belief in that locker room. We just talked about being urgent from the first shift on and not waiting ’til the end to try to press. We couldn’t. We had to get three goals, not one goal.

“Then the big-time play by Liam Valente to pull up and find Zack Sharp, who calmly buries it under the bar, and you could feel ‘Okay, the belief was there.’ This is a confident group. The belief is always there, but then you could just feel the momentum build, and I just thought we got better and better and better even throughout the overtime.” 

The post Broncos Answer The Last Call appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

During Friday’s Mason Cup Championship, Groll got to hang on to a precious moment as he scored an empty-netter to clinch a 4-2 victory over rival St. Thomas and win the Mavericks’ third Cup in four years. He was happy that there was a little less pressure on the line for him to score this time around.

“Thankfully, our team was in a really good spot and it didn’t matter if I scored or not,” he said with a smile. “(Evan) Murr put the game-winner in before me. There was no pressure this time to make sure it counted, but it felt great. Having (Adam) Eisele hold me up like Simba and going around was really cool and saluting the crowd was fun after that. Just having the breath of fresh air and that relief after scoring was great, especially in a tight moment like that in the playoffs when everyone is kind of gripping their sticks a little bit. It gets everyone’s shoulders a little less tense.”

Things may have seemed a little tense heading into the third period as the game was tied 2-2, but Mavericks coach Luke Strand said that there wasn’t any stress in the Mankato locker room during the period break.

“Going into the third, there was a neat feeling in the room,” he said. “There was zero panic and very comfortable being an even game. I don’t think you take moments like this for granted, and that’s the maturity of this, this group.”

UST’s Chase Foley skates with the puck with Minnesota State’s Zach Krajnik behind him in their game on March 21, 2025. (MHM Photo / Ryan Stieg)

While the Mavericks were all smiles, the Tommies’ mood was significantly different. UST rolled into the game on an eight-game winning streak and was arguably the hottest team in the nation at puck drop. However, the Tommies fell one game short of being able to hang a CCHA Championship banner in their new arena next fall.

“I definitely feel for all the seniors and the age-outs,” Tommies captain Lucas Wahlin said. “They deserve better obviously. I’m going to be kicking myself for sure a little bit, and I’m definitely going to miss a lot of those boys, especially my linemates (Liam Malmquist and Matthew Gleason). It’s tough. They battled their hearts out and a lot of those guys stepped up when we needed them. You could see it tonight with goals from Gleason and Liam, two guys that won’t be here next year that gave it their all. (Jake) Sibell in net, I just feel bad for those boys. Hopefully next year, we can have a better outcome.”

When reflecting on the season as a whole, it was clear that Tommies coach Rico Blasi was proud of what his team accomplished during its big second half run that earned it home ice in the first round of the CCHA Tournament and a home semifinal win.

“There’s not too many teams in the country that go 15-4-1 in the last 20 games,” he said. “Led by the guy to my left (Wahlin), who drives our bus every day in practice and in games. This is what we play for. This is what St. Thomas hockey is going to be about. Playing for championships. So, everything that we do in our process from day to day will be geared toward that, on and off the ice.

“Our culture is in a really good place, our leadership group is in a good place. Our identity is what it is, and I don’t think we’re going to change that. There’s a lot of people that wrote us off at Christmas time, but this team buckled down and came together. They understood their roles and believed in each other. We have a saying in our locker room, Faith in Brother, and there’s a lot of meaning to that. Obviously, there’s faith in something bigger than ourselves, but also faith in each other and that’s what this team has and that’s where our program is at.”

An even game between the Tommies and Mavericks
The first period was evenly played overall. The Mavericks came out with a little more jump in their skates as the puck spent the majority of the first half of the period in the Tommies’ zone. However, as the period went on, things started to even out. There weren’t many high-quality scoring chances for either team, so the goalies weren’t tested much. However, they both made saves when they had to, and the score was 0-0 after 1.

Things were a different story in the second period as both teams started to get into a groove offensively. UST got on the scoreboard first on a great individual effort by Gleason. The senior forward collected a loose puck by the side boards, skated in hard and beat Mavericks goalie Alex Tracy blocker-side at the 6:56 mark.

UST defenseman Chase Cheslock chases a Minnesota State player with the puck in the CCHA Championship game on March 21, 2025. (MHM Photo / Ryan Stieg)

“I think that was a big confidence booster for our squad,” Wahlin said. “I would say that was our goal coming out. They obviously came out the first 10 minutes and gave us their best, so props to them. We kind of punched back the last 10 minutes of the first and we ended up getting our first goal of the game, which was huge for us. It brought our squad a lot of confidence and that was what we were looking for. We kind of came into the game with that confidence of ‘Hey, we’re going to score first’ and that was our mentality. We didn’t really get the bounces that we wanted to, so props to Minnesota State.”

