Kyle Looft: From Bemidji State University to Texas Stars – A Journey of Resilience and Success in Ice Hockey

Kyle Looft: From Bemidji State University to Texas Stars – A Journey of Resilience and Success in Ice Hockey

Former Bemidji State University defenseman and two-time captain, Kyle Looft, has recently inked an amateur tryout contract with the Texas Stars. The announcement, which was made by the club on a Monday afternoon, marks a significant milestone in Looft’s ice hockey career. Hailing from Mankato, Minnesota, Looft has built a reputation as a formidable player in the American Hockey League (AHL), impressing spectators and fellow players alike.

Throughout his career, Looft has been recognized for his outstanding defensive skills. He was voted the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) defenseman of the year and earned titles for best defensive defenseman. He was also selected for the All-CCHA first team and recognized as a CCHA scholar-athlete and all-academic team selection. Looft’s impressive record includes being awarded CCHA defenseman of the week four times and CCHA defenseman of the month twice.

Despite missing six games due to a wrist injury, Looft led all league defensemen in scoring with 28 points in 32 games. His 0.88 points per game average was the seventh-best among all players in the CCHA and tenth among all defensemen in Division I. Looft had a plus/minus rating of +17, second only to his teammate, and registered 69 shots, three power-play goals, 14 penalty minutes, and 53 blocked shots. This journeyman’s tale is not just about his on-ice prowess but his resilience and determination off it. His decision to return for a fifth season at Bemidji State has been crucial in his path towards becoming a professional hockey player.

Looft holds the record for playing in the second most games in BSU’s history, appearing in a whopping 169 career games. He is also the highest-scoring defenseman in BSU’s Division I history and the 37th overall. Standing at this significant juncture of his career, Looft will join the Texas Stars in Cedar Park and start practicing with the team right away, gearing up to take his career to the next level.