Kettering Hockey Player Heads to Europe for All-Star Showcase
Steven Bandurski, a student at Kettering University and a player for its hockey team, is one of 25 hockey players selected to the American Collegiate Hockey Association's Division III Select Team, which will play in the All-Star Challenge in Europe in late December.
The All-Star Challenge is a five-game showcase. The American team will play games against teams in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. Bandurski was selected from among more than 250 Division III ACHA players who tried out.
Bandurski was chosen for one of the 25 spots on the team at a four-day tryout in Philadelphia among participants from around the country.
Bandurski, who is from Grand Blanc, is in his third season playing for Kettering's hockey team. In the 2008-09 season, he led the team in goals (14), power play goals, points (27) and was second on the team in assists (13). Last season, he led the team in goals (27) and power play goals and was second on the team in points (52) and assists (25).
This season, he's helped Kettering to a 14-4 record through 18 games and has 24 goals, 31 assists and 55 points.
His trip to Europe during the holidays will not only give him the chance to play against other top hockey talent, but it will give his family a chance for an unexpected vacation.
"My dad used to live in Germany when he worked for General Motors," said Bandurski, noting that some of his immediate family members will be going on the trip with him.
Bandurski started playing hockey when he was four, playing travel hockey and Junior A hockey in Texas. He also spent one year playing for Robert Morris University, a Division I program before transferring to Kettering.
"I came to Kettering because it's kind of a family tradition – I'll be the seventh and my brother will be the eighth person in my family to graduate from Kettering," Bandurski said.
For photos and more on Bandurski, visit: http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=3065
