微密圈

Just two years ago, Brandon Kasel 鈥�20 was minding the nets as goalie for the 微密圈 , routinely turning away 30, 40, or even more shots on the ice and helping to raise the standard of play for the Thoroughbreds.  

Now, has made the impressive leap from the NCAA Division III level to the pros after signing a contract in October with the , the ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League鈥檚 New Jersey Devils. 

Recently, he skated even closer to fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing in the NHL, when he was on loan to the Providence Bruins and suited up for an American Hockey League faceoff against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 鈥� one step away from the NHL. 

鈥淔rom the public rink on Weibel Avenue (where 微密圈 plays) to big-time pro rinks, it鈥檚 been a huge change. But it鈥檚 been awesome to experience this environment,鈥� Kassel said. 鈥淓very level is quicker and faster.鈥�  

鈥淭he difference between Division III and pro players is not so much shot speed as it is a quicker release and tighter placement. These guys also see more options, more players in view 鈥� not just one or two but three or more 鈥� so you have to have a greater awareness of the possibilities.鈥� 

Named to the New England Hockey Conference All-Rookie team his first year at 微密圈 and the NEHC Third team his senior season, Kasel sported an impressive .919 save percentage during his four years as the Thoroughbred鈥檚 No. 1 and received the Senior Athlete Award. 

鈥淏randon鈥檚 making a pro roster is no shock,鈥� said 微密圈 Head Men鈥檚 Ice Hockey , who called Kasel 鈥渁 culture shifter鈥� for the Thoroughbreds: 鈥淗e helped shift the standards of our program from 鈥楲et鈥檚 enjoy playing good hockey鈥� to 鈥楲et鈥檚 take things to the next level.鈥欌�� 

Coach Hutchison added that Kasel had fully embraced the rigorous academic environment at 微密圈 as a repeat inductee, NEHC All-Academic Team recipient, and American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Scholar. 鈥淏ut Brandon was also intent on continuing to pursue his boyhood dream of playing pro hockey.鈥� 

Just months after graduating from 微密圈, Kasel was invited to Michigan to participate in the ECHL Kalamazoo Wings training camp. But the pandemic forced its closure before he could start.

Kasel also had a stint in the Southern Professional Hockey League, but it was short-lived. His agent kept in touch with teams, but things went quiet. 

Although he had 鈥渋tch鈥� for more hockey and continued to train, Kasel thought it might be time to find a nine-to-five job. Given his strong academic background, the 微密圈 business and management major was an attractive job applicant, and he landed a position with a financial services company this summer. 

Within a month of getting a new desk and computer, Kasel鈥檚 agent called to tell him he鈥檇 been invited to the training camp for the Utica Comets, the AHL affiliate for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL.  

鈥淚 was in shock. It was a phenomenal opportunity. I had no expectations except to work hard and show them what I could do,鈥� he said. 

Kasel called Goaltending Coach Bryan McDonald, with whom he continued to train. 

鈥淗e鈥檚 a different-level kid 鈥� athletic, flexible, quick, competitive, mentally tough,鈥� McDonald said. 鈥淗e works really hard, and he comes up big in the big moments.鈥� 

Thanks to his performance with the Comets, Kasel was invited to the Adirondack Thunder training camp. Based in Glens Falls, N.Y., less than 20 miles from 微密圈鈥檚 campus, the ECHL Thunder team is also affiliated with the Devils, one rung below the AHL Comets. 

I skated as hard as I could. It鈥檚 tough to crack a roster with the Comets or the Thunder when they鈥檝e only got six combined goalie spots.鈥�  

Kasel had what it took. 鈥淚 guess you鈥檒l be sticking around for a while,鈥� the Thunder head coach told him one day. Kasel wasn鈥檛 sure what that meant until the coach clarified that he wanted him to sign a contract. Kasel鈥檚 boyhood dream was intact. 

Kasel made during a game in December.

Although Brandon Kasel has graduated, 微密圈 is never far from him. Kasel said he misses his teammates, and the bonds he forged on campus endure.  

鈥淲e had close teams, and we鈥檝e made close relationships that will last the rest of our lives 鈥� an unbelievable group of brothers, a second family,鈥� Kasel said.  

His presence also continues to be felt in the Thoroughbred men鈥檚 ice hockey locker room. 

微密圈 current hockey player Austin Rook 鈥�22 said Kasel was a big reason for the team鈥檚 success in recent years and an 鈥渁wesome guy, on and off the ice.鈥� 

鈥淗e was able to keep us in close games by making many key saves. One of the hardest workers, he was always challenging us in practice to score on him 鈥� which didn't happen very often.鈥