However, Mankato answered back on the power play at 10:40. After UST was called for tripping, Mavs center Luigi Benincasa got a cross-ice pass from Rhett Pitlick and beat Sibell glove-side to tie the game at 2-1. The Mavericks then took the lead at 13:14 on a goal by Kaden Bohlsen. With Sibell trying to cover the puck, it squirted free and Bohlsen tapped it into the open net to make it 2-1.

The Tommies wouldn’t go away though. After the Mavs were called for interference, Malmquist brought the puck into the slot and toward the right post where he snapped it past Tracy to tie things up at 2-2 going into the third. That was Malmquist’s 20th goal of the season, which currently leads the CCHA, and his league-leading 45th point.

Things remained tight and a back-and-forth affair throughout the third period. The Mavericks grabbed the lead at 10:13 thanks to a shot by Murr. The CCHA Defenseman of the Year fired a shot from the point that beat Sibell to the far post to put Mankato up 3-2. The Tommies got a couple of good chances to tie the game, but Tracy denied them both. UST was also unable to pull Sibell for the extra attacker until 45 seconds were left in the period thanks to some good pressure from the Mavs, and then Groll finished off the win with his empty-net goal.

The post Mavs Win Mason Cup appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

What had been taken for granted in the 1990s and early 2000s is now appreciated given the work it has taken to get back to this point. A record crowd of 10,894 for the second game of the Badgers series on Feb. 1 brought total attendance for the sweep to 21,641.

Connor Kurth and Cal Thomas celebrate a goal against Wisconsin in front of the packed home crowd cheering them on. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Athletics)

“For all of us who work in the athletic department and on the external side, where we’re not on the ice every day, having a game-day environment like that is what we aspire to,” said Mike Wierzbicki, senior associate athletic director for the Gophers. “Providing an atmosphere that fans can enjoy and that gives you goosebumps.”

Telling the story of attendance and fan interest at what is now known as 3M at Mariucci Arena, isn’t as simple as throwing out a bunch of attendance figures.

That helps — the average of 9,769 tickets distributed this season is the highest it has been since 2015-16 and is up from 7,867 in 2021-22 — but it fails to address the most important thing: The electricity, as Motzko called it, that has returned to the 32-year-old building.

That is what so often had seemed to be missing until the last few seasons. A student section that wasn’t filled, or season tickets that had been sold to corporations or the general public, but weren’t used. The tickets might have been distributed, but that doesn’t mean sections were full or that the building had life.

The Dropoff
Motkzo was part of two NCAA championship teams during his time as an assistant on Gophers coach Don Lucia’s staff from 2001-05 and returned to replace Lucia in 2018 after spending 13 seasons at St. Cloud State. Motzko remembers the importance placed on getting fans back upon his return.

Bob Motzko has coached the Gophers men’s hockey team since 2018-19. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

“It was a major discussion at the administrative level, and they did a lot of things behind the scenes, too, on students and ticket prices,” he said. “It was the perfect storm. I always call it the breakup of the WCHA. That took a decade for people to forgive. I think we’re through that.”

As members of the Big Ten, the Gophers were forced to make the move from the WCHA to the Big Ten when the conference began to sponsor men’s ice hockey in the 2013-14 season. This was triggered by Penn State’s decision to start playing Division I hockey and enabled the Big Ten to have a six-team conference. It resulted in major upheaval for college hockey.

The Gophers had long-established WCHA rivalries with North Dakota, Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. Throw in Minnesota State Mankato and Wisconsin, and five of Minnesota’s nine conference opponents were within driving distance. The Civic Center and then the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul were the regular hosts of the WCHA Final Five.

Suddenly, all of that was gone, and while tickets were still being sold to Gophers games, the amount of nights on which Mariucci felt like the place to be dwindled. This despite the fact the Gophers finished in first place in the Big Ten each of the conference’s first four seasons and went to the championship game of the 2014 Frozen Four.

Mike Wierzbicki, University of Minnesota senior associate athletic director. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Athletics)

Wierzbicki, who grew up in Minnesota, arrived at the university as the assistant athletic director of marketing for the 2016-17 season. The Gophers won the Big Ten before losing in the NCAA regional semifinals to Notre Dame. There was an average of 9,595 tickets distributed as the Gophers qualified for the NCAA tournament for the fifth time in six seasons under Lucia.

The figure plummeted to 8,726 in 2017-18 as the Gophers finished fifth in the conference and did not make the NCAA tournament in Lucia’s final season. Motzko was hired to replace Lucia, but the work was just starting.

“There was a lack of WCHA rivalries and some changes there were not the most well-received things,” Wierzbicki said. “We also knew our team success wasn’t where we are nowadays and we didn’t perform on the ice the way we’re accustomed to.”

That wasn’t the only issue. The other was that a season-ticket waiting list that dated to the 1990s was “pretty much exhausted,” by Lucia’s penultimate season. That meant that when season-ticket holders didn’t renew for 2017-18, the athletic department was left with no built-in place to turn to replace them.

