ECHL: An Interview With Adirondack Thunder Forward Chase Brand

The Adirondack Thunder signed two forwards to contracts last Thursday, one of which was 25-year-old center Chase Brand from Nevis, Minnesota. Brand, like most kids from Minnesota, started skating at a young age on a frozen lake in Minnesota. He was just two years old when he first hit the ice, and then two years later, he started playing organized hockey. Chase would spend three years playing the USHL and NAHL before spending five seasons at the NCAA Level, including four years at St.Cloud State University, where he put up 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points in 117 games and would play in the School’s First Ever National Championship game in 2021 against UMass Amherst where they lost 5-0. He would spend his final year of eligibility at Augustana University, where he put up five goals and seven assists for 12 points in 30 games.

“It was unbelievable; it was two hours from my hometown, so it was pretty close. I made a ton of friends who will be friends for life and it’s just a really fun atmosphere playing in the NCHC and being able to play the big schools like North Dakota, Denver, Duluth, and all those big schools and we were lucky enough during my time there we were pretty dang good. Sophomore year went to the National Championship but unfortunately lost but it was an unbelievable run, the next year we made the tournament and then in my senior year we won the NCHC but lost in the game to get to Frozen Four. I had a lot of success there and had a lot of good times as well.”

-Chase Brand on his time at St. Cloud State University

Family Ties To Hockey

Chase wasn’t the only one in his family who played hockey as his older sister McKenna Brand would play four years at Northeastern University, where she put up 56 goals and 55 assists for 111 points in 150 games with the Huskies. McKenna would then play five years with the Boston Pride, where she put up 37 goals and 50 assists for 87 points in 91 games with the Pride. Boston would win back-to-back Isobel Cups in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s awesome. I always looked up to my sister she’s three years older than me so she went to college first and obviously professional and it was awesome to see that and she was lucky enough to win a couple of championships with the Boston Pride before they made that new league”

–Chase Brand on the impact his sister has made on his hockey career so far

Professional Career and What To Expect From Brand on the Ice

After finishing up his final year of Eligibility with the Vikings, Chase signed his first professional contract with the Reading Royals. He played in seven games with the Reading Royals, including two games at the Cool Insuring Arena. Those two games and his time in Adirondack would play a part in his decision to sign with the Thunder. Brand is one of three rookies, along with Ryan Conroy and Alex Young, who are coming into this season with some ECHL experience under their belts.

“It was great. I’m glad I decided to go after my college season. I played five years of college, and jumping into pros, it’s pretty evident that it’s a lot different; you’re playing 72 games as opposed to 36; I think just the physical aspect, you have to learn how to take care of your body, and more travel. The play is just a little bit bigger, faster, and stronger. As a player, it’s just about figuring out where the time and space is and then it’s just playing hockey. I think it was good for me to play those seven games in Reading, and I was fortunate to play in Adirondack and experience that fan base was great.”

-Brand on being able to get a sample size of ECHL hockey before entering his first full season in the league

Heading into next season, Brand isn’t going to be a guy who is going to light up the lamp but is going to be a guy who could see time on both the PK and PP. He is a guy who can play either on the wing or up the middle and has prior experience playing up and down the lineup, which could prove pivotal to the Thunder, depending on injuries and call-ups.

“Hockey wise I’m a two-way guy, I’m probably not going to wow anybody offensively. I’m really good on the PK, I can play on the PP. I can just play up and down the lineup, I played wing and center in college, Ive played everywhere from the first line to the fourth line and I can kind of go up and down the lineup and plug in where needed. One thing they are going to notice is my work ethic; it’s one thing I’ve taken with me everywhere I’ve gone.

-Brand on what fans can expect of him heading into the 2024-25 season