St. Cloud State Alum in the NHL

St. Cloud State has many hockey players who have gone on to play at the professional level, including nine players currently in the NHL.

Will Borgen (2015-18) – Defenseman Will Borgen spent three seasons at St. Cloud State before he started his professional career. Borgen played in 106 games as a Husky where he had five goals and 36 assists for 41 points. He had 164 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +30.

In the 2015-16 season, Borgen and St. Cloud State were the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Champions and he was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. In the 2017-18 season, Borgen was name the NCHC’s Best Defensive Defenseman and received an honorable mention on the NCHC All-Star Team. Borgen and St. Cloud State were also the NCHC Regular Season Champions in the 2017-18 season.

In the 2015-16 season, Borgen joined Team USA in the U20 World Juniors. In seven games, Borgen had three assists with two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +6. Borgen and Team USA ended up taking home bronze.

Borgen was a fourth-round draft pick for the Buffalo Sabres in the 2015 draft. While he started his professional career in the AHL, Borgen spent most of his career in the NHL. In 214 NHL games, Borgen has eight goals and 45 assists, scoring 53 points. He has 144 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2. Borgen has also played in 14 playoff games, where he has one goal and two assists for three points with eight penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -6.

Borgen is now with the Seattle Kraken where he has spent the three previous seasons. In the 2023-24 season, Borgen played in all 82 regular season games, where he had three goals and 22 assists for 25 points. He had 65 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -5.

The 2024-25 season will be Borgen’s sixth season in the NHL. Borgen’s current NHL contract with the Kraken ends after the 2024-25 season.

Jonny Brodzinski (2012-15) – Forward Jonny Brodzinski spent three seasons with St. Cloud State playing in a total of 120 games where he had 64 goals and 48 assists for 112 points. He had 75 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +42.

In the 2013-14 season, Brodzinski and St. Cloud State were the NCHC Regular Season Champions. In the 2014-15 season, Brodzinski was named to the NCHC First All-Star Team. Brodzinski had 28 multi-point games at St. Cloud State, including two hat tricks. He led St. Cloud in goals in his freshman and junior seasons and led the team in points in his sophomore season. In his junior season, Brodzinski led the team in powerplay goals with 11.

Brodzinski was drafted in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2013 draft. Brodzinski has split his time in the AHL and NHL. In his nine AHL seasons, Brodzinski has played in 313 games, where he has 126 goals and 141 assists for 267 points. He has 159 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +47. In 18 AHL playoff games, Brodzinski has six goals and six assists with six penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1. In his NHL time, he has played in 158 games where he has 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points. He has 40 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +7. In four NHL playoff games, Brodzinski has zero points with two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. Brodzinski has captained the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL the last three seasons and was an assistant captain in the 2020-21 season.

In the 2023-24 season, Brodzinski played in 16 games with Hartford, where he had 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. He had four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +8. Brodzinski also played in 57 games with the New York Rangers, where he had six goals and 13 assists for 19 points. He had eight penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -3.

The 2024-25 season will be Brodzinski’s ninth season in the NHL and tenth season in professional hockey. His current NHL contract ends after the 2025-26 season.

Nic Dowd (2010-2014) – Forward Nic Dowd spent four seasons at St. Cloud State University. In 154 NCAA games, Dowd had 52 goals and 69 assists for 121 points. He had 143 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +26.

In the 2010-11 season, Dowd was named WCHA Rookie of the Week twice and was also the MVP of the 2010 Florida College Hockey Classic. Dowd was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons. Dowd helped the Huskies earn their first Frozen Four appearance in the 2012-13 season, where they lost 4-1 to Quinnipiac in the semifinals. In the 2013-14 season, Dowd was named the NCHC’s Best Defensive Forward, Scholar Athlete of the Year, NCHC Offensive Player of the Week, and he was named to the NCHC’s First All-Star Team. Dowd was named a Hobey Baker Finalist and was named to the NCAA West First All-American Team. Dowd was a Hockey Humanitarian Award Nominee, an award given to a college hockey player who gives back to their community off the ice through leadership in volunteerism. He was also a Senior CLASS Award Nominee, an award given to a college hockey player who shows leadership, athletic achievements, and work ethic. Nic Dowd and the Huskies were also the NCHC Regular Season Champions. He also shared captaincy with Kevin Gravel in the 2013-14 season.

Nic Dowd was drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 draft by the Los Angeles Kings. He spent parts of three seasons in the AHL before finding his spot in the NHL, where he has spent time with the Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, and Washington Capitals. In 500 NHL games, Dowd has 70 goals and 79 assists for 149 points. He has 251 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +15.

In the 2023-24 season with the Capitals, Dowd played in 64 games where he had 12 goals and ten assists for 22 points. He had 47 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2. In 30 playoff games, Dowd has four goals and one assist with 24 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -7.

The 2024-25 season will be Dowd’s 11th season in the NHL and seventh with the Capitals. His current NHL contract ends after the 2024-25 season.

