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G Hampton Slukynsky - Western Michigan University, NCAA (2023, 118th, LAK)

Hockeyville USA

Hockeyville USA

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Dec 30, 2023
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Couldn't find a thread on the board, so wanted to start it. Went from best MN HS goalie at small school power Warroad, drafted in the 4th round by the Kings, to best USHL goalie with the Fargo Force, en route to a Clark Cup. Headed to Western Michigan University this fall.

I will say he's going to be Trey Augustine's backup at the 2025 World Junior.
 
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Hockeyville USA said:

Couldn't find a thread on the board, so wanted to start it. Went from best MN HS goalie at small school power Warroad, drafted in the 4th round by the Kings, to best USHL goalie with the Fargo Force, en route to a Clark Cup. Headed to Western Michigan University this fall.

I will say he's going to be Trey Augustine's backup at the 2025 World Junior.
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Been on a rocket ship the last year. Originally was a Northern Michigan commit, changed late to WMU which will be a much better challenge. He’s not some 6-4 giant but he seems to fill the net well enough. I like that he simply has dominated at each level, at each step, with like no “transition” required. Obviously each step gets more challenging but if he makes the next step - I see shades of Swayman - another 4th round pick who had a dominate prep career, had one dominate season in the USHL and then was immediately fantastic for a lower-name NCAA team in a great conference.

Could be a remarkably similar path. Slukynsky doesn’t have quite the frame as Swayman and I am no judge of goalie talent but the trajectory and adaptation ease tells me this kid is underrated and worth a follow.
 
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BKarchitect said:
Been on a rocket ship the last year. Originally was a Northern Michigan commit, changed late to WMU which will be a much better challenge. He’s not some 6-4 giant but he seems to fill the net well enough. I like that he simply has dominated at each level, at each step, with like no “transition” required. Obviously each step gets more challenging but if he makes the next step - I see shades of Swayman - another 4th round pick who had a dominate prep career, had one dominate season in the USHL and then was immediately fantastic for a lower-name NCAA team in a great conference.

Could be a remarkably similar path. Slukynsky doesn’t have quite the frame as Swayman and I am no judge of goalie talent but the trajectory and adaptation ease tells me this kid is underrated and worth a follow.
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Western Michigan will be interesting to follow even more while he's there. Ferschweiler has really turned the program around & turned a bunch of no namers/low profile types into legitimate high end NCAA players (McAllister, Sasson, Polin, Wendt, Grainger, plus resurrected Colangelo's career). Slukynsky should be in a good spot where he won't get peppered every night.
 
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blink said:
Not sure why there isn't more talk about this guy. Big weekend coming up against Michigan.
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A few reasons:

1. Kings fans tend to stay on their team board

2. Kings fans are cautiously optimistic about their prospects, as their last group of top prospects have had mixed results

3. Slukynsky is a Kings prospect, so the (mostly Canadian) hockey media isn't obsessing over him.
 
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Hockeyville USA said:
A few reasons:

1. Kings fans tend to stay on their team board

2. Kings fans are cautiously optimistic about their prospects, as their last group of top prospects have had mixed results

3. Slukynsky is a Kings prospect, so the (mostly Canadian) hockey media isn't obsessing over him.
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Also to the third point. Slukynsky is an American and playing in the NCAA
 
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frontsfan67 said:
Also to the third point. Slukynsky is an American and playing in the NCAA
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He's also playing for a smaller university in Michigan. While there's tons of D1 teams in Michigan, they don't get the love or coverage that the programs in Minnesota and to a bit lesser extent, Massachusetts get, so his results fly under the radar. Especially so at Western Michigan compared to Michigan and Michigan State.

If Slukynsky were doing this at Minnesota, Boston University, North Dakota, or Boston College, it would be headline news in the NCAA hockey world since those programs have bigger hype machines surrounding them.
 
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Hockeyville USA said:

Couldn't find a thread on the board, so wanted to start it. Went from best MN HS goalie at small school power Warroad, drafted in the 4th round by the Kings, to best USHL goalie with the Fargo Force, en route to a Clark Cup. Headed to Western Michigan University this fall.

I will say he's going to be Trey Augustine's backup at the 2025 World Junior.
Click to expand...
Maybe wasn't the hottest take at the time, but looks like I'm going to be right on this one. Slukynsky rightfully earning his spot.
 
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A miracle that won't happen but I would love for he and his brother to transfer to the Gophers next year. Heck bring Alex Bump too lol.

What a choke by the Gophers to not pursue all of them when they went into the portal.
 
Bonin21 said:
A miracle that won't happen but I would love for he and his brother to transfer to the Gophers next year. Heck bring Alex Bump too lol.

What a choke by the Gophers to not pursue all of them when they went into the portal.
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I honestly think it's a bigger choke by North Dakota to not recruit Slukynsky right away in their backyard at Warroad nor bring him & his brother in once it was clear they wouldn't be at Northern Michigan for 2024-25.

Bump was definitely a Gophers choke for sure.
 
Freaking love this kid and he's fun to follow and watch. Sneaky good prospect. His biggest 'problem' is not having prototypical NHL size, I know it's a while off but excited to watch his development as he hits pro levels where the average player can consistently find the holes. His senses and reflexes should cover it, but that will be the real tell on how far he can go.
 
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Is playing in a tandem with Rowe helping or hindering his development? The Broncos are one of the top teams in college hockey.
 
Great sign to see him lock it down after those two BU goals.

I don't know if it's those dark black/brown? pants, but he seemed to have trouble locating loose pucks that we're in his pads. Of course, those types of goals also begin to become more common the higher the stakes become as well.
 
Hockeyville USA said:
National f***ing Champion. What a year, what a goalie, Kings have a good one coming.
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He was very meh, looked like a freshman in a lot of games, but got bailed out big time by a stud of a team with a ton of older guys on it. Next year will be a big year for him because WMU will lose a ton of talent and he swims too much in the net for my liking. He's going to have to clean that up if he wants to turn pro. There is still a lot to like here though, but a bit too raw atm.
 
S E P H said:
He was very meh, looked like a freshman in a lot of games, but got bailed out big time by a stud of a team with a ton of older guys on it. Next year will be a big year for him because WMU will lose a ton of talent and he swims too much in the net for my liking. He's going to have to clean that up if he wants to turn pro. There is still a lot to like here though, but a bit too raw atm.
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You saw him play a lot more than me so I'll defer to your opinion.

But watching him in the semifinal against Denver his game was very composed and under control. Clearly, playing behind the Broncos was to his advantage.

But he seems to be on a good path in terms of development.
 
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