That wasn’t going to be easy, especially with the general public and corporations. The Gophers had the hockey market largely to themselves when the new Mariucci opened in 1993, the same year the NHL and North Stars left for Dallas. But by the time the season-ticket waiting list was gone, the NHL had returned with the Wild in St. Paul, the Twins were playing in a new stadium (Target Field) and the Vikings were opening U.S. Bank Stadium.

The sports dollar only goes so far and fans only want to attend so many events. Tickets to Gophers games weren’t cheap and there also was the issue of students no longer packing the place.

The road back
The low point came in March 2019. The Gophers played host to Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament. Minnesota swept the Wolverines in two games, but the headline was the attendance.

The Gophers’ 3-2 overtime victory in the opener drew an announced crowd of 1,835 fans. Numerous photos from inside the building indicated that figure might have been generous. According to a 2023 Star Tribune story, the Gophers had an average of only 5,325 tickets scanned per game during Motzko’s first season.

The average number of tickets distributed in 2019-20 decreased to 8,100 during the season in which the COVID-19 pandemic caused the season to be canceled before the end of the Big Ten tournament. Fans were not allowed into games the following season, and the low point of 7,867 for ticket distribution came in 2021-22.

The general public season-ticket sales for that season was 3,991 and the student season-ticket figure was 1,498. The Gophers, however, won the Big Ten and made it to the Frozen Four before losing to Minnesota State in the semifinals.

As disappointing as the attendance figures might have been, things were about to get a lot better. Some of it was in the control of Wierzbicki and his team and some of it was timing.

“Once students got through Covid, there was an opportunity to springboard off that and we saw them more interested in coming to games across the board,” Wierzbicki said.

Ticket distribution has been on the upswing for the past three seasons. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota Athletics)

The distribution of tickets has been on the rise the past three seasons: 9,129 in 2022-23 as the Gophers lost the NCAA title game after finishing first in the Big Ten; 9,221 in 2023-24 in which Motzko’s team lost to Boston University in the NCAA regional finals after finishing third in the conference; and 9,769 this season. The non-student season-ticket sales have been over 4,500 for two consecutive years and student season tickets have been over 1,500 for three years in a row.

“You have felt it ever since Covid with the students,” Motzko said. “If you remember, right before Covid, student attendance was falling all over the country in every sport. Then, the craziest thing is now we’ve got this uptick going on. For us, there’s no question. Our student section brings our building to life. We have such great diehard fans. They love that young energy. You can’t fool our fans, they want good hockey. But when you get that electricity in this building, I think it’s the greatest atmosphere in one of the greatest college sports.”

Wierzbicki points to the work done by the marketing, digital and social teams in the athletic department.

“We had to make it fun, right?” he said. “A cool and fun thing to do. So that played into giveaways, free food and creating demand and interest. All of those things need to come together. … But it all goes back to the post-Covid buzz and once there was reinvigorated energy to springboard off of that.”

Both season- and single-game ticket prices were dropped in different areas of the arena and a strategy was devised to get more fans into the building. One of those has been moving the faceoff time for Saturday home games to 5 p.m. That has helped the Gophers get more groups, such as youth hockey teams, and families to come to games and get home at a decent hour.

Giveaways also have helped.

“Our marketing team has done a good job of thinking outside the box,” Wierzbicki said. “We’ve done more unique things that students found value in. It might be a scarf giveaway or a unique stocking cap.”

Of course, “it doesn’t move the needle unless the team is successful,” Wierzbicki said.

The Gophers will enter their weekend series at Michigan in second place in the Big Ten, five points behind Michigan State with six games remaining. Their final regular-season home series will be Feb. 21-22 against Ohio State. The Gophers are a Big Ten-best 12-2-2 at home this season.

It feels like old times at Mariucci.

“You go back to (the Doug) Woog days and Lucia days, it’s been that before,” Motzko said. “We’re not creating anything new. Things go in cycles. We’ve always said, ‘Our fans haven’t gone anywhere, we’ve got to give them a reason to come back.’”

Both the team and the marketing department have done just that.

The post ‘Electric’ Crowds Are Back appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Drew Cove writes about the informal-and-fun Gophers’ alumni and collegiate alumni game.

This story was originally published in the MHM February 2025 HDM Shakopee Recap.

The post College Alumni: Shine A Ligh7 appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Drew Cove writes about the successful season, so far, for the Gopher men’s hockey team.

This story was originally published in the MHM February 2025 HDM Shakopee Recap.

The post Gophers Men: High Expectations appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

It’s a place where kids have flirted with frostbite and battled their best friends over the past 23 years, and the Slukynsky name is well-known in Warroad, known to some as Hockeytown USA.

As Hockey Day Minnesota took place this past weekend in Shakopee, it’s been a year since Warroad hosted the same event, as all eyes focused on the town of 1,900 and its rich hockey history.

