Justin Kelley is back in the MIAC, where he spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career when St. Thomas was still a member of it before the program transitioned to Division I.
Now, he’s playing for the Bethel Royals and having success. Kelley is glad to to back.
“It’s been really cool,” Kelley said. “I have familiarity with the team and the coach, and other teammates I’ve played with in the past. It just felt like I fit right in. The guys have been great. It’s been awesome.”
Kelley has made an immediate impact. He ranks second on the team in goals (3) and points (6), and has also dished out six assists for a Bethel team that is off to a 4-2 start.
He credits his teammates for helping him become the best player he can be so far this season.
“We have such a good team and that has helped me play better,” Kelley said. “It pushes me every day because we have a lot of great players, and it makes me want to do better every time I go out there on the ice.”
For Kelley, the new environment has been a difference maker as well. Last year with St. Thomas during the Tommies’ first season in Division I, it presented challenges and added pressure.
“I’m not restricting myself this year. I’m playing more free,” Kelley said. “I almost felt like last year I was playing just to survive rather than going out there and having fun and playing free. This year, I’m doing that. I’m not worried about the next shift. I’m focused on the right now and having success.”
His familiarity with some of his teammates hasn’t hurt either. One of the senior forward’s teammates, Jarrett Cammarata, who leads the Royals with four goals and four assists, has been someone Kelley has known long before he ever stepped onto the ice at Bethel.
“I’ve played with Jarrett pretty much my whole life. It’s a lot of fun to play with him again,” Kelley said. “It’s pretty cool for us to be on the same team again.”
Growing up in Minnesota, Kelly started playing hockey when he was just 4 years old. Hockey has always kind of been a family affair for him.
“My dad played and my older brother played, so I watched him a lot, and now my younger brother players, too,” Kelley said.
His love for the game is unmatched.
“The game is awesome and has been my passion,” Kelley said. “No matter what is going on off the ice, when I step onto the ice I have no worries. All of the worries go away. And being around my teammates, some of my best memories are with them.”
More memories are still yet to be made.
Bethel is coming off a huge win over then No. 15 UW-Eau Claire, beating the Blugolds 4-3 in overtime, and the Royals gained a lot from that win.
“It was a big confidence boost. We didn’t play our best the night before against Superior, and had lost two in a row at home, and just weren’t playing our best game. But we found it against Eau Claire. To beat them at home was awesome. We can build on what we did well and keep moving forward.”
Kelley said the Royals have been able to play fast and physical, and that has been instrumental to their success in the early going of the season.
They understand nothing will come easy in the MIAC, though, night in and night out.
“Every team is good. You can’t overlook anyone,” Kelley said. “You have to earn everything you get every night.”
And when it’s all said and done this season, Bethel hopes to be in the hunt for a conference title.
“Our goal is to be right there at the end,” Kelley said. “What is helping us is our focus. We know every game is an opportunity to get better and we want to be playing our best at the end of the year, but what we do right now factors into that.”
