NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX — Brahmas forward and alternate captain Austin Kamer has announced his commitment to Michigan State University to play NCAA Division I hockey. Kamer is the ninth Brahma this season to commit to a DI school.
An all-around forward with good size (6-foot-0, 185 pounds) who does everything the right way, Kamer’s commitment to Michigan State shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“He’s a very good hockey player,” Head Coach Dan Wildfong said. “He comes makes a lot of good hockey decisions, a lot of high percentage decisions. That’s going to translate to the college level. A lot of times, people want the flash or the guy that tries to dangle through a defender. Kamer’s going to drive you wide, delay, hit the late guy on the tape or make the smart chip-in. I think he’s going to find a lot of success in Division I because of what he’s done for us all year.”
Kamer had himself a very solid year in his first and only NAHL season. A tender signing from the BCHL, Kamer put up 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points in 57 games. He also represented the South Division at the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, where he registered a goal and an assist in two games played.
He’s also been a steady force in the Robertson Cup Playoffs, with a goal and four assists in eight games.
Kamer has been just as important to this team off the ice as he’s been on it. Serving as an alternate captain, Kamer quickly earned the respect of his teammates and coaching staff and has been an important voice in the room all season long.
“It’s just nice to see good things happen to good people, to guys that work hard,” Wildfong said.
For his part, the Grand Rapids native is delighted to be headed back to his home state to play high-calibre college hockey. “[Michigan State] is close to home, it’s a great school and a great program too so I’m really excited to be a part of it.”
“This is the closest I’ve played to home in the last five years, so everyone is just really excited,” he added. “I’ll definitely have some fans come out to the games.”
While it put him far from home, coming to Texas to play hockey has paid off in spades for Kamer, who credits Wildfong with helping him reach the next level. “I’ve never really had someone coach as detailed as Dan does, and I think that really helped. Having him coach me throughout the whole year helped me make the jump and make the commitment.”
Kamer also credits his linemates in particular, as he’s spent all season playing with Peter Kessel and Drake Glover. “It’s been great to play with two great players all year,” he said.
With Kamer’s commitment, that entire line is now set to play college hockey in the fall. (Kessel will be at the College of the Holy Cross and Glover will be returning to his home state as well, suiting up for the University of Alaska – Anchorage.)
He went on to say that he would also like to thank his family, his advisor David Maciuk, and all of the people who have supported him in his journey thus far.
Kamer will attend Michigan State this fall, where he plans to study engineering. “I want to go into chemical engineering, and they have that program, so that was something I was definitely interested in,” he said.
Before that, though, there’s still work to be done as a Brahma. “[The commitment] definitely took longer than hoped,” he said, smiling, “But it couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s definitely nice to have that sigh of relief and be ready to refocus for the championship.”