However, a pair of Warroad kids are still receiving plenty of attention, as Grant and Hampton Slukynsky are enjoying a tremendous season at Western Michigan.

“Grant and Hammer have meant so much to our town and specifically our hockey program, and the example they set and the way they conduct themselves is second to none,” said Hardwick, who coached both brothers in high school. “Obviously, they’re both talented hockey players, but they’re awesome leaders and they both set a great example for their teammates and future players.

“They were raised right and in everything they did growing up – They did it the right way and they showed up with a purpose. They’ve really helped set the standard here the last few years, and you don’t find many kids like them. So, we were super fortunate to have both of them come through our program.”

Grant (right) and Hampton (middle) Slukynsky grew up skating on their family’s backyard rink, which their father, Tim (left), has maintained since 2002. “I still make it every year and clean it off, and even this year Grant came home over Christmas break and skated,” Tim said. “It’s a family tradition and our nieces and nephews come over to skate, and I just remember the boys always begging to skate growing up. There were so many good memories made out there as kids.” (Photo courtesy of the Slukynsky Family)

Grant, 22, played three seasons with the Warriors and the left-shot forward captained the team twice, putting up 101 points (39-62-101) in 2019-20.

Hampton, 19, followed soon after, tending the Warroad crease for three seasons before heading to the USHL. Hampton won the Frank Brimsek Award in 2023 as the state’s top goaltender and led the Warriors to back-to-back Class 1A championship games and runner-up finishes. The success has followed both out of Warroad, too.

Grant won a Clark Cup with the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers in 2021-22 and spent last season at Northern Michigan before transferring to WMU in June. Hampton was named the USHL Goaltender of the Year and back-stopped the Fargo Force to an Anderson and Clark Cup last spring. He flipped his commitment to WMU at the same time.

Hampton, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2023 NHL Draft (fourth round, 118th overall), has continued to excel this winter, too, as one of the nation’s top freshmen goaltenders.

He’s currently 5-3-1 with a .946 save percentage and 1.55 GAA for the Broncos, and Grant has 15 points (4-11-15) through 22 games. WMU has won six straight, is ranked third in the country and sits atop the NCHC standings with 30 points.

“You grow up wanting to play for the high school team and make the state tournament, and then you want to play at this level and in a conference like the NCHC, and it’s been great so far,” Hampton said. “Going back to this summer, we honestly didn’t know a ton about Western. But we were looking for a spot that would be a good fit for both of us and a place we could win.

“We knew they had a successful program and the staff was highly-regarded, and everyone here has been great to us. I think we have a really good team and can hang with anybody in the country.”

Hampton Slukynsky is sharing the crease with Cameron Rowe this season, who has been “huge’” for Slukynsky’s development. WMU allows 1.8 goals per game, tied for third in the NCAA. Slukynsky earned his first NCAA shutout on Jan. 25 against Miami. (Photo courtesy of Western Michigan Athletics)

Reunited
This season has been an adjustment for both brothers, in a good way.

It’s their first year living in Kalamazoo and attending a new school, and the first at the college level in Hampton’s case. The two are sharing an apartment and living together and they even share a few classes, which has helped ease the adjustment.

However, it’s also their first time playing on the same team.

“It’s been unbelievable and definitely something we’ve been looking forward to,” Grant said. “From the moment we got here, we’ve loved every minute and it’s been a ton of fun going to the rink every single day and working to get better. We’re just taking it one day at a time, and I think that’s part of why we’ve had so much success. But I know for us personally, it’s been really special to finally play together and the off-ice part and living together has been fun too.”

Hampton added: “It’s been really cool. Obviously, he’s three years older, so we never got the chance to play together in youth hockey or high school, but I know both of us and our family have really enjoyed it so far. Playing at this level is special as it is, but to do it with your brother is something both of us will cherish forever.”

Make no mistake, the rest of the family is enjoying it too.

“I think when they were committed to Northern we just took it for granted and kinda expected it was gonna happen, but it’s been surreal seeing it come to fruition and Western has been an amazing fit for both of them,” said Tim Slukynsky, who doubles as their dad and the backyard rink’s maintenance manager. “I don’t know if you want to call it fate or hockey karma, but it’s been amazing how everything has worked out over the past few months. Obviously their team has been playing lights out on top of it too, and I know they’re really happy with where they’re at.”

Grant (left) and Hampton (right) Slukynsky have played in nine games together this season. “You would’ve thought given our numbers in our small town there would’ve been a little bit of overlap, but it’s just never happened,” said their father Tim. “It’s been amazing to watch them this year, and it’s really special for our family.” (Photo courtesy of the Slukynsky Family)

Family Affair
Tim and his wife, Jenny, have attended nearly every WMU game this season. They’ve missed three games total – two of which they were in Ottawa watching Hampton at the World Junior Championships.

