I
f Austen Swankler’s long-held dreams come true, he will
soon be playing professional hockey.
It’s not an exaggeration to say every junior hockey
league in the country wants Swankler. After all, every
single league—as well as one in Canada—has drafted
him. He’s currently living in Waterloo, Iowa, and playing for
the Waterloo Black Hawks, part of the United States Hockey
League, the nation’s only Tier 1 junior hockey league. He was
selected by the Black Hawks in the ninth round in the 2017
USHL draft. Also in 2017, he was drafted by the Syracuse
Stars, which is part of the U.S. Premier Hockey League. He
also was picked up by the Ottawa 67s in the third round of
the Ontario Hockey League, the top junior league in Canada.
Then, this past June, he was drafted by the New Jersey Titans
of the North American Hockey League.
Swankler, a skilled forward who plays center/left wing,
was only 4 years old when he started playing hockey. After his
older brother Marc introduced him to the game, his prowess
on the ice quickly became evident. He joined the Pittsburgh
Penguins Elite team at the age of 13, where he led the 16U
team with 61 points during the 2016-2017 season.
“The Penguins Elite really helped me grow as a player, and
as a person,” says Swankler, who also played for Norwin’s
middle school team.
To further his goal of someday playing for the NHL,
Swankler made the difficult choice to move to Michigan at
the age of 15 to play midget hockey for the Oakland Junior
Grizzlies. It was a choice that would prove prophetic: in
August, after initially deciding on Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute in Troy, N.Y., Swankler announced that he’s
committed to play for the University of Michigan next season.
“It was a really tough decision leaving my family at 15,
but we knew it was the right move, being able to play for the
Grizzlies and in front of the school I’m now committed to,” he
says. “Being away from my family was really hard, especially
being away from my little brother Noah, who’s 9. They made
it easy, though, visiting for games and such.”
Swankler chose the University of Michigan because of
its rich history. Recognized as one of the most prominent
hockey programs in the country, the school has produced
numerous pro players, including current Pittsburgh Penguins
Carl Hagelin and Jack Johnson.
“Deciding to go to college was a decision my parents left to
me,” he notes. “Being able to play hockey and have a degree
from Michigan will be amazing. They have a great coaching
staff and a great facility, and really treat you like a pro.”
Not surprisingly, the 6’0” Swankler isn’t afraid of the hard
work it takes to succeed in such a competitive sport. “I’m a
player who goes on the ice every day to get better. I never pass
up opportunities,” he says. “I’m a skilled forward who can
put up points, and I’m working on my defensive side.”
Swankler also recognizes the efforts of his family and
coaches who’ve helped to guide him. “I want to thank
my family for everything they’ve done to get me here, as
well as my advisor, trainers and coaches, who’ve spent a
lot of time talking to me to make me a better person and
player,” he says.
Over the summer, Swankler skated a little closer to
his dream of playing for the NHL: In September, he
represented Pittsburgh at the 2018 USA Hockey All
American Prospect Game, which was held at the Xcel
Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The all-star game featured
the top 42 American-born prospects eligible for the 2019
NHL draft.
Then, in October, he learned that he was given a “B”
rating on the 2018-2019 NHL Central Scouting Report,
which means that he’s a potential second or third round
selection in next summer’s NHL draft.
Looking ahead, Swankler is concentrating on the not-
too-distant future. He’s set his focus on winning the Clark
Cup, which is the USHL’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup.
“I’m hoping to have a great season in the USHL with the
Waterloo Black Hawks,” he says. “After this season, if I play
well, [I’d like to] get drafted by the NHL. I’m really just
taking it slow, game by game. I’m trying to get better and
focusing on this season.” n
“
The Penguins
Elite really helped
me grow as a
player, and as a
person.”
NORWIN ❘ WINTER 2018
9