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.

“Dan loved to throw the puck behind his back, and I’ll just say I wasn’t a huge fan,” Ward said, with a laugh. “I remember his first year he gave the puck right to the other team a few times, and he’d come back to the bench with this look on his face that he knew I was gonna bark at him a little bit, and I did. But that was part of his maturation process as a player.

“I would tell him to save that move for men’s league in the future and I’m sure he’s still tried it a couple times since, but he got better with time. We still laugh about it today and Daniel Shlaine is one of my favorite kids that’s ever played here.”

However, eliminating those passes was just one part of what’s been a tremendous growing process, both as a hockey player and a person.

Shlaine first moved from Moscow, Russia to Faribault at 13 years old with his parents, Ekaterina and Dmitri, to join his older brother, Artem – who is currently a grad student at Arizona State. Artem, who also attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s, split his first four NCAA seasons between UCONN and Northern Michigan and is a New Jersey Devils draft pick (2020, fifth-round).

As for Daniel, he spent five years at Shattuck and the past two seasons with the U18 Prep Team, scoring 42 goals and racking up 146 points over 110 games. He also registered 44 points (19-25-44) over 57 games with the 16U AAA team in 2021-22.

While there have certainly been adjustments on the ice, living in North America was an adjustment in itself, especially early on.

“I was very fortunate to be at Shattuck because everyone knew what they were doing and everyone was so helpful,” Shlaine said. “I didn’t really know much English my freshman year, and I didn’t really know anybody or have many friends, and the size of the rink was different from the European sheet. So, it was just a lot different. But after probably three or four months I was able to adapt and felt comfortable.

“I ended up spending my whole five years of high school there and played with some of the best kids in the country, and the coaching staff is unbelievable. It’s easy to say yes when you have the opportunity to go there and they have everything for you to succeed. You just have to take advantage of it.”

Daniel Shlaine started figure skating as a 3-year-old kid in Russia and shifted to hockey a year later, eventually moving to the United States and Minnesota at age 13. “He quickly became a rink rat, and he was at the rink every day skating and working on his game,” said SSM coach Tom Ward. “He spent a lot of time in the weight room, too and just took advantage of all the perks we have here at Shattuck, and it paid off for him.” (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

Those last four words are exactly what Shlaine did.

“He was a kid that came here with his older brother and his family and honestly, he was just an average player,” Ward said. “He was nothing special as a young player, and he was always Arty’s little brother, but he started to break out his 16-year-old year and put the work in.

“He started to understand how he could be the best version of himself and he just continued to grow, and it was really fun to watch him.”

That growth certainly raised some eyebrows last season as Shlaine received plenty of college interest and ultimately committed to Minnesota Duluth in March. He cited the coaching staff, specifically Scott Sandelin, and UMD’s tradition as his biggest reasons for picking the Bulldogs.

A leader on the Stars
Shlaine had conversations with a number of junior teams last season, too, and was selected by the Lincoln Stars in the USHL Phase II Draft (fourth overall) last May.

He’s made an immediate impact with his new club.

“I was excited to get drafted this past summer and get started, obviously new faces and new coaches, but my time (in Lincoln) has been great so far,” Shlaine said. “Everyone has helped me out a lot and I’ve been able to feel really comfortable, and we’re having a pretty good start to the season too. So, hopefully we can keep it going.”

The UMD commit is averaging more than a point per game to open his USHL career and leads the Stars in points (13) and assists (8). His five goals and plus-7 rating are also tied for the team lead, and Shlaine already has four multi-point games.

Lincoln (9-2-0) currently owns the USHL’s best record and has outscored its opponents 43-25 through 11 games. It’s been a collective team effort.

However, Shlaine has been one of Lincoln’s individual standouts, and he’s certainly impressed head coach Rocky Russo and his staff.

“He’s so talented and you can tell he wants to be successful, and he certainly doesn’t look like a first-year player in our league,” Russo said. “He’s a little bit of an older guy as an ’05, but it’s still an extremely hard league, and it goes to show his hockey IQ and work ethic.

“He’s a great skater, he moves laterally so well, he’s good on the dots and he can play both power play and (penalty kill). He’s got a great brain, and he’s not afraid to advance pucks up the ice either, and he just wants to do whatever to help his team win.”

Daniel Shlaine was Lincoln’s first-round pick in the 2024 USHL Phase II Draft. “It’s kind of funny, but I talked to almost every other USHL team except Lincoln leading up to the draft,” Shlaine said. “I remember I was on my phone watching the draft and we were eating at the dining hall (at Shattuck), and when the Stars were on the clock, I put my phone down for a minute and got up. When I came back the guys started congratulating me, and I saw my name on the screen, and it’s worked out really well so far.” (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

It’s a continuation of what Shlaine showed in Faribault.

“He’s always been an intelligent kid, and he’s no different as a hockey player,” Ward said. “He’s a cerebral guy, and he sees what’s going on on the ice. He plays with vision, he understands how to play the team game, he’s a 200-foot player, and I think he’s a very solid defensive player. He’s just a true centerman and he can play in any situation, and you’re seeing that offensive side of his game too.

“I think you’ve seen his confidence grow and as he’s become more of a counted-on player, his personality has grown so much too. He’s a keeper of a kid.”

While Shlaine hopes to continue producing, he’s also aware the 62-game season will include its share of ups and downs – a challenge he’s ready to embrace.

His goals are to round out the little details of his game and be a consistent 200-foot center, along with winning the Clark Cup. Lincoln last did so in 2003.

However, it’s hard to ignore Shlaine’s start to the 2024-25 campaign.

