Grant Cruikshank is off to the best start of his college career with eight goals and 13 points in the first 10 games this season for the St. Cloud State men's hockey team. Cruikshank is a fifth-year senior who played last season for the University of Minnesota and the three previous seasons at Colorado College.
The center talks about some of the keys to his fast start, the team's 8-2 start and previews this weekend's series against Western Michigan (7-4) at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
He also discusses his family, which includes his father (Dave), mother (Bonnie) and sister (Blair). Dave and Bonnie are former Olympic speed skaters who are now skating coaches. His sister is looking to compete in speed skating in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Cruikshank talks about all this and more on this episode the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast with The Rink Live's Mick Hatten.
TIME STAMPS
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:30 Recapping last weekend's series at Denver, rallying after a tough start Saturday, what it's like playing at Magness Arena
3:00 What did the team learn about itself from the series against the Pioneers? Looking forward to playing against Denver at home on Jan. 20-21
4:45 Kyler Kupka missed last weekend's series after playing all season on Cruikshank's line. What it has been like playing with Kupka, Aidan Spellacy playing in his absence
6:45 What it is like playing with this group of Huskies, things that make this team unique
9:00 What it has been like playing for head coach Brett Larson, his characteristics as a coach
10:30 Playing center, why he thinks it is his best position
11:50 Why he has been able to get to the front of the net so consistently this season, getting to the tough parts of the ice
13:30 Things that will be important for the Huskies when they play Western Michigan this weekend
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14:50 Playing the physical part of the game, why he is tough despite being listed at 5-foot-11 and 195 pounds
16:00 Working with his father, Dave, who is a former Olympic speed skater, his mom, Bonnie Blair, a five-time Olympic medalist, and his sister, speed skater Blair Cruikshank, on his skating. Some "spirited" skating discussions with his parents, the balance of parenting and coaching
20:15 The return of Josh Luedtke to the SCSU lineup, how he welcomed body contact in practices after suffering a concussion
22:20 Comparing the defensive depth of the Huskies with last season's Gophers defensemen. The difficulty of facing the SCSU defensemen in practices
24:30 Being back on a power-play unit after not being on one last season, a few keys to SCSU's power-play success
25:30 What it has been like getting off to a hot start
