University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey defenseman and Hermantown, Minn., native Ty Hanson has emerged as one of college hockey's top players early into the 2026-27 season. As a junior captain, Hanson has played in all 12 games this season, recording 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points while posting a +/- of +9. Through those 12 games, he has tallied three power play goals, two short handed goals, three game-winning goals, five multipoint games and 13 blocked shots.
Coming off a sophomore campaign where he was a Second Team All-American, along with several other accomplishments and awards, Hanson continues to be a valuable contributor to UMD's success as it searches for their fourth national championship in program history.
In this Q&A, Hanson discusses his hockey journey, his experiences at UMD, and the people and moments that have helped shape his career.
Q: Who played the biggest role in getting you started in hockey?
A: My dad was a big influence on how I started playing hockey. He played here at UMD as well, so he kind of got me into the game pretty early. I think my first memories were me being on skates, just skating around and falling a lot on the ice, so I think that's kind of just where things started.
Q: What was your hockey journey like before coming to UMD?
A: I started in Duluth playing for the Irving Polar Bears out in West Duluth, and then I moved to Hermantown in third grade, so I kind of went through the youth program there. I played high school there [in Hermantown] and won a state championship my junior year. Then my senior year, I went to Sioux City to play in the USHL, played there for two years, and then, after that, just made it to Duluth, and here we are.
Q: What made you choose UMD when you were deciding where to play college hockey?
A: Well, I grew up here. I had season tickets growing up. My dad played here, so it's always been my dream to play for UMD and skate out at AMSOIL. I didn't really see myself going any other place. My dream was always to go here no matter what.
Q: What has your experience been like at UMD since you first arrived here?
A: It's been great. Obviously, freshman year wasn't where we kind of wanted to be, but last year [sophomore year] was cool to get to the NCAA tournament and go far in our conference tournament as well. So, just being able to keep that going and build off of what we did last year is huge, and hopefully we'll make more memories.
Q: Was playing college hockey always a goal of yours?
A: Yeah, I think ever since growing up, being able to go to UMD games, having season tickets, and kind of being able to follow my dad's path playing here has always been a goal of mine.
Q: Who had the biggest influence on you when you were growing up?
A: I'd say the easy answer is my dad, but I'd say another one is all of my youth coaches growing up, Nick Jones especially. He was a big influence on me. Same with Hunter Bergerson. Those two were my coaches in peewees, and I still stay in contact with them now. They showed me a lot about the game itself and taught me different life lessons as well.
Q: What is one thing you learned early in your hockey career that has stuck with you forever?
A: I think how hard you have to work and how detailed you have to be throughout the whole process. You can't just go through the motions. You have to put both feet forward, not have one foot in, not have one foot out, and just attack things head on.
While Hanson's contributions are significant on the stat sheet at the end of most games, he also makes his presence felt through his grit, toughness and willingness to battle for every puck. Whether it's blocking shots or battling in the corners, Hanson takes great pride in doing the little things that help his team win.
Q: How much pride do you take in doing the little things that help the team win, even if they don't show up on the scoreboard?
A: I think a lot of it stems from being on the outdoor rinks growing up. You want to have that competitiveness to your game. I think that's a crucial thing for any sport, especially hockey, because it's such a physical, fast-paced game with so many one-on-one battles. I try to take those battles personally and come out on the right side of the puck as often as I can. Having that competitive edge is probably the biggest thing.
Q: What is something about yourself that most people may not know?
A: I'm extremely competitive in everything I do, whether it's hockey, golf, or school. No matter what the activity is, I'm always striving to be the best I can be and pushing myself to beat the guy next to me.
After a challenging freshman season, Hanson and the Bulldogs took a massive step forward during his sophomore year. The team reached its 16th NCAA tournament appearance in program history and made a deep run in their NCHC tournament, giving Hanson several memorable experiences with his teammates.
Q: What has been the most memorable moment of your UMD career so far?
A: I'd say last season as a whole. Being able to make it to the NCAA tournament, making a deep run in our NCHC tournament, and just winning with my teammates, the guys you work so hard with day in and day out, was something special. Obviously, last year didn't end the way we wanted it to, but it was a step in the right direction and definitely a fun season.
As a junior, Hanson has taken on a greater leadership role with UMD after learning from previous team captains during his first two seasons. Being named captain is yet another milestone in Hanson's journey at UMD, a program he dreamed of playing for since he was young.
Q: How does it feel to be named a UMD team captain this year?
A: It's a really big honor. I've played for a lot of good leaders, including Dominic James my first year and Joey Pierce my second year, and just learning things from them went a long way. It's always been my dream to play at UMD, but also to wear a letter and be in a high leadership role. And to see those dreams come true is really special.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with this team before your time comes to an end here?
A: I think the easy answer is to just win the whole thing, but I also want to be a good teammate, a good leader and be someone that guys can lean on. I want to do my best to push the guys around me and allow them to push me as well so we can continue to get better. Ultimately, that's what we're trying to do as a team: push each other and help one another become the greatest versions of ourselves.
As Hanson continues his junior season, he hopes to build on the success UMD had last year while continuing to grow as a leader. Although winning a national championship remains his primary goal, the Hermantown native is also focused on leading by example, helping his teammates reach their potential, and leaving a long-lasting impact on the program. With his experience, competitive mindset and new role as captain, Hanson hopes to help UMD take another step forward this season.