Having both kids under one roof has “been a game-changer” Tim quipped, especially after they racked up thousands of miles in recent years. At times driving through the night after Northern Michigan’s games in the upper peninsula to watch Hampton in Des Moines, Omaha or Sioux City – among other locations.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without them, and I know they’re loving watching us on the same team, and it’s been awesome sharing it with them,” Grant said. “It’s hard enough to play college hockey at this level as it is, but to go through it with your best friend makes it that much more special, and I know we’re not taking it for granted.

“Just being there to support each other in practice, or working together on a project has been awesome, and obviously Hammer’s handled this season tremendously well. At the end of the day, we’re each other’s biggest supporters and we’re just hoping to keep it going.”

Grant Slukynsky has played in all 22 games this season, including two in Grand Forks earlier this month. WMU swept North Dakota and the Slukynskys had roughly 25 friends and family in attendance from Warroad. “We love Warroad and are super proud that we grew up there,” Grant said. “We know a lot of people back home are always pulling for us and that’s pretty special, and we love representing the community.” (Photo courtesy of Western Michigan Athletics)

It’s been quite the year for the Slukynsky brothers, and the Broncos look poised for a deep run in the spring. Hampton also helped the U.S. win a gold medal earlier this month at the above-mentioned WJC in Ottawa, where he won a pair of games.

They both have promising careers ahead of them and have found a good home in Kalamazoo, and they’re making everyone back home in Warroad proud in the process.

“When you know how much hockey means to their family and how professional and caring they are every single day, it’s not a surprise at all to see them having the success they are,” Hardwick said. “They’re both extremely driven and passionate kids, and that’s been evident from a young age, and they’re just winners.

“I’m sure they’ve spent thousands of hours skating in their backyard and during the summer together, but to see them playing together now and being big contributors on one of the country’s top teams – it’s incredible. I know it means so much to both of them and for them to be representing our community in the process, I know everyone here in Warroad is super proud of them and they deserve it.”

The post Successful Slukynskys appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

After having a solid junior season as a transfer from Wisconsin, Malmquist has emerged as the Tommies’ most potent offensive threat as he currently has 19 points, with 13 of them being assists. Two of his six goals have been shorthanded.

Malmquist may put on a good show on the ice at times, but when asked about his accomplishments so far, he stays humble. However, he does admit that as an Edina alum, he’s embraced the stigma of being a “cake eater” to hockey fans around Minnesota.

“I think it’s awesome,” he said, with a laugh. “You grow up and guys know what Edina is. You get so used to it. You never really hear it (at first) because you’re always around other Edina guys growing up, but when you branch out, you’ll hear it. I think it’s funny.

“We were playing at Bemidji State this year and we were coming off intermission during Saturday’s game and they had some Bemidji alumni thing. We were walking through the tunnel and one of the alumni screamed ‘Hey Malmquist, you cake eater.’ It was a crucial game, so I was trying to stay focused, but I smirked and laughed at it. I’m used to it and it doesn’t bother me at all.”

It’s hard to rattle Malmquist on the ice as he carries himself with a quiet poise. As a former tennis player, he knows how to take advantage of any opportunity that comes his way.

“I like having the puck,” he said. “I like having the plays there for me and being able to see the whole ice sheet and seeing guys move to where they’re going to be. I like when I can do some quick cut-ups and enter the zone with speed and use my edges to change direction to try to catch people off guard. I also like if there’s a play and I can take a chance to try to do it by using my speed.

“Hockey is like a tennis match in a sense. Each shift and each period and each game is brand new. Maybe in different games, I try to use my speed depending on the team, and other times, I’ll need to be a lot smarter and use my head more than my legs.”

Liam Malmquist said being called an Edina “cake eater” doesn’t bother him. (MHM Photo / Ryan Stieg)

College-hockey decision was a tough choice
When it came time to decide on where to play college hockey, Malmquist had a tough time deciding as he wanted to find the perfect fit like his father found playing for Harvard or his brother Dylan found suiting up for Notre Dame. Liam eventually found it in Madison playing for the Badgers.

“It was a tough decision,” he said. “I was talking to other schools and a lot of the people I was talking with were really nice, and I have nothing but good things to say about my recruitment process. I wanted to make sure I was going to a place where I was going to get an opportunity. I didn’t want to rush, but I also had an opportunity to play junior hockey at the same time. Madison, at the end of the day, was the right fit. I respected (then head coach) Tony Granato and his way of thinking about the game and how he approached recruiting me.

“My two years in Madison were unbelievable. We didn’t have the best records or the playoff runs that we’d hoped for, but the guys were really nice and supportive. I learned a lot from my first two years just going to a big school with a city feel to it. At the end of the day, it worked out where I got to experience it and now, I’m back closer to home.”

After Malmquist’s sophomore year at Wisconsin, Granato was fired and replaced by former Minnesota State head coach Mike Hastings. After some initial discussions with his new coach, Malmquist decided the perfect fit might be somewhere else.

