Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky has gone from a hometown of 1,800 to a national stage after backstopping Western Michigan to a 3-2 overtime win at the Frozen Four on Thursday afternoon. He and his Broncos teammates will now play for the NCAA title on Saturday.
Selected by Los Angeles at the 2023 NHL Draft, Slukynsky has consistently seen his stock on a meteoric rise over the past few years. After the Warroad, MN native was named the top High School Netminder during his draft year, he went on to claim Goalie of the Year honors in the USHL last season (as well as the league championship with Fargo). Back in January, Slukynsky earned a gold medal with Team USA at the World Junior Championship, only to more recently be named as a nominee for Goaltender of the Year in the NCHC — on the strength of a conference-best 2.04 goals against average. He also finished the regular season with a 10-3-1 record and a .915 save percentage.
Nicknamed ‘Hammer’ as a child, Slukynsky had the Broncos up 2-0 after 40 minutes in Western Michigan’s first trip to the Frozen Four in school history. They’ve been on a roll of late too, having won the conference regular season title and then the post-season conference tournament. The latter came in double OT over Denver.
So coming into their semifinal game today, all signs pointed to an instant classic. Denver was the defending national champion, and this was the third straight meeting between the teams that needed more than 60 minutes to determine a winner.
DU won a 3-2 affair back in early December. However, Western had won 4-3 in the previously referenced tournament finally just a few weeks ago. Curiously, that game had a reverse script from their rematch on Thursday. That night, Denver led 3-0 after 40 minutes, only to see Western tie it up in the third and then Hampton’s brother Grant scored in overtime to claim victory.
Back to the Frozen Four…
Heading into the third period, history seemed to be on Western’s side, as Denver was 0-6-1 when trailing after two periods this season.
Not so fast, though. About five minutes into the final frame of regulation, Western came up empty on a power play. Had the scored with the man advantage, it most likely would have been enough to ride out into a win. Instead, DU followed up the successful PK with first goal of the night, leaving the Pioneers trailing 2-1. Then, with just 2:40 left on the clock, fellow Kings prospect Jared Wright tied it up for Denver after a scramble in front of Slukynsky.
Because the goal game with a number of players in and around the crease, it was reviewed — but to no avail. All the momentum Western had built over the first 40 minutes seemed to be gone, and it was off to overtime.
However, when no goals were scored in OT, it was off to a fourth intermission, which also meant a Frozen Four game would need double overtime for the first time since 1996.
But, it didn’t take long at all.
Just 26 seconds after the puck dropped, Owen Michaels scored his second goal of the game to send the Broncos to a title game this weekend.
Slukynsky was credited with 44 saves on the night. He’s now one win away from adding to his already crazy run over the past three years.
For more on Slukynsky, LA’s No. 1 goaltending prospect, be sure to watch this Kings video and check out a few of the additional links below.
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