Mikey Eyssimont was one of 12 former St. Cloud State men’s hockey players to play in the NHL last season. Eyssimont made his NHL debut for the Winnipeg Jets on April 11, 2022, in Montreal during his fourth full season of pro hockey. Eyssimont discusses his progression as a pro, his favorite memories of playing for and attending SCSU, growing up in Colorado, Huskies players and coaches who had an impact on him and more on this episode of the Huskies Hockey Insider podcast with The Rink Live’s Mick Hatten. .
TIME STAMPS
:30 His best season as a pro with 18 goals, 42 points, 90 penalty minutes and being a plus-15 in 58 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose in 2021-22. What last season was like, his improvement
1:50 His NHL debut with the Winnipeg Jets, biding his time, playing in Montreal, staying focused
3:45 The rookie solo lap, seeing former SCSU teammate Ryan Poehling on the opposition
5:00 Areas of progression as a player since turning pro in 2018
7:15 The differences between the AHL and the NHL
8:10 Playing more physical as a pro, officiating in the AHL
10:00 His outlook going into Jets camp this fall
10:40 Growing up in Colorado, how he got involved in hockey, playing roller hockey
11:50 The transition from roller hockey to ice hockey, being a teammate of NHL players Troy Terry, Brandon Carlo, Dylan Gambrell, Fredrik Oloffson growing up, staying in touch, working out with them now
13:50 Travel hockey in Colorado, how far they would travel
16:40 When the college recruiting process started, how he ended up at SCSU
18:40 Why he didn’t end up playing for Denver or Colorado College, having things in common with Californians Robby Jackson and Patrick Newell
19:45 Best memories of playing for SCSU, being in college
21:10 Being on a line with Kalle Kossila, Patrick Russell, effect those two and coach Bob Motzko had on his career
24:50 Being MVP of the North Star College Cup and NCHC Frozen Faceoff as a freshman
25:40 The talented recruiting class he came in with
27:10 Missing the NCAA playoffs as a sophomore, coming back and winning the NCHC regular season title in 2017-18
29:20 The decision to turn pro with the LA Kings, who drafted him in 2016, the toughest transition of turning pro
31:10 Former SCSU assistant coach Garrett Raboin being named the first head coach at Augustana University
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