“I was still hoping to play hockey in Madison, but they had Mike Hastings come in, and I had a couple conversations with him prior to entering the portal,” Malmquist said. “I have nothing but respect for him as well. He’s the real deal. I wanted to express what I thought I could be and where I saw myself. I’m sure he had his own system and his own ideas in place, and it didn’t end up fitting mutually.

“So, it was a personal decision to enter the portal. I kind of took a leap of faith. I had a lot of people supporting me and people who had my back and taught me how to manage. It was pretty stressful and it’s hard when you’re at a place for two years and it feels like your home. But then time moves so fast and you kind of blink and it’s gone and then you’re back to where it started with recruitment.

“I was fortunate to talk with some schools and heard a lot hockey minds and perspectives on things, and I guess it all shifted when I got the call from (Tommies head coach) Rico (Blasi), (assistant coaches) Leon (Hayward) and Cory (Laylin). They were super supportive and really excited to talk to me. It was easy for me at the time because I knew what they were bringing in and I knew a lot of the guys already and who they had already recruited from the portal. My decision to leave Madison wasn’t against anyone. It was just kind of personal and wanting to try a different experience. I’m taking what I learned at Madison and am trying to continue to grow at St. Thomas.”

Before skating with Wisconsin and St. Thomas in college hockey, Liam Malmquist won the Class 2A state championship with Edina in 2019. (MHM Photo / Ryan Stieg)

Malmquist has produced on the stats sheet for Tommies
The Tommies were predicted to be better last season, but ended up surpassing preseason expectations by finishing second in the CCHA. Malmquist was a big reason for that as he finished with 10 goals and was second on the team in points with 27. When asked what created that sudden offensive explosion, Malmquist said there were a lot of factors, but it might’ve just come down to a new mindset.

“I think the biggest thing when I got to St. Thomas was the feeling of ‘I’ve got nothing to lose,’” he said. “Rico was really appreciative of who I was right away, and he gave me confidence and an opportunity that a lot of guys would want. I had the support of teammates and some really good guys and got set up with special teams with really good players. It kind of took off and after that first game at St. Cloud, we got that win and everything burst wide open. It was just, go out and play and just enjoy it.”

Now that he’s on track to probably having an even better statistical season this year, Malmquist said that he’s continuing to block out the noise around him.

“When you’re not focusing on the things you can’t control, things tend to work out point-wise,” he said. “You get compliments and you get some confidence from it. I’m just continuing on what it was last year. Everyone in that room, including myself, is there to win a hockey game. I know everyone will do whatever they can to get a result. Individually, I try not to focus on any of that. If we can get a clean breakout and move five guys on the ice and snap it around five or six times and create a chance, that catches my eye more than stats.

“It goes back to having confidence in myself. Last week, I was playing with (teammates) Matt (Gleason) and Lucas (Wahlin), who are unbelievable players, and two years ago at Madison, I maybe wasn’t playing as much. Now, I’m here as a senior, and it’s pretty amazing. I’m playing a top role on a top team with all these top players.”

Malmquist may be underrated nationally, but right now, it’s clear that he’s the Tommies’ top guy.

The post Tommies’ Top Guy appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

However, another set are hoping to add their names to the list next season in Tanner and Ty Henricks.

Tanner, an 18-year-old defenseman, is currently in his second USHL season with the Lincoln Stars and is a St. Cloud State commit. Ty, a 19-year-old forward, is one of 10 freshmen on Western Michigan’s roster and has played in 12 games this season – scoring once and adding a trio of assists.

While both are focused on their current seasons, they’d be lying if either said the thought of a sibling showdown hasn’t crossed their minds.

“Me and my brother have been dreaming about this since we first touched the ice, and I feel like it’ll be a dream come true,” Tanner said. “We got to play twice last year (in the USHL) and it was great, but we’ve both always wanted to play college hockey and to hopefully play against each other the next few years will be awesome.”

Added Ty, who is the older brother by 13 months: “It’ll be exciting, and I know we’re both looking forward to it. Obviously, you love competing with your brother, and I’ll probably give him a couple tough hits – But in all seriousness, it’s going to be special for our family.”

Ty Henricks made his NCAA debut on Oct. 11 against Ferris State and has played in all 12 of Western Michigan’s games. “I could not be more excited to have Ty Henricks as a Bronco,” said Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler. “Ty has size, hands, hockey sense and is taking steps every day toward becoming a great college player. His coachability and work ethic will allow him to live his dream of playing pro hockey.” (Photo courtesy of Kayla Schuberth / Western Michigan Athletics)

California natives moved to the State of Hockey
It’s a matchup that’s played out countless times in the backyard and on youth hockey rinks, along with numerous summer skates.

As Tanner mentioned, the two played last season in the USHL, too. Tanner and Ty were with Lincoln and Muskegon, respectively, and split their two-game set in late January.

Both look forward to competing again, this time at college hockey’s highest level. But while they’re fierce competitors, the reality is they’re also each other’s biggest supporters.

