University of Minnesota Athletics
My NHL Debut: Justin Kloos
9/7/2018 2:02:00 PM | Men's Hockey
The 2017-18 NHL season saw 26 Gopher Hockey alums take the ice -- tying the known NCAA record -- including seven University of Minnesota alums who made their NHL debuts last year. GopherSports.com is checking in to hear about their first taste of the NHL including today's featured alum -- Minnesota Wild forward Justin Kloos.Â
 A native of Lakeville, Minn., Kloos made his NHL debut in his first full professional season -- hitting the ice in the NHL for the first time on Oct. 24, 2017 as the Minnesota Wild took on the Vancouver Canucks at Xcel Energy Center (a 1-0 loss for the Wild). Kloos picked up 13 shifts in his debut with 8:39 of ice time with one minor penalty. He found even more success with Minnesota's AHL affiliate -- the Iowa Wild. The forward set broke five organization records in his first professional season -- franchise records for rookie points (50), rookie assists (31), rookie power-play points (19), rookie power-play goals (seven) and rookie power-play assists (12).Â
With the Gophers, Kloos did not miss a game in his four-year career, playing in 155 games and scoring 150 points (63 goals, 87 assists). The forward graduated with the 28th most points in program history. A two-year captain for the Maroon & Gold, Kloos earned First Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior and Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. He led Minnesota to four-straight Big Ten regular-season titles, the 2015 Big Ten Tournament title and three NCAA tournament berths including a national championship appearance in 2014. Kloos signed with the Wild as a free agent following his senior season.
First off, how did you find out you were getting called up to play your first NHL game with the Minnesota Wild?Â
I was taking a nap after practice down in Iowa, and I got a voicemail from one of the GMs asking me to call them back. They let me know I was getting called up, and they gave me a chance to tell my family before it was announced. That was pretty cool -- my family was obviously pretty excited to hear the news.
The Wild usually set up a car service to drive players up from Iowa to St. Paul. What's it like sitting in that car thinking about making your NHL debut?Â
I was just pumped for the whole situation. It's something you look forward to your entire life up to that point, and it was pretty unexpected. I think it was only a few weeks into my first pro season. There was a lot of excitement, a little bit of nerves, but overall just a really fun experience.Â
What was it like taking the ice for your NHL debut at Xcel Energy Center -- pretty much in your hometown and a place you are very familiar with?Â
I had a ton of family there to support me -- couple uncles came in from Arizona, brother came in from Chicago and obviously a lot of people here in Minnesota. I probably had 20-30 people there. It was awesome and I think my whole family really enjoyed the experience. For me, it was really cool experience. The guys sent me out on the ice first for a lonely lap as little hazing, and I was a little excited and nervous for the first shift. But after that, things settled down and I was able to just focus on the game.Â
 A native of Lakeville, Minn., Kloos made his NHL debut in his first full professional season -- hitting the ice in the NHL for the first time on Oct. 24, 2017 as the Minnesota Wild took on the Vancouver Canucks at Xcel Energy Center (a 1-0 loss for the Wild). Kloos picked up 13 shifts in his debut with 8:39 of ice time with one minor penalty. He found even more success with Minnesota's AHL affiliate -- the Iowa Wild. The forward set broke five organization records in his first professional season -- franchise records for rookie points (50), rookie assists (31), rookie power-play points (19), rookie power-play goals (seven) and rookie power-play assists (12).Â
With the Gophers, Kloos did not miss a game in his four-year career, playing in 155 games and scoring 150 points (63 goals, 87 assists). The forward graduated with the 28th most points in program history. A two-year captain for the Maroon & Gold, Kloos earned First Team All-Big Ten honors as a senior and Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. He led Minnesota to four-straight Big Ten regular-season titles, the 2015 Big Ten Tournament title and three NCAA tournament berths including a national championship appearance in 2014. Kloos signed with the Wild as a free agent following his senior season.
First off, how did you find out you were getting called up to play your first NHL game with the Minnesota Wild?Â
I was taking a nap after practice down in Iowa, and I got a voicemail from one of the GMs asking me to call them back. They let me know I was getting called up, and they gave me a chance to tell my family before it was announced. That was pretty cool -- my family was obviously pretty excited to hear the news.
The Wild usually set up a car service to drive players up from Iowa to St. Paul. What's it like sitting in that car thinking about making your NHL debut?Â
I was just pumped for the whole situation. It's something you look forward to your entire life up to that point, and it was pretty unexpected. I think it was only a few weeks into my first pro season. There was a lot of excitement, a little bit of nerves, but overall just a really fun experience.Â
What was it like taking the ice for your NHL debut at Xcel Energy Center -- pretty much in your hometown and a place you are very familiar with?Â
I had a ton of family there to support me -- couple uncles came in from Arizona, brother came in from Chicago and obviously a lot of people here in Minnesota. I probably had 20-30 people there. It was awesome and I think my whole family really enjoyed the experience. For me, it was really cool experience. The guys sent me out on the ice first for a lonely lap as little hazing, and I was a little excited and nervous for the first shift. But after that, things settled down and I was able to just focus on the game.Â
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