BEMIDJI 鈥� Every recruit finds their way to a college hockey program differently, including Tory Lund.
The former Sartell Sabre committed to Bemidji State after his second season in the NAHL with the El Paso Rhinos on June 4. Unlike most of his future teammates, he won鈥檛 have to wait very long to don a BSU jersey.
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鈥淚t was an incredibly fast process,鈥� Lund said. 鈥淚 fully expected to play another year of juniors because I had one left, whether in El Paso or somewhere else. But I got a call from (BSU associate head coach Travis Winter). They recruited me for a short period of time and offered me shortly after I went up there for a visit.鈥�
Lund played in 81 games for El Paso, scoring 20 goals and logging 37 assists. He also had 11 points with the Minot Minotauros.
A recruit with Lund鈥檚 pedigree would often be asked to play his last year of juniors after finishing his second season without a collegiate commitment. But the Beavers believe he can be an impactful player for the 2023-24 season.
鈥淚t means they trust me and trust that I'm ready to come now as opposed to another year from now,鈥� Lund said. 鈥淭hey mentioned I鈥檓 not going to get any stronger (as a recruit).
I'm not necessarily at the top of my game but I'm ready. I鈥檓 mentally and physically mature enough to step into college-level hockey.鈥�
Lund played for Sartell through his junior season in high school. In 70 games over three years, he scored 52 goals and 52 assists.
But Lund recognized he needed to take his game a step further, and the best chance to do that was away from the high school ranks.
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鈥淚 knew I needed a couple of your juniors to get up to speed and play at the level that I know I can play at,鈥� Lund said. 鈥淚 struggled a little bit in my first month or two (in juniors). I kind of developed and learned how to play a different role as opposed to always being the guy who had to learn how to fit into a lineup and change my game to help better the team rather than myself.鈥�
Lund had just 11 points in his first 36 games in Minot before being traded to El Paso. Moving further away from home, Lund got a better chance to showcase his potential in Texas.
鈥淚 got to kind of rise through the ranks and become one of the guys who really led the team in many aspects both on and off the ice,鈥� Lund said. 鈥淚t really helped prepare me to get a commitment from Bemidji State. I鈥檓 thrilled about it, to say the least.鈥�
Lund said he鈥檚 excited about the opportunity to play closer to home in front of his family more consistently. He fielded calls from teams in the northeast but was eyeing a chance to play in the CCHA.
鈥淧laying in the NAHL, you鈥檙e not going to get an offer from a (blue blood) school unless it's a walk-on spot,鈥� Lund said. 鈥淪o playing in the NAHL, I know options are somewhat limited. But Bemidji (and others in the CCHA) were on the top of my list. It was a goal for me to get a chance to play in the CCHA. I talked to some AHA schools, but I was really thrilled when I got the phone call from Bemidji. I'm thrilled to be to be a Beaver.鈥�
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