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Yellowjackets
Braden Desmet
Braden Desmet

General Jon Garver, Director of Athletic Communications

2024 Hall of Fame Profile - Braden Desmet

The 2004-05 Yellowjacket men's hockey team is in the record books as one of the best teams in program history. That year the Yellowjackets set a pair of school records – one for fewest losses in a season (three) and one for more ties in a season (seven), the latter of which was broken a few years later. They were the final unbeaten team in the country and ranked No. 1 in the nation in January.
 
Unfortunately, the Yellowjackets dropped the championship game of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) tournament to St. Norbert College.  With just three losses, the 'Jackets thought they were destined for another trip to the NCAA Tournament, but the seven ties came back to haunt them, and the Yellowjackets were on the outside looking in.

With the season's end, the final pieces of the 2002 NCAA championship team departed the program.
 
The 2005-06 Yellowjackets rebounded, defeating St. Norbert in the NCHA title game and returning to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002. While that season was playing out, Yellowjacket head coach Dan Stauber and assistant coach Shane Fukushima hit the recruiting trail, bringing in a talented 2006 freshman class. Headlining the group was Strathmore, Alberta native Braden Desmet.
 
"After I flew down and toured the facilities – the arena and dressing room and met the people there and some guys on the team, I was thoroughly impressed,", said Desmet, who will be inducted into the UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame July 20. "I knew a player there, Rob Turville, who came down the year before and that helped me make my decision. Chris Berry was another recruit that was in the same position and we ultimately made the decision to go together."
 
The 2006-07 Yellowjackets had a strong campaign, one that is sometimes overlooked in program history. The 'Jackets finished the year 20-6-1, and a trio of freshmen – Desmet, Berry and Corey Stark led the way. They were the top three scorers on the team, combining for 47 goals and 89 points, with Desmet leading the way, potting 14 goals and a team-best 32 points.

The chemistry between the three was evident from day one.
 
"Chris and I played together at a young age and against each other in junior, so we knew each other's styles already. Corey was so easy to play with because he always put himself into a position to score or be an open option," Desmet said. "I think all of us being freshmen helped, and we all felt we had something to prove. We had an unselfish chemistry, and we all wanted the common goal of the line and the team to do well."
 
Injuries derailed Desmet's sophomore season, but he still averaged a point per game, scoring four goals and 10 assists in 14 contests. In 2008-09, Desmet put together a magical season, and once again found himself atop the team's scoring chart.
 
That year, the Yellowjackets ran roughshod over the NCHA, claiming the circuit's regular season title and heading into the tournament as the No. 1 seed. Despite Desmet scoring 15 goals and 20 assists for a team-leading 35 points, the Yellowjackets goal of returning to the NCAA tournament came up short.
 
"It was a special team and a great group of guys. I think we all knew that this was and had to be a special year with the leadership group we had," Desmet said. "A lot of players had career years that year, and everyone knew and was comfortable with the role they filled, which was a big key to our success.
 
"How it ended was very difficult, knowing how close we were and how hard we worked to get to where we were."
 
Because of his big season, Desmet was named an AHCA First Team All-American in the west region.
 
When his career ended, Desmet suited up for 92 games, scoring 38 goals and assisting on 62 more for an even 100 points, making him the 38th and most recent player in program history to reach the Century Club.
 
"To be in a category with great players reaching that accolade, I am more appreciative today than I was then to be able to join that club. Having said that, I think I could have performed even better barring a few injuries and some slumps I went through," he said.
 
Desmet graduated from UW-Superior in 2010 and returned to his native Alberta, but he didn't leave the Twin Ports empty handed.

"I brought a lot of skills home with me – time management, professionalism and the university aspect have definitely helped me in my professional career," he said. "The things I learned playing the game of hockey, and really the game itself has helped me in my career and also coaching my kids. It has helped me to develop and lead individuals and teams and be a good mentor to them," he said.
 
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