MD1's Brad Kobryn Makes Professional Debut with SPHL's Huntsville Havoc

[I wrote a more concise edition article for the sport section of The College World at Adrian College for the Nov. 12th issue. Because I felt like the 500 word article had the potentional to be much more and be read by many more readers, I am posting it here on my blog before the shorter version is published by the College World this Monday.]

A little over a year ago, I wrote an article titled Having a Record Year after former MD1 powerhouse Brad Kobryn broke his third all-time school record in the calendar year. It would appear to anyone reading said article that the former MD1 assistant captain certainly was having a record year in the 12 months between October of 2016 and October of 2017, but the year that followed the article may have been even bigger for the four time All-American.

Since breaking his third all-time school record in October of 2017, Kobryn now has his name on four different career point and goal records after breaking the Adrian Hockey program's record for points in a career on February 2nd, 2018. He followed it up with the game-winning goal in the final five minutes of the GLCHL Playoff Championship game on February 24th. To close out his career in an Adrian sweater, Kobryn would notch 2 goals in the final frame of the National Championship game on March 13th, 2018 to make him the second leading goal scorer in the history of the ACHA. He would top off his career with his fourth All-American nod in April, a first for any Adrian College Hockey player in the 11 season history of the program. He was also named a finalist for the 2018 Player of the Year award after being named the ACHA MD1 Player of the Year twice prior in 2015 and 2017. His 167 career goals is 65 more than the second leading goal scorer in the programs history and 67 more than the second leading goal scorer in team history. His 255 points put him 25 points above the program's second leading point getter and 59 above the team's second leading point getter.

Like I said over a year ago, there's something special about Brad Kobryn. It was clear from the time he stepped on the ice for his first two games in September 2014 when he put up 6 goals in his first two games as an Adrian College Bulldog. As a long time Adrian College Hockey fan who had seen many great players come through the program, I knew the first time I saw him play, that he was going to leave a significant mark on the Adrian College Hockey program.

Fast forward to 2018 and after a historic four year career with the ACHA Men’s D1 team , Kobryn, who rightfully earned the title of the most prolific goal scorer in the history of the program, would make the jump to the professional ranks. This summer, the Huntsville Havoc, the reigning SPHL champions, announced that they had signed him to a professional tryout contract and he would be attending their training camp in October.

“It was a great feeling to have signed with the Havoc,” said Kobryn this November, “I never really thought a club player would be able to tryout out or even sign with a pro team. I never considered myself to be a pro caliber player so it was nice to have accomplished that goal of signing with a pro team and the league champions from the previous year. As a club player coming to the Havoc tryouts I felt like a bit of an underdog just due to the fact that it’s pro hockey and that I’m competing against NCAA D1 and D3 players,” added Kobryn, who was one of two former ACHA players at camp, “They have a lot talent here and I’m proud to be making the jump from club to pro hockey.”

Kobryn, a native of Hamilton, Ontario, was named to the Huntsville Havoc’s roster after completing training camp with the team in early October. He made his professional debut on October 19th against the Birmingham Bulls and has since racked up 2 assists and two penalties in the first four games of the season.

Kobryn was one of six members of the Class of 2018, who cemented their legacy as as the winningest class of players in the history of the MD1 team. Not only was this group of six players a phenomenal group of players on and off the ice, but all six members of the Class of 2018 were a very tight knit group.

“It was certainly different competing without Fish [Justin Fisher], Hosk [Josh Hosking], Army [Zach Armstrong], Arch [Archie McKinnon] and Rodes [Austyn Roudebush] after 4 years of being with them and playing together. Those are four years that I’ll never forget,” said Kobryn of how it felt to be on the ice with a new team, “To be on the ice for my first pro game was incredible. The atmosphere was something that you don’t get to experience in college. I was glad to make the opening night roster and to be a part of that night.”

Kobryn and the Havoc will play their first home game of the 2018-19 season this coming Friday at 8:00 pm EST.

"Having one of the greatest ACHA D1 players of all time was very special,” said MD1 Head Coach Gary Astalos, who coached Kobryn for two seasons, “Brad was a great player to coach as he competed every time he stepped on the ice while also being a huge part of helping build our program into what it is today. I am very excited to follow Brad's professional hockey career."

Four years have now gone by since Kobryn stepped on the ice for the first time as an Adrian College Bulldog and he may no longer be wearing an Adrian sweater, but I stand by my statement no matter what jersey he wears. He will continue to be something special on the ice no matter where he is playing and will still leaves a mark on the Adrian College Hockey program.

Because once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.