The second confirmed transfer addition to next season’s UMass hockey team was announced on Tuesday as Owen Mehlenbacher will join the Minutemen in 2025-26 after two seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers.
Mehlenbacher is a 6-foot-2, 192-pound forward that netted 10 points during his first two seasons at Wisconsin. The Fort Erie, Ontario native is also a draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings — joining fellow teammate Larry Keenan — after being selected No. 201 overall during seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft.
“Owen has great size and plays a solid two-way, well-rounded game,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel said in a statement released by UMass athletics. “As Owen continues to build strength and become accustomed to our style of play, we project him to be another power forward that will be effective at both ends of the ice. Another high-quality young man that will add to our culture and take big leaps forward as a player that we will help get to the next level.”
Mehlenbacher joins Mikey DeAngelo as forwards the Minutemen have added from the portal this offseason.
In the United States Hockey League prior to his college career, Mehlenbacher recorded 50 points in 57 games between the Muskegon Lumberjacks (as a captain) and Fargo Force during the 2022-23 season.
