Over the weekend, Brahmas goaltender Jake Kupsky committed to play for reigning NCAA National Champions Union College next season. Kupsky becomes the fourth player from this year’s squad who is already committed to play NCAA DI hockey.
“It’s a dream come true,” Kupsky said. “My whole life, my goal was to play Division I hockey and to achieve it with a school like union, it is an amazing feeling I can't put to words and I might not ever be able to.”
Kupsky, a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, has dominated in his first season playing junior hockey. Through ten games this season, Kupsky has an 8-0-1 record, 1.80 goals against average and a .923 save percentage.
Head coach Dan Wildfong is confident that his 6-foot-5, 210-pound backstop will continue to put on a show for Union Hockey.
“It’s fantastic for Jake. Not only a good goalie, but a good person. It’s nice to see things happen to him when he works hard,” Wildfong said. “He came in here and he produced and he got what he came here to do: get a DI scholarship. He wants to win a [Robertson Cup] championship as well.”
Kupsky walks into a winning program that has a history of developing Midwest goaltenders and getting them to the NHL. Troy Grosenick from Brookfield, Wisconsin had 39 career collegiate wins and a .925 save percentage as a Dutchmen. He won his first NHL game with the San Jose Sharks this year. Also, former Union hockey star and goalie Keith Kincaid plays for the New Jersey Devils organization.
After signing his contract to play at Union next year, Kupsky had a moment to reflect on his journey.
“I just can't thank all the people enough along the way who have helped me reach my goal,” Kupsky said. “Hockey has definitely had its ups and downs but with the right people beside me, always pushing me and giving me the confidence I needed, I knew one day I could reach that goal of playing Division I hockey.”
That goal will come true in 2015 when Kupsky will don a garnet jersey opposed to the purple of the Brahmas.
Even before the Brahmas, Kupsky was a game changer between the pipes. Playing two seasons for Waukesha Wings high school, he won 76 percent of his games and posted a .943 career save percentage with 20 shutouts.
With those kind of statistics, the Brahmas netminder was drawing attention from other Division I programs, but he said Union was the right choice for him.
“When it came down to making a decision, everything just felt right about going with Union. Everything from what they're about on the ice to the school itself. I felt I could call it home and really enjoy it there,” Kupsky said.
Before Kupsky moves out to the northeast, he will continue to call Texas his home.
This press release is brought to you by our official Emergency Room, First Choice Emergency Room. Come by First Choice Emergency Room in North Richland Hills Tuesday November 25th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm and meet some of your favorite Brahma players who will be there along with our faithful mascot, Mongo collecting canned goods for the Community Enrichment Center. For every donation you make we are giving out ticket vouchers. "The Community Enrichment Center does a fantastic job helping those in our area who are in need, and so we feel it is important to support them, especially as we enter the holiday season," Lone Star Brahmas Vice President Chad Siewert said.