Michael Eyssimont (2015-18) – Forward Michael Eyssimont spent three seasons as a Husky, playing in 115 games where he had 45 goals and 57 assists for 102 points. He had 70 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +18.

Eyssimont finished his career at SCSU with 44 blocks, 369 shots, 16 powerplay goals, ten game winning goals, 25 games with five or more shots, two games with ten or more shots, 28 multi-point games, and eight games with three or more points. In the 2015-16 season, Eyssimont and the Huskies were the NCHC Champions. Eyssimont was also named to the NCHC All-Tournament Team and was named the Tournament MVP. In the 2016-17 season, he was given an Honorable Mention for the NCHC All-Star Team and was named to the Second All-Star Team in the 2017-18 season. Eyssimont and the Huskies were the NCHC Regular Season Champions in the 2017-18 season as well.

Eyssimont was a fifth-round draft pick for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2016 NHL Draft. He has split his professional career between the AHL and the NHL. In the AHL, he has played for the Ontario Reign and Manitoba Moose. Through 229 games, Eyssimont had 51 goals and 66 assists for 117 points with 283 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +6. Eyssimont has spent his NHL time with the Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, and Tampa Bay Lightning. In 136 NHL games, Eyssimont has 16 goals and 24 assists for 40 points. He has 167 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +10. In eight NHL playoff games, Eyssimont had one goal and one assist for two points with two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1.

Eyssimont has also played for Team USA at Worlds the past two seasons. In 17 games at Worlds, he has two goals and two assists for four points with 29 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.

In the 2023-24 season with Tampa Bay, he played in 81 games, where he had 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. He had 104 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +7.

The 2024-25 season will be Eyssimont’s third season with the Tampa Bay Lightning and fourth season in the NHL. Eyssimont’s current contract ends after the 2024-25 season.

Nick Jensen (2010-13) – Defenseman Nick Jensen spent three seasons at St. Cloud State, where he played in 118 games. He had 15 goals and 71 assists for 86 points with 36 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +28.

In the 2011-12 season, Jensen was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team and the Third All-Star Team. In the 2012-13 season, Jensen was named the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team and First All-Star Team. He was also named to the NCAA West First All-American Team.

Nick Jensen was a fifth-round draft pick in the 2009 NHL draft for the Detroit Red Wings. He has played in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL, but he has spent most of his career in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, and now the Ottawa Senators. In his eight NHL seasons, Jensen has played in 562 games, where he had 19 goals and 115 assists for 134 points. He has 136 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +17. In 27 NHL playoff games, he has zero points with ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -9.

In the 2017-18 season, Jensen played at Worlds with Team USA. In ten games, Jensen had one goal and three assists for four points. Jensen and Team USA ended the tournament with a bronze medal.

In the 2023-24 season, Jensen played in 78 games with the Capitals where he had one goal and 13 assists for 14 points. He had ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -9.

The 2024-25 season will be Jensen’s ninth NHL season and first season with the Ottawa Senators. Jensen’s current NHL contract ends after the 2025-26 season.

Charlie Lindgren (2013-16) – Goaltender Charlie Lindgren spent three seasons at St. Cloud State. In 88 games with the Huskies, Lindgren had 4892 minutes on ice with a record of 51-29-3 with eight shutouts. Lindgren faced 2281 shots in the Huskies’ net where he had 2101 saves and 180 goals against for a save percentage of .921 and a 2.21 goals against average.

Lindgren and the Huskies were the NCHC Regular Season Champions in the 2013-14 season and Lindgren was also named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. Lindgren was given an Honorable Mention for the NCHC All-Star Team and was named to the NCHC All-Tournament Team in the 2014-15 season. In the 2015-16 season, Lindgren and the Huskies were the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Champions. Lindgren was also named to the NCHC All-Tournament Team, NCHC First All-Star Team, NCAA West First All-American Team, and he was named the NCHC Goaltender of the Year.

Charlie Lindgren has split his professional career between the AHL and NHL. In the AHL, Lindgren played for the St. John’s IceCaps/Laval Rocket and Springfield Thunderbirds. Lindgren has spent parts of six seasons in the AHL, playing in 171 games for 9961 minutes on ice with a record of 76-65-28 including 11 shutouts. Lindgren had 456 goals against and 4235 saves on 4691 shots for a save percentage of .903 and 2.75 goals against average. In 12 playoff games, Lindgren had 767 minutes on ice with a record of 6-6-0 with one shutout. He faced 398 shots where he had 365 saves and 33 goals against for a save percentage of .917 and an average of 2.58 goals against.

In the NHL, Lindgren has played for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, and now the Washington Capitals. Lindgren has played in 110 NHL games where he has 6231 minutes on ice with a record of 53-39-12 with eight shutouts. He has 2883 save and 290 goals against on 3173 shots for a save percentage of .909 and a goals against average of 2.79.

Lindgren has also spent time representing the red, white, and blue at Worlds in the 2017-18 and 2023-24 seasons. In two games played Lindgren had 118 minutes on ice with a record of 1-1-0. On 58 shots faces, he had 54 saves and four goals against for an average of 2.03 goals against and a save percentage of .931. Lindgren and Team USA brought home the bronze medal in the 2017-18 season.

