One of Oakland University’s hockey members has decided to hang up his skates for the Grizzlies.

Sophomore defenseman Dustin Hopfner signed with East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), a minor professional hockey league that has 23 teams with players from all over the world.

 

Moving on

Hopfner played at Oakland for two and half years with 25 career goals. He said his experience in a Grizzlies uniform has been great.

“Playing for OU was a blast,” Hopfner said. “I played with a great group of guys who become a close family and had great times together on and off the ice.”

Hopfner will not play for Oakland, so he will have to meet a new team and coach in the ECHL. He said he has set other goals he hopes to reach when playing in the new league.

“Every hockey player’s goal is to make it as far as they possibly can,” Hopfner said. “My goal is to do just that and work as hard as possible in order to better myself as a player.”

 

Easy transition

Hopfner said he will always have a passion for the sport, making sure that the transition from college hockey to the ECHL will not change him.

“It was definitely an amazing experience (signing with ECHL), something I’ve been working for my whole life,” Hopfner said. “(While at Oakland), I got a chance to meet a lot of great people and play with a great group of guys.”

Hopfner has other teammates on the team that have supported him for getting this opportunity to play for ECHL. Junior forward Frank Matyok, who had a total of 16 goals and 18 assists this season, said Hopfner has earned “a great personal achievement.”

“Dustin has the ability to take over a game, whether it’s a big defense play, scoring a big goal, or throwing one of his famous bone crushing body checks,” Matyok said.

 

Support system

In Hopfner’s mind, hockey is about family. Whether it is his parents or his teammates, he is thankful for having them a part of his life.

“I have an amazing family who has done anything and everything for me in order to support me,” Hopfner said. “A lot of current and old friends have been texting, calling and sharing words of encouragement.”

Motyok also added his own support for Hopfner.

“I hope nothing but the best for Dustin. His work ethic alone is enough to get him called up to the next level,” Motyok said.

His decision to sign with the ECHL also came with support from the head coach for the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division I team, Gordie Schaeffler.

Shaeffler has been with the hockey program for eight years.

“Our hope is that he has a long pro career. Hopefully he keeps on improving his game and gets to the next level,” Shaeffler said.

Shaeffler noted Hopfner’s accomplishments and how he makes a difference on and off the ice for his teammates.

“The best part about coaching Dustin was that he made the players around him better. He was always trying to help his teammates and himself to be better hockey players to help achieve our goals,” Schaffler said. “Also his work ethic, that is how you get better, when you see a guy like that working that hard on and off the ice it rubs off on your teammates.”

 

Contact Staff Intern Monica Nowak via email at [email protected]