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Hawks Forward Picks Minnesota State University, Mankato
Wednesday June 13, 2012
Mike Huntebrinker helped the Waterloo Black Hawks reach the Clark Cup Final series this spring. (photo by Steph Regenold)
The Waterloo Black Hawks announced that forward Mike Huntebrinker has committed to play college hockey at Minnesota State University, Mankato beginning in the fall of 2013.
The 19-year-old recorded 34 points (17g, 17a) in 54 regular season games during his first USHL season and was tied for fourth on the team with 17 goals. Huntebrinker tallied 18 of his points (10g, 8a) and a plus-eight rating over his last 13 games of the season, which included a five-game goal streak from March 25th to April 6th. He had seven multi-point games during that stretch and helped Waterloo post an 11-2-0 record in those contests. The Chesterfield, Missouri native continued his solid play during the postseason as he recorded 10 points (4g, 6a) and a plus-six rating in 13 playoff games as the Black Hawks reached the Clark Cup Final series.
“We asked Mike to do a lot of different things last season. He rose to the occasion and was an important contributor when we needed more scoring near the end of the year,” said Black Hawks head coach P.K. O’Handley. “Black Hawks fans should be excited for Mike, and excited to have him back for another season.”
Huntebrinker was selected by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the third round (39th overall) of the 2011 USHL Entry Draft.
When the forward enrolls at Minnesota State University, Mankato, he will join Black Hawks teammate Stephon Williams who begins his collegiate career this fall as a goaltender for the Mavericks. Three other USHL players from the 2011-12 season are also committed to play hockey at the school; Dan Carlson (Sioux Falls Stampede), Eli May (Tri-City Storm), and Dylan Margonari (Youngstown Phantoms).
Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of the WCHA and had 16 USHL alumni this season; J.P. Burkemper (Fargo/Des Moines), Cameron Cooper (Tri-City Storm), Michael Dorr (Des Moines Buccaneers), Tyler Elbrecht (Omaha Lancers), Chase Grant (Fargo Force), Eriah Hayes (Waterloo Black Hawks), Daniel Heath (Des Moines/Tri-City), Zach Lehrke (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Corey Leivermann (Fargo Force), Joe Schiller (Green Bay Gamblers), Eli Zucker (Tri-City Storm), Zach Palmquist (Waterloo Black Hawks), Max Gaede (Sioux City Musketeers), J.P. LaFontaine (Green Bay Gamblers), Matt Leitner (Fargo Force), and Brett Stern (Green Bay Gamblers).
Huntebrinker is one of the first recruits for recently hired Mike Hastings, who was named the school’s new head coach in April. Hastings is the USHL’s all-time leader in coaching victories (529) as he coached the Omaha Lancers for 14 seasons (1994-2008). Also on the coaching staff are Darren Blue, who played in the USHL for two seasons with the Des Moines Buccaneers (1989-91), and Tod Knott, who played for the Lincoln Stars (1998-99) and spent four seasons in coaching roles in the League, including being the head coach of the Sioux City Musketeers during the 2008-09 season.
USHL stats - Mike Huntebrinker
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the USHL celebrates its 10th season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league in 2011-12. With 28 picks during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, 13 NHL draftees on its rosters this season, and over 270 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools this season, the USHL is emerging as the world’s foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.USHL.com or visit the League’s multiple social media platforms, including Facebook (www.facebook.com/ushlhockey), twitter (www.twitter.com/ushl), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/ushlinteractive). Fans can also watch USHL action online all season long, live or on-demand via FASTHockey (ushl.fasthockey.com)
It’s not just hockey. It’s the USHL.