“I love him to death, and I wouldn’t want anyone else as my brother,” said Ty, who added the two usually talk at least four times a week. “He’s a great player, great person, and I couldn’t be happier to see where he’s at in his career.

“He’s followed what I’ve done for a long time, but he’s also got his own path and works really hard. I know we’re both happy to see each other succeed and be where we are today.”

The two grew up in California, playing roller and ice hockey, before moving to Minnesota in 2016. They played baseball and flag football back home before focusing predominantly on hockey.

The brothers were 10 and 11 at the time of the move and spent roughly six years living in the State of Hockey, and both echoed how thankful they are to their parents for the experience. Tanner is looking forward to returning to the state at SCSU too.

Tanner Henricks played in 59 games during his USHL rookie campaign. “It was a big jump last season, especially with the speed and strength of guys, but I feel like my teammates and coaches really helped me and pushed me to get better,” he said. “They didn’t take it easy on me, and I’m really thankful for that, and I think that’s helped me a lot this season.” (Photo courtesy of Brandon Anderson / Lincoln Stars)

Although their father, Scott, grew up watching hockey in Chicago, Tanner and Ty are the first two members of their family to ever play the game. Ty started skating at age 5 and Tanner followed suit just a few weeks later, as he joked he “got jealous” and wanted to try the sport himself.

Their careers have eerily similar paths, too, from Shattuck-St. Mary’s back home to the Anaheim Ducks AAA program and into the USHL. Both are also now NHL Draft picks – Ty going in 2023 (New York Rangers, sixth round) and Tanner following this past summer (Columbus, fourth round).

They’ve been there for each other every step of the way and Ty will once again get to play the role of big brother next fall when it’s Tanner’s turn to make the jump to college.

“I think it’s been a big thing for both of us, because we’ve been able to lean on each other not just as brothers, but also hockey players,” Ty said. “Tanner talks to me all the time and we can ask each other questions when we’re struggling or just want to talk about games and bounce stuff off each other, and I think that’s part of why our relationship is so good.

“We can talk hockey and we can talk life, and at the end of the day, we’re brothers and best friends.”

Leaning on each other
Having someone in your corner with first-hand experience is never a bad thing either – especially leading up to something like the NHL draft.

“He was a big help and we talked a lot throughout the process,” Tanner said. “There’s stuff during the season we talked about, but even after a few (pre-draft) interviews, I asked him a couple of the questions to see if he got asked anything similar or what he’d say. He was just always there if I needed him and really helped me through the process.”

Tanner Henricks has two goals, five assists and is a minus-4 to open his second USHL season. “I thought he played his best hockey of the year last year in the playoffs, but he’s playing with a lot more confidence this year,” said Lincoln coach Rocky Russo. “His gaps have gotten better, he’s trusting his feet more and as a second-year player, it’s hard, because you put more pressure and expectations on yourself. But I think Tanner’s done a good job of handling everything. (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

While they might not have thought much of it over the years, the brothers playing different positions from each other has also been a blessing in disguise.

“It’s nice because with me being a forward and him being a (defenseman), we’ve always been able to go one-on-one and go against each other,” Ty said. “I think that brings out the competitive side of us, but it also helps each other, and I think we’ve been able to work on things and help each other out.”

As the holidays creep closer and both the USHL and NCAA seasons near their break, the two are looking forward to getting back together. Tanner and Ty last saw each other in early September but will get a chance to head home for Christmas.

Sure, some friendly jabs and banter will be thrown back-and-forth. At the end of the day, it’s what comes with being brothers. But the time also gives them a chance to bond and reflect on where they’re at in their budding careers.

No matter what happens the next few years and beyond, the two will forever be linked by the name on the back of their jerseys, and they wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Every time I step on the ice I’m doing it for my family, and I know Ty has the same mindset,” Tanner said. “Our parents especially sacrificed so much and put us in a position to be where we are today, and I know we’ll forever be thankful for that.

“They gave everything for us, so we want to do the same and make everyone in our family proud. And I know both of us have put in a lot of work to get where we are and we’re always rooting for each other.”

The post The Henricks Connection appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

At this time last season, Lurie found himself on the outside looking in, struggling to crack Omaha’s lineup and sitting in the stands as a healthy scratch. The left-shot forward appeared in just four games during his freshman season, three of which came in a two-week stretch. Lurie was scratched for Omaha’s first seven games this season too.

However, Omaha has been decimated by injuries and up until their past two series, the Mavericks had struggled mightily offensively – paving the way for more playing time.

It’s safe to say Lurie is both enjoying and making the most of it so far.

“At the end of the day, when you get an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it,” Lurie said Monday afternoon. “If you don’t do that, the coach has no reason to play you. So, when guys get hurt, it’s an opportunity for other people to step up and rise to the occasion.

“You’ve got to be prepared mentally and physically to do that and not fold under the pressure.”

