Austin forward Herbster makes NCAA commitment
May 24, 2019
Kyle Herbster played for the Central Division team at the 2019 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.
The Austin Bruins of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) are pleased to announce that forward Kyle Herbster has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Herbster, 20, played one season in the NAHL, which began with the Odessa Jackalopes in 2018-19. After 39 games in Texas, the forward was acquired by the Austin Bruins in a trade near the end of January. While with the Bruins, Herbster played 21 games registering one goal and 10 assists. In total, the Cary, Illinois native logged 60 games played for a total of 45 points (9 goals, 26 assists) with both teams.
His 36 assists and pass-first mentality helped him finish third amongst all Bruins scorers on the season. Herbster also helped the Bruins during the playoffs with a goal in their Game 3 win over the Aberdeen Wings in the NAHL Robertson Cup Central Division Semi-Finals. To go with his stats, Herbster competed in the 2019 NAHL Top Prospects game for the Austin Bruins and the Central Division.
“I really enjoyed my time in Austin,” commented Herbster. “Playing there the second half of the season helped develop me as a player and person. It also benefitted me being in Minnesota so I got to play close to the school [Milwaukee School of Engineering] and in front of the coaches.”
The 5’11/185 lbs. forward arrived in Minnesota at the beginning of the 2019 calendar year. He and fellow Jackalope forward Jared Christy were moved to Austin in exchange for Joe Winkelmann and other considerations. In his first game wearing the Bruins logo, Herbster tied his season-high mark of four points in a game, with a goal and three assists against the Minnesota Magicians.
“Kyle came to us mid-season and was great to have on the team,” said Bruins Head Coach Steve Howard. “He’s smart, sees the ice well, and we wish him the best of luck at MSOE. The Raiders are getting a quality hockey player and person.”
Milwaukee School of Engineering Head Coach Graham Johnson expanded, “We are very excited to have Kyle become an MSOE Raider. We feel he can make an immediate impact for us as a player. He is a young man of great character, and he possesses an elite work ethic; two things we value highly here at MSOE. He will be a tremendous addition to our team.”
Herbster becomes another name in a growing list of Bruins commitments this postseason. Lane Krenzen (Denver), Terry Ryder (Adrian), Dante Zapata (Utica), and Andy Willis (St. Thomas) have all previously announced their collegiate hockey plans. The Bruins final roster at the end of the 2018-19 season now boasts 13 committed players with 10 having been announced during the season itself or the immediate postseason.
