The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are proud to announce the commitment of defenseman Kyle Gudme to The University of St. Thomas Tommies. He will join up with the team for the spring semester as the team prepares to begin its season on January 30th.
Gudme, 20, served as captain for the Jr. Hat Tricks this season, anchoring the blueline and collecting a pair of assists in six games played. The 6’5″ defender brought sure-handedness and veteran leadership to the team, having played two previous seasons in the NAHL. He will finish his junior career with 12 points in 99 NAHL games.
“[The St. Thomas coaches] laid out the whole plan for me, it seemed like a great spot,” explained Gudme. “I’ve always had a dream to play Division-I hockey.”
The St. Thomas Tommies announced their intention to join Division-I for the 2021-22 season last July. They will play 11 games at the Divison-III level from January 30th to March 13th before making the jump at the end of the semester.
“[This coaching staff] has done a lot for me,” Gudme said of Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks head coach Billy McCreary. “With everything that happened with COVID, obviously it was a tough season, but I learned a lot from it. It kinda helped me to push through some adversity and grow as a player.”
“It was an honor to be a captain,” he continued. “To look over guys and push them to be their best.”
Gudme is now the second Jr. Hat Tricks player to earn a Division-I commitment, joining Sacred Heart Pioneer Cody Hoban.
“Kyle is a bit of a throwback,” praised Jr. Hat Tricks head coach Billy McCreary. “He’s a quiet, humble leader who has a high compete level and a professional mindset. His elite ability to defend and his high hockey IQ allow him to to consistently put his teammates in favorable positions.”
“We want to wish Kyle, as well as the Tommies, the best of luck as they transition into a Division-I program.”