BISMARCK, N.D.–Former Bismarck Bobcats forward Daniel Chladek is jumping back into competitive hockey. Chladek, who scored 31 goals over two seasons for the Bobcats, has committed to play at Division III Augsburg University next season.
“(Chladek) could come in right away and not miss a beat from Bismarck,” said Augsburg assistant coach Garrett Hendrickson, who held the same position for the Bobcats in 2020-21. “I think it will be a little adjustment for him. It will take him a month or two, and he will be right back to it.”
Chladek reached out to the Auggies’ coaching staff in the spring, and visited the Minneapolis campus a few weeks ago. Hendrickson did his due diligence and contacted Layne Sedevie and Garrett Roth, who coached Chladek in Bismarck.
“Just talking to Layne (Sedevie) and Garrett Roth to make sure we wanted him,” Hendrickson said. “What they said made us even more excited as a coaching staff.”
The COVID-19 pandemic cut Chladek’s 2019-20 season short, his second year with the Bobcats. With his hockey future, much like the world, uncertain, the Anaheim, Calif. native went on to study at a local community college. Chladek still continued skating near his home, with the hockey itch leading him into the college game.
“Daniel is going to fit in perfectly,” Hedrickson said. “He is an awesome kid, just the way he carries himself and how polite he was and how excited he is to be at Augsburg. Just a perfect fit for a kid who wants to make a comeback.”
Chladek will have two years of NCAA eligiblity when he joins the Auggies in the fall. Augsburg, which finished at No. 3 in the final USCHO poll last season, has taken in multiple Bobcats in the past. Rory Vesel, Tim Serratore, and Cory Chapman all played there, with Chapman a two-year captain.