In the 2023-24 season, Lindgren played in 50 games for the Washington Capitals where he had 2852 minutes on ice for a record of 25-16-7 with six shutouts. He faced 1431 shots where he had 127 goals against and 1304 saves for a save percentage of .911 and a goals against average of 2.67.

The 2024-25 season will be Lindgren’s third season with the Washington Capitals and ninth season in the NHL. His current NHL contract ends after the 2024-25 season.

Blake Lizotte (2017-19) – Forward Blake Lizotte spent two seasons at St. Cloud State before starting his professional career. In 76 games as a Husky, Lizotte had 22 goals and 47 assists for 69 points. He had 48 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +44. Lizotte had 18 multipoint games while at St. Cloud and had a total of 128 shots.

Lizotte and the Huskies were the NCHC Regular Season Champions in the 2017-18 season and Lizotte was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. In the 2018-19 season, Lizotte was named to the NCHC All-Tournament Team, NCHC First All-Star Team, and the NCAA West Second All-American Team. Lizotte and the Huskies were once again the NCHC Regular Season Champions.

Lizotte has spent the last six seasons playing at the professional. He spent one game in the AHL with the Ontario Reign and has spent the rest of his time in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings. In 320 NHL games, Lizotte has 37 goals and 69 assists for 106 points with 154 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +34. Lizotte played in 62 games with the Kings in the 2023-24 season where he had seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. He had 20 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +11.

Lizotte has signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2024-25 season, but is currently out with an injury and it is unknown when he will be back on the ice.

The 2024-25 season will be Lizotte’s seventh season in the NHL and first season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His current NHL contract ends after the 2025-26 season.

Nick Perbix (2018-22) – Defenseman Nick Perbix spent four seasons at St. Cloud State where he played in 135 games. He had 22 goals and 67 assists for 89 points with 71 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +23.

Perbix ended his time as a Husky with 161 blocks including 20 games where he had more than three blocks and three games where he had five. He had 16 multipoint games with four games where he had three or more points. Perbix had four assists against North Dakota in their 8-1 win on December 3, 2021 and had one goal and five assists against Miami Ohio in their 11-1 win on January 21, 2022. Perbix had a total of 219 shots including six games where he had five or more shots.

Perbix and the Huskies were the NCHC Regular Season Champions in the 2018-19 season and Perbix was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team. IN the 2020-21 season, Perbix was named to the NCHC All-Tournament Team, NCHC Second All-Star Team, and USCHO Third Team. He was also named to the NCHC First All-Star Team in the 2021-22 season.

Perbix has spent the last three seasons in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch and in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 14 games with the Crunch, Perbix had two goals and six assists for eight points with two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -3. In 146 NHL games with the Lightning, Perbix has seven goals and 37 assists for 44 points. He has 32 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +19.

In the 2021-22 season, Perbix joined Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics. In four games, Perbix had one assist and a plus/minus of +3. Perbix also played for Team USA at Worlds in 2023 and had four points (two goals and two assists) in ten games, along with two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +10.

In the 2023-24 season, Perbix played in 77 games with the Lightning where he had two goals and 22 assists for 24 points. He had ten penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +8.

The 2024-25 season will be Perbix’s third season in the NHL and third season with the Lightning. His current NHL contract ends after the 2024-25 season.

Ryan Poehling (2016-19) – Forward Ryan Poehling spent three seasons at St. Cloud State where he played in 107 games. Poehling had 29 goals and 46 assists for 75 points with 76 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +8.

Ryan Poehling and the Huskies were the NCHC Regular Season Champions in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Poehling was also named to the NCHC First All-Star Team in the 2018-19 season.

Poehling has also played for Team USA at World Juniors, both U18 and U20. In the 2016-17 season with the U18 team, Poehling played in seven games where he had three goals and two assists for five points with six penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +4. Poehling and Team USA ended up bringing home gold.

Poehling played on the U20 team in the 2017-18 and 18-19 seasons. He played in a total of 14 games where he had six goals and five assists for 11 points with two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +5. In 2017-18, Poehling and Team USA brought home Bronze and then brought home silver in the 2018-19 season. In the 2018-19 U20 World Juniors, Poehling was named the U20 World Junior Championship (WJC) Best Forward, WJC Most Valuable Player, WJC Top three Player on Team USA, and was named to the WJC All-Star Team.

Poehling was drafted in the first round by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL draft. He has spent his professional career playing in the AHL with the Laval Rocket and in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Philadelphia Flyers. In 71 AHL games, Poehling had 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points with eight penalty minutes. In 215 NHL games, Poehling has 31 goals and 33 assists for 64 points. He has 24 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -35.

In the 2023-24 season, Poehling played in 77 games with the Philadelphia Flyers where he had 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points. He had six penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -11.

The 2024-25 season will be Poehling’s sixth season in the NHL and second season with the Philadelphia Flyers. Poehling’s current NHL contract ends after the 2025-26 season.