When you think of the UMass hockey program’s rise as a perennial power over the last decade, names like Cale Makar, Bobby Trivigno and Cole O’Hara come to mind. All three put together remarkable careers with the Minutemen, whether they stayed for two years (Makar) or four (Trivigno), yet another common thread connects the trio of UMass greats.
None of them were from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Makar trekked all the way from Calgary, Alberta to suit up for the maroon-and-white, while Trivigno (New York) and O’Hara (Toronto) stayed relatively close to home to play for the Minutemen.
Now, this isn’t a new phenomenon as head coach Greg Carvel has admitted that most prospective college hockey players from the Bay State aren’t exactly lining up to play in Amherst. Schools like Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern and Harvard — the blue bloods of Boston — sit at the front of the line for most all of Massachusetts’ best players.
Well, almost all.
UMass freshman Jack Galanek has been one of the Minutemen’s most impactful players from October through March and unlike most of the program’s recent predecessors, Galanek is a Massachusetts kid through and through.
“I’m shocked that, now that I’m here, more guys from Mass. don’t look at this place,” Galanek said. “Obviously we don’t get multiple first-round picks like BC and BU do, but we have guys that come in here, develop and leave as great people. On top of that we win here, too.”
From Hopkinton, Galanek’s love for the game of hockey began when he was three years old on his backyard rink. John Galanek, Jack’s father, would construct a skating surface big enough for Jack and his sister, Samantha, to skate around on during the winter months.
Eventually this led to Galanek’s desire to pursue organized hockey. Galanek’s youth hockey journey included stops with the Boston Junior Eagles AAA under-13 team and at Shattuck St. Mary’s, a private boarding and day school in Fairbault, Minnesota with a renowned hockey program.
Shattuck has churned out some of the very best NHL stars, such as Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini and Galanek spent three seasons with the Sabres from 2020-23.
“I was undersized back then, and a lot of Massachusetts kids go the New England prep school route, but I talked with my dad, and I thought it was best to stay playing single birth year hockey and I went to a camp there when I was, I think, 12, and I just fell in love with the school and everything about it,” Galanek said. “Heard of all the great names that went there, and it was hard to kind of not pursue once I once I got an eye on it so ended up working out.”
Galanek’s final season at Shattuck was his best as he racked up 100 points on 35 goals and 65 assists in just 57 games played for the under-16 squad. Galanek and current Michigan State standout Ryker Lee (123 points) were the Sabres top two scorers that season and it was at this point when he caught the eye of current Minutemen assistant coach Nolan Gluchowski.
“The thing I noticed right away about Jack was how hard he competed,” Gluchowski said. “He was the biggest competitor on the ice every time he stepped out on the ice.”
Gluchowski mentioned that once he identified Galanek as a potential fit for UMass, Carvel quickly got involved in helping lure the Mass. native back east.
“On the official visit, he’s obviously the biggest seller,” Gluchowski said. “In terms of his experience, who he is, what he’s done for this program.”
Galanek didn’t waste much time choosing his college destination as he committed to UMass while still at Shattuck, citing similarities between the state’s flagship university and the small Minnesota school where he honed his hockey craft, as a significant selling point.
“I was always told, go where you’re wanted the most,” Galanek said. “I fell in love with the coaching staff here when they recruited me. They were really interested.
“The stuff we work on, the development piece, becoming a better man, not just a hockey player, all that stuff I learned at Shattuck,” Galanek continued. “I just saw a lot of resemblance and the more I learned about the way things work here and how [Carvel] teaches us stuff, it definitely sounded like a great fit.”
Galanek would spend two full seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League from 2023-25 before arriving in Amherst and it was there he met current teammate Vaclav Nestrasil.
Galanek and Nestrasil were key to the Lumberjacks claiming the Clark Cup last season as both were point-per-game players during their playoff run.
Nestrasil recounted one specific memory of Galanek attempting the ‘Michigan’ during Game 5 of the Clark Cup finals.
“That kind of describes him as a player,” Nestrasil said. “He always tries things. Even at the biggest stage where things are the most tight, he attempted the ‘Michigan.’ I stood there and I was like, ‘what are you doing? You’re not supposed to do that.'”
That confidence has carried over into Galanek’s first season with the Minutemen as the 6-foot, 187-pounder is currently third on the team in points (22) this season.
The left-shot center has been more of a playmaker so far, accruing 17 assists, however his goal-scoring touch has started to emerge as Galanek has potted three of his five total goals during UMass’ second half slate.
“He’s growing as I want him to,” Carvel said. “He’s toughening up. He’s going to be a heavy player for us. But the thing I’ve always liked about him is that he can make plays.
“The assists are piling up, his faceoff percentages are going up, he’s on pace to where I like him to be,” Carvel said.
Galanek has earned Carvel’s trust as a reliable centerman, as evidenced by the fact that he’s been slotted in as UMass’ No. 1 center for a large chunk of the season. While Galanek’s point totals may not blow anyone away, his ability to consistently make the smart, high-percentage play makes him a coach’s dream, especially as a freshman.
“His IQ, in terms of earning pucks back, not just the compete, was a huge factor,” Gluchowski said.
“He’s an incredibly smart player,” Nestrasil said. “He can make passes, he can finish, he can do basically everything coach wants him to do, and that’s why his game is so important to us. That’s why I love playing with him, because I know he can provide an offense, but he can also [play] lock down defense and do that thing.”
With the postseason officially here as UMass is set to host Northeastern in the quarterfinal round at the Mullins Center on Saturday, March 14, Galanek’s game should translate well to a tight-checking, detail-oriented style of play playoff hockey requires.
Given the Minutemen and Huskies have already met four times this season, expect Saturday’s margin of error to be as small as they come.
“It’s a great challenge for us, obviously being on the bubble too for the national tournament and I think it plays in our hand,” Galanek said. “Because… I think we’re built for the playoffs and these these type of games.”
Saturday’s winner will punch their ticket to TD Garden in Boston for the semifinal round the following Friday, March 20.
How interesting. You don’t have to go to a Beanpot school to lead a team to a meaningful game in the state’s capital.
Maybe more upcoming Mass. hockey recruits will follow a path similar to that of Jack Galanek. It seems to have worked well for the Hopkinton native.