Lurie made his season debut on Nov. 9 as Omaha fell to Western Michigan at home, 4-2. He earned an assist in the loss and also fired four shots at the Bronco net, which has been a staple of his game so far.

Lurie’s 15 shots are already tied for 10th on Omaha’s roster and his per-game average (3) is tied for third.

Lurie remained in the lineup the following weekend at Arizona State and scored his first NCAA goal during a second-period power play. He added another power-play marker this past Saturday as the Mavs skated to a dominant 8-1 win and a sweep of Miami.

Charlie Lurie is a 6-foot, 187-pound forward who initially committed to Omaha in November of 2019. “I think it came down to the staff and the facilities,” Lurie said. “I thought the staff put a lot of time into getting to know me when I was just 15 and 16 years old, and I thought they had a plan in place for me. They care about you here, they recruit great humans, and it’s a team-first mentality here.” (Photo courtesy of Carley Pappas / Omaha Athletics)

Especially with Omaha’s top two returning scorers – Tanner Ludtke and Zach Urdahl – out with injuries, contributions from players like Lurie have been a welcomed sight.

“The amount and run of injuries we’ve had is certainly unfortunate, but it’s been great to see guys like Charlie take advantage and perform how they have,” said Omaha coach Mike Gabinet. “He’s always done a tremendous job of showing up and continuing to put in the work, and when you do that good things usually happen.

“So, I give Charlie a lot of credit because he’s always wanted to be in the lineup, and obviously it wasn’t working out that way. But he always did the extra work and stayed ready. He’s done exactly that and he’s getting rewarded with some quality minutes.”

“He’s been awesome,” added Bloomington’s Tyler Rollwagen, who centered Lurie’s line this past weekend and also scored in Saturday’s win. “He comes to the rink every day with the same attitude and makes the most out of the opportunity he has earned. It’s been a lot of fun seeing his success as of late.”

Putting in the work
While it’d be cliche to say that success wasn’t earned overnight, it’s exactly the case with Lurie.

The left-shot forward learned at a young age that in order to be successful, you have to put in more time, work and effort than everyone else. So, earning his opportunity is nothing new.

“Everything I’ve ever had in my hockey career has been earned, and nothing’s been given to me,” Lurie said. “I was fortunate enough to go to Shattuck (St. Mary’s), but I wasn’t ever the best player and I was always trying to catch the guys that were better than me.

“Even going back to when I was a squirt in Minnetonka. My first year I made the B team, and the second year I was placed on the B team again while all my friends were on the A team. So I think that’s kind of what lit a spark in me and jump-started my career. Then the following year I made the Peewee AA team as a first-year player, and I never looked back from there. So, I think the important lesson for younger kids to know is that just because you’re not on a team now doesn’t mean you can’t make a team later, and at the end of the day you have to do the work.”

Lurie and the Mavs are coming off the above-mentioned sweep of Miami and have two series remaining in the first half – at St. Cloud State and home against Lindenwood.

No. 24 wants to be in the lineup for both and keep contributing, especially on the power play – which is where Lurie’s presence has been noticed the most.

Looking to help out on the power play
Omaha (5-7-0, 3-3-0) opened the season a dreadful 2-for-24 on the man advantage, and although its current 8-for-45 mark (17.8%) still doesn’t look exactly great on paper, the Mavs are generating many more chances and getting the puck to the net.

Omaha netted three power-play goals last Saturday and is 6-for-21 over its past five games, which coincides with Lurie’s addition to the unit.

Charlie Lurie played for four USHL teams – including the Omaha Lancers – over his two USHL seasons. He played 42 games for the Lancers during the 2022-23 season before returning to Omaha last fall. “We recruited him as a very young man out of Shattuck, and I just think he’s always had a knack for shooting the puck and finding the scoring areas,” Gabinet said. “I think that’s something he does really well and he puts himself in a position to get shots off, and he’s a very high-character kid too.” (Photo courtesy of the Omaha Lancers)

“When a guy has a certain talent or skillset, you want to maximize it. And one of those for Charlie is shooting the puck,” Gabinet said. “So it’s nice to have that threat out there, and he’s helped get our power play rolling.”

Now the next step is to build on it.

Lurie initially committed to Omaha nearly five years ago – Nov. 30, 2019 – and took a winding road to the school, as he spent time with four different USHL organizations after spending four seasons at Shattuck-St. Mary’s.

Lurie recorded 68 points (30-38-68) and 90 penalty minutes over 122 career USHL games, following a successful career at Shattuck – a place that Lurie is “beyond grateful for” and said “has made his career” to this day. Yet he wants to add another chapter in Omaha.

It’s been a good start, but the sophomore is far from satisfied.

“My goal for the rest of this season is to be in the lineup every night,” Lurie said. “The last three weeks have been nice. It’s nice to get in the lineup and earn some of that privilege that I have being on the power play, but I just want to keep going and not give my spot up.

“I want to be in the lineup every night and give my team the best chance to win.”

The post Charlie Cashing In appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.