From California to East Lansing, Khodorenko Continues to Get Better With Age

Chris Mills
For MSUSpartans.com

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State hockey star Patrick Khodorenko is used to people paying attention to him. His road to hockey fame started when he was 14, when he moved from Walnut Creek, California, to play in Plymouth, Michigan, where he eventually played for the elite USA Hockey National Team Development program.

There was one common thread between his time representing Team USA, and now wearing a Spartan uniform: MSU coach Danton Cole.

It's rare to have the same coach in a youth and collegiate career. The two have been working together for years now and share a strong bond.

"It's great having Coach Cole here, he is very detail-oriented and demands