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2018 Draft: Brandon Kruse selected by Las Vegas Golden Knights

MiHockey Staff

By @MichaelCaples –

DALLAS – Brandon Kruse wasn’t in Dallas, but it’s likely that he will be in Las Vegas next week.

The Golden Knights selected the Saline native in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft after his stand-out season with Bowling Green.

“I was just out actually getting a bite to eat with one of my buddies,” Kruse said via the Golden Knights site. “I was watching the draft there, I saw my name pop up, he was kind of freaking out and my stomach kind of dropped. Then just seeing Vegas and what they’ve done this year, I couldn’t be any happier.”

Kruse, a 1999 birth-year player, posted 33 points in 41 games as a rookie with the Falcons, and in the process, drew attention from NHL scouts.

“I think my speed and my skillset,” Kruse said, when asked about his strengths. “Those have gotten me where I am today and I think they’ll allow me to play at the next level as I continue to grow.”

Now, he’s property of the NHL’s newest franchise.

Kruse credited his dad, Eric, for helping him reach this point.

“…He put me into hockey, he played college hockey growing up and, without him, I wouldn’t be here today. He was my coach for the early years of my life playing hockey so I’d probably say my dad. He was a goalie at Michigan State for four years.”