Kam Klutch

OMAHA, Neb. – Kam Hendrickson quipped that he’s mastered cooking ground beef and rice, and he can “make a mean box” of mac and cheese.

Cooking, laundry and simply balancing school with hockey are just some of the adjustments that come with the junior lifestyle. That’s along with living with a billet family, as the 18-year-old goaltender finds himself in his first full USHL season with the Omaha Lancers.

The jump to the USHL is an adjustment for every player. However, Hendrickson has handled that adjustment with flying colors so far.

“You’re a little timid the first few weeks because you’re living with a new family and you don’t know the customs around the house, and the hockey is an adjustment in itself. But I feel like I’ve really settled in,” Hendrickson said. “I know we haven’t had the most amount of success yet, but each week I think we’re building and the culture is great. And we’ve got a really good group here.

“I’d say the biggest thing has been the trust and dedication we have in each other. The boys give their all for me when I’m in net, and I know I have to leave everything out there for them. So, it’s just been really fun.”

It’s been an interesting fall for the reigning Frank Brimsek Award winner, as the Lancers made a coaching change just four games into the season. Omaha (5-9-2) currently sits seventh in the eight-team Western Conference and has scored the USHL’s fourth-fewest goals (36).

Finding his footing
Hendrickson’s season got off to a shaky start, too, as he allowed six goals on 26 shots in his first start at the USHL Fall Classic on Sept. 19.

However, the UConn commit has excelled from there and is currently 3-3-2 with a .916 save percentage and 2.53 goals-against average. Two of those three wins were also shutouts, as Hendrickson has made 228 of a possible 249 saves this season.

“I’ve just really tried to keep things simple,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t know much about the organization or junior hockey in general until last year, but Omaha has been nothing but good to me.

“I was grateful enough to get some games and get some experience here last year, too, and I was able to pull away with a few wins. And I think that was a huge step towards getting acclimated to the league and having success this year. It’s a fast league and there are a lot of growing pains, but you have to grow up quick. I think as a team we’ve done a good job of holding each other to a high standard.”

Kam Hendrickson started playing hockey as a 6-year-old kid and rotated playing goalie with his teammates. Hendrickson said he truly committed to playing goalie full time around age 10. “Most kids probably don’t want to play goalie and get hit by pucks, but I enjoyed the thrill of it and I guess I had the natural talent for it,” he said. (Photo courtesy of Kam Hendrickson)

If you talk to anybody around the Lancers organization, the first thing that stands out is Hendrickson’s competitive nature. The 6-foot, 171-pound goaltender is a good skater and pairs that with quick hands and a good IQ at the position.

He’s also continued to make timely saves and give his team a chance every night – something Hendrickson said he prides himself on.

“I believe the person makes the player and every single day he brings the intensity and the willingness to make everyone around him better,” said Omaha coach Colten St. Clair. “He’s just a competitor and he understands what he needs to do to be successful. And whether we’re in the offensive zone and the other team gets a breakaway or we’re trapped in our end, he knows he has to make a save.

“No matter how dangerous the chance is, he knows he has to make a save, and that’s his mindset. He has a one-shot mindset, and he finds a way to keep us in every game, and I think that’s the best compliment you can give a goalie.”

Added Sean Bloomfield, Hendrickson’s coach at Chanhassen High School: “Kam’s a competitor, that’s the best word to describe him, and he’s just clutch back there. It didn’t matter if it was practice or in the state championship in front of 20,000 fans, he competes for every single puck, and he’s a vocal leader. And every game he makes a few saves that you look at the other coaches and shake your head in shock. You’re just thankful to have him back there.”

Playing for Chanhassen was a ‘blessing’
Hendrickson joined Chanhassen before the 2022-23 season after spending his freshman and sophomore years at Holy Family. Hendrickson won 40 games over his two seasons and helped the Storm reach the Class 2A state championship game last March, ultimately falling to Edina.

Kam Hendrickson went 23-6-0 for Chanhassen last season with a .951 save percentage and 1.01 goals-against average. “He won the Brimsek Award as the best goalie in the state, and he truly was. His numbers speak for themselves, and when the lights were at their brightest, he was at his best. That’s what you want out of a goalie, and he’s someone that hopes to play the game for a long time.” (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Hendrickson said the move to Chanhassen was “one of the biggest blessings” of his life, and his game continued to improve at the school.

“I’d say the biggest growth we saw was with his consistency,” Bloomfield said. “Not that he was necessarily inconsistent his first year with us, but he dealt with an injury and he just continued to work on his craft, and he’s got a really good mental side of his game too.

“He’s never been a kid that gets down on himself and loses confidence, but I actually think it makes him better. He takes it personal every time he gets scored on and he locks in from there, and he’s a tough kid to beat. I think he’s someone that has a lot of fun out there, too, and that’s what makes him so fun to coach. We’re happy to see him having the success he is because he’s earned it.”

Hendrickson’s high school experience has paid dividends this season too.

“It’s helped me a lot, especially considering we played in a lot of big games and with the talent and work ethic we had at Chan every day,” Hendrickson said. “You don’t get that many games in high school so you have to compete and make the most of it, and you have to be at your best – which is really important (in the USHL).

“You don’t see too many Minnesota high school goalies coming straight to the USHL – I know there’s been a few recently, but I feel like before people kind of looked over Minnesota kids, too. So, I just want to prove a point that Minnesota high school goalies can produce and play at this level.”

As the calendar churns through November, Hendrickson is enjoying life in the USHL, but he knows there’s a lot of season left.

He was one of six active USHL goalies to land on Central Scouting’s Preliminary Watch List late last month and hopes to hear his name called during the 2025 NHL Draft.

Kam Hendrickson has shared the Omaha crease with New Jersey draft pick Mikhail Yegorov this season and the two hope to back-stop the Lancers back to the playoffs. “They have such a great relationship but with Kam specifically, he’s earned his opportunity to play big minutes, and he’s such a great human being,” said Omaha coach Colten St. Clair. “He’s had a good start and we want him to stay in the moment and keep that competitive drive, and we know Kam’s going to do exactly that.” (Photo courtesy of Omaha Lancers)

Hendrickson was also named to the U.S. Junior Select Team earlier this week and will represent his country next month at the World Junior A Challenge.

As he looks ahead at the rest of this season though, his mindset goes back to a message one of his coaches instilled in him at a young age — one shot, one period, one game at a time.

“I just want to help my team the best I can,” Hendrickson said. “One of my goals this year is to be the best goalie in the league but more than anything, I just want to win. I want to be the best I can be every night, and I know there’s still a lot I can work on and get better at, but you can’t get caught up in everything. You can’t get too high or too low.

“At the end of the day, it’s the same game. You’ve just got to keep it simple and have fun each day.”