Olimb Releases 2022-23 Recruiting Class
MOORHEAD, Minn. (7/06/22)---Concordia head coach Kirk Olimb announced the incoming class for the 2022-23 season.
The class features five players who played in high school state tournaments, three college transfers and a pair of players who played for Olimb with the Willmar Warhawks.
"We're extremely excited about our recruiting class for the upcoming season," Olimb said. "This group is fantastic both on the ice and off. Each student-athlete brings something slightly different to the team, but all bring a great work ethic, exceptional character, and are going to be tremendous additions to our team and Concordia College as a whole."
The nine new Concordia student-athletes will join a program that has made the MIAC playoffs for nine consecutive seasons. The Cobbers were MIAC runners-up in the 2021-22 regular season at 10-4-2 and finished with an overall record of 13-10-3.
"We feel this group can help push us over the edge to compete for an MIAC Championship, and that's exactly what we plan to do, as each player has experienced a large amount of success throughout their careers at the different levels they've played," Olimb added.
Below is the complete list of the Concordia men's hockey 2022-23 recruiting class:
Bauer Barry
Hometown/Last Team: Chaska, Minn./Aberdeen Wings (NAHL) & New Ulm Steel (NA3HL)
Position: Defense
Honors: MSHSL Section 2AA Runner-Up, Chaska HS Student-Athlete Award for Hockey and GPA.
Stats: Played in 49 games for New Ulm and Aberdeen in 2021-22 and finished with 5 goals and 16 assists
Personal: Son of Dana and David Barry. Plans to major in Business.
Tal Halliday
Hometown/Last Team: Roseau, Minn./Granite City Lumberjacks (NA3HL)
Position: Defense
Honors: 2022 NA3HL Fraser Cup All-Tournament Team, 2022 NA3HL West Division Champions, Assistant Captain for Roseau HS and Granite City.
Stats: Played in 51 games for Granite City in 2021-22 and had 15 goals and 36 assists for 51 points
Personal: Son of Kristin and Jay Hodny and Chris Halliday. Plans to major in Biology.
Liam Haslam
Hometown/Last Team: Toronto, Ont./Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights (NAHL)/Oswego State Lakers (NCAA DIII)
Position: Defense
Honors: Oswego State Dean's List 2021-22, AHCA Academic All-American, Assistant Captain for Brantford 99ers (OJHL).
Stats: Played in 11 games at Oswego and had two assists. Played in 47 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2019-20 and had six goals and 17 assists for 23 points.
Personal: Son of Corry Haslam and Dave Haslam. Plans to major in Psychology.
Hudson Hodges
Hometown/Last Team: Moorhead, Minn./North Iowa Bulls (NAHL)
Position: Goalie
Honors: 2020 Frank Brimsek Award Winner for top goaltender in the state of MN, 2019 and 2020 Section 8AA MSHSL Champions.
Stats: Played in three games for North Iowa in 2021-22 and went 1-1-0. Played in 16 games for the Austin Bruins in 2021-22 and had a 2.74 GAA and was 9-5-1
Personal: Son of Kent and Heidi Hodges. Plans to major in Business Management.
Max Johnson
Hometown/Last Team: Grand Forks, N.D./St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL)/Hamline University (NCAA Division III)
Position: Defense
Honors: 2-time SJHL Defenseman of the Week, ND HS All-State, Two-time ND HS State Tournament Participant.
Stats: Played in six games at Hamline and had one goal. Played in 37 games for St. Cloud in 2020-21 and had one goal and four assists.
Personal: Son of Nancy and Steve Johnson. Plans to major in Business.
Ben Luedtke
Hometown/Last Team: Wayzata, Minn./Willmar WarHawks (NA3HL)
Position: Forward
Honors: NA3HL Top Prospects Selection, MSHSL All-Conference Honorable Mention, Captain for Wayzata HS and Willmar, 2-time Hardest Worker Award for Wayzata HS and Hardest Worker Award for Willmar., MSHSL State Soccer Champion.
Stats: Played in 42 games for Willmar in 2021-22 and had 18 goals and 30 assists for 48 points
Personal: Son of Jason and Joy Luedtke. Plans to major in Finance/Data Analytics.
Brady O'Brien
Hometown/Last Team: White Bear Lake, Minn./Willmar WarHawks (NA3HL)
Position: Defense
Honors: HS Magna Cum Laude, "A"-Honor Roll 2017-2020, 2018 White Bear Lake Most Improved Player, 2020 White Bear Lake Leadership & Most Determined Player Awards, MSHSL All-Conference, MSHSL All-Academic Team 2018-2020, 2019 MSHSL State Tournament Participant, 2-time Captain at White Bear Lake HS and Willmar, lettered in soccer, hockey and track & field in HS, 2021 Hardest Worker and 2022 MVP Player Awards for Willmar.
Stats: Played in 47 games for Willmar in 2021-22 and had six goals and 33 assists for 39 points
Personal: Son of Matt and Kristi O'Brien. Plans to major in Mathematical Finance.
Caden Triggs
Hometown/Last Team: Moorhead, Minn./Kenai River Brown Bears (NAHL)
Position: Forward
Honors: 2-time Section 8AA MSHSL Champion.
Stats: Played in 47 games for Kenai in 2021-22 and had 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points
Personal: Son ofSara Vinje and Chris Triggs. Plans to major in Business.
Jack Westlund
Hometown/Last Team: Alexandria, Minn./Minot Minotauros (NAHL)/Gustavus (NCAA DIII)
Position: Forward
Honors: MSHSL All-Tournament Team, All-Section Team, and All-Academic Team, MSHSL State Tournament Runner-Up, Captain for Alexandria HS and Minot.
Stats: Played in 23 games for Gustavus in 2021-22 and had five goals and seven assists for 12 points. Played in 52 games for Minot in 2020-21 and had 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points
Personal: Son of Todd and Tracy Westlund. Plans to major in Finance.