“It’s been a good start, but there’s still a lot of season left and room to grow,” Shlaine said. “The USHL is a fast league and the guys are obviously bigger and stronger, so you know that you’re going against the best every night. So you just know you’ve got to work twice as hard and I’m excited for that challenge.

“But I think that prepares you well for college, and I’m excited to keep learning and developing my game. You don’t want to look too far ahead, but I’m excited to keep working towards and making that jump to college.”

The post Shattuck-St. Mary’s Shlaine Shines appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

However, the 20-year-old goaltender took a visit to St. Cloud State last season and the rest is history, as Shostak is slated to join the Huskies next season.

“That was my first college I visited, and I didn’t really know much about the different colleges, but I really liked the coaches and (the campus),” Shostak said. “I remember when I got to the rink they had a big picture of me on the scoreboard, and I just really liked St. Cloud.

“So, I talked to my coaches (in Lincoln), and my agent said this was the best choice in the NCAA, and I thought so too.”

It’s been a whirlwind 14 months for Shostak as last season was his first in North America.

He made the 5,100-mile trek to Lincoln and spoke barely any English, but he still turned in a solid rookie season with the Lincoln Stars. Shostak finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 20-18-2 record, .902 save percentage and 3.05 goals-against average, along with a pair of playoff wins. Yet he still felt there was more to prove.

Welp… so far so good, as Shostak is off to a red-hot 5-1-0 start and has been arguably the USHL’s best goalie through five weeks.

He was pulled after 17 minutes last Saturday in Youngstown with a lower-body injury, which both Shostak and head coach Rocky Russo said was out of precaution. Had it been a late-season or playoff game, Shostak would’ve “100% been in the net.”

However, he had posted back-to-back shutouts before that start and has made 148 of a possible 156 saves this season, giving himself a .949 save percentage and 1.28 goals-against average – both of which rank second among USHL goaltenders.

Yan Shostak committed to St. Cloud State last April. “We loved Yan’s athleticism and compete level,” said St. Cloud State coach Brett Larson. “He never quits on a puck and plays to win. His technique is very solid and he shows poise under pressure, and we’re excited that he’s a future Husky!” (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

Strong Shostak effort, strong start for Lincoln Stars
Shostak also has a pair of shutouts, which is tied for the league lead. He turned aside all 36 shots Waterloo fired his way on Oct. 12 and went a perfect 13-for-13 on Oct. 18 in Youngstown.

“We’ve got a really good team and I’m just working hard and feeling way confident,” Shostak said. “We’ve just got to keep working and keep it going.”

Lincoln currently owns the USHL’s best record at 8-1-0, and the Stars hold a four-point lead atop the Western Conference. It’s Lincoln’s second-best start in franchise history.

Make no mistake, it’s been a complete team effort as Russo’s club has allowed the USHL’s fewest goals (17). Lincoln has also scored the USHL’s second-most goals (36) and has one of the league’s top defensive corps, too, but Shostak deserves plenty of credit.

“This team is built from the net out, and it’s no secret Yan is a big part of that,” Russo said. “He’s always been an athletic goaltender, but he’s done a good job of making saves and managing rebounds, and he’s done a good job of settling the situation down when we need him to. He’s just been rock-solid for us.”

Yan Shostak is 5-1-0 to open his second USHL season. “I’d say the biggest difference is he’s staying more patient,” said assistant coach Artt Brey. “He’s such a strong skater and too much movement puts him out of position at times, but I think he’s done a good job this year of slowing things down and his movements are really sound.” (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

At the same time, Shostak’s “rock-solid” play didn’t happen overnight, and he’s continued to develop in Nebraska’s capital city.

“He’s just got such a consistency to his approach on a daily basis, and he’s elevated everything from the time he got here,” Russo said. “He honestly wasn’t very good when he first got here, and it’s not because he wasn’t talented, but it was all those adjustments – learning to manage living away from home, not being able to speak the language and adjusting to a new league.

“So, there were a lot of challenges and it took some time, but he was willing to battle regardless of the situation. He always had that worker’s mindset and once he settled in, he had a tremendous second half. He’s carried that into this season.”

Added assistant coach Artt Brey, who primarily works with Lincoln’s goalies: “He’s a great kid and he’s such a hard worker. He’s ultra-competitive, he hates to lose and he hates to get scored on. I think that mentality and demeanor has transformed him into the goalie he is today and we’re seeing that confidence in him.

“He didn’t get here by chance or by luck, and he had to overcome a lot last year after moving here from overseas. Especially early, and we struggled as a team in front of him. But he’s persevered through a lot of ups and downs and he’s earned all the success that he’s had.”

Yan Shostak started playing hockey as a 5-year-old defenseman in Belarus and did that for two years before shifting to goalie. Shostak’s older brother, Konstantin, also played goalie in the KHL. (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

This season’s success also coincides with another factor, both on and off the ice: Comfort.

“It’s been a lot better this year,” Shostak said. “I know the guys better, I know the coaches, the staff and what (the USHL) is like. The people here are all so nice and helpful too, so I’ve felt a little bit more (comfortable) now.”

On top of that comfortability, the other difference is Lincoln’s play, as the Stars got off to a dismal 3-12-0-2 start last season. Lincoln was outscored 68-31 throughout that 17-game stretch but has outscored its opponents by a 19-goal margin (36-17) through its first nine game this this fall.

Shostak said his goals this season are to simply win the Clark Cup and be the league’s best goalie – the latter of which he’s well on his way to accomplishing.

He now hopes to keep it up and eventually continue building on it at SCSU.

“I’m really excited to be a Husky,” Shostak said. “It’s going to be a new challenge for me, but I’m just really excited to play there.”

The post Saves By Shostak appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.