St. Cloud State’s Ben Hanowski has been a subject of plenty of attention because of one line in the transactions on March 28:
CALGARY FLAMES — Traded F Jarome Iginla to Pittsburgh for the rights to LW Kenneth Agostino, F Ben Hanowski and a 2013 first-round draft pick.
The Huskies forward found out his rights, originally acquired by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, had been traded the day the team was traveling to the Midwest Regional.
“I don’t know how to describe it, being part of a trade with a future Hall of Famer,” Hanowski said.
Teammate Drew LeBlanc knew how to describe it.
“I’m jealous,” he said. “I kind of want to be traded for a Hall of Famer.”
That change in potential future direction for the Huskies senior could have been a distraction at a critical time of the year, but coach Bob Motzko said Hanowski didn’t let it get in his way.
Motzko opened practice the next day with a one-liner: “Anybody else get traded overnight?”
“And the first guy laughing was Ben, and he took it in great stride,” Motzko said.
Hanowski’s importance to the Huskies isn’t hard to define. Since the start of February, in games where he has been even or plus in plus-minus, St. Cloud State has won. When he’s been a minus, the Huskies have lost.
As for being part of the big deal, it’s not a big deal.
“I’m just trying to focus on being a Husky and trying to contribute to this team as many ways as I can right now,” Hanowski said. “So maybe after the Frozen Four is over, I’ll be able to give you something better. But I haven’t been able to think about it too much.”
