Kuhlman keeps making championship runs

Esko grad reflects on Stanley Cup

Former Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey standout Karson Kuhlman has had a storybook run since leaving Esko High School to pursue a career in hockey. The star forward polished off an amazing two-year run by winning a national championship at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2018 and nearly winning a Stanley Cup this spring with the Boston Bruins.

"The whole experience was pretty surreal," Kuhlman said in an interview last week. "You go back to last spring (2018) with that senior class and to win the national title at UMD was pretty special, and not many guys get to end their college careers with a win. Then to have the chance to be with Boston, and the run we made in the playoffs was just a crazy way to top off the last year."

After starring at UMD and being the captain of the 2017-2018 Bulldogs, Kuhlman signed with Boston and immediately was sent to its American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins, where he finished the season. At the start of the 2018-2019 NHL season, Kuhlman was invited to Boston's training camp prior to being sent back to Providence.

When asked whether the jump to college, or from college to the pros was more difficult, he answered quickly.

"It was high school to college for me, because I think it took me a little time to adjust. Playing bigger, faster and stronger guys was a tough change," Kuhlman said. "I had to learn to focus on what I was doing off the ice in the weight room and nutrition-wise. After I got that figured out, I was able to hold my own."

Kuhlman led the Bulldogs to the NCAA hockey title by continuing to score in critical situations - including the first goal of the national championship game against Notre Dame.

UMD would go on to win the game 2-1 and Kuhlman would be named the MVP of the Frozen Four.

"I was very fortunate to play at UMD where they pushed you to become a better player," he said. "I think that really got me ready for the professional level."

Kuhlman went right from UMD to the end of the season in the AHL for Providence. Those games proved vital for him in his transition to the National Hockey League.

"I got a taste of what it was like and it gave me a lot of confidence going into training camp this season," Kuhlman said. "Once I got sent to Providence after training camp I was able to learn a lot about the pro game and how to be successful, and then I put in a lot of work down there and finally got a chance to make my debut in February."

It didn't take long for the former Lumberjacks star to show he belonged in the NHL. Playing in just his second professional game, Kuhlman scored his first goal Feb. 19 against the San Jose Sharks in a game the Bruins won 6-5 in overtime. Following a short stint on the Boston roster, Kuhlman was sent back to Providence.

He was called up for good near the end of the season and made the playoff roster.

"I got in the games in the earlier parts of the playoffs against Toronto and against Columbus," he said. "Then I sat for a while until the last few games against St. Louis in the Stanley Cup finals and that was pretty special. It still stings that we lost the final game and didn't win the Stanley Cup. I have to say it was pretty much of a whirlwind since February. Despite not winning the Cup, it was a pretty successful first year in professional hockey all in all, and I can't complain."

Kuhlman felt from a very young age that he would someday play in the NHL.

"I remember in elementary school when they had you write down what you wanted to be when you grew up; I would always put down 'to play in the NHL and to be an NHL player,'" Kuhlman said. "Obviously, it's not that simple. There's a lot of work and a lot of people have to be in your corner to help you get that far, but I am excited about the opportunity and I just have to keep working to get better."

Since hitting the big stage with the Bulldogs, winning the national title and now playing in the NHL, Kuhlman is getting recognized more as he walks down the street, and has embraced the fact that people are looking at him as a role model.

"I was extremely fortunate my first few years at school to have older guys that were from the Northland, so I could see firsthand what they did and how they handled those kinds of things," Kuhlman said. "I also know what it's like to be a kid from northern Minnesota who saw UMD players when they were out and about, and I was excited to see them too. I just want to set a good example for young hockey players in the Northland."

It has been about a month since the Boston Bruins, and Kuhlman, played for the Stanley Cup. After a brief period of letting his body rebound from a long season, it won't be long before he's getting ready for another NHL season.

"It is a different summer than I've ever had before," Kuhlman said. "I was able to take a couple of weeks of downtime after the season ended and just kind of decompress a little bit. I think it's good for the body and the mind to kind of get focused back after a stressful couple of months of hockey."

Following his recuperation period, Kuhlman will be right back on the rink skating locally and lifting weights to continue his regimen of being prepared for NHL camp - which starts in September.

"It is something you have to do if you want to stay in the league. We live in a great area of the country with a lot of great hockey guys up here, so there are always guys to work out with and skate with. It's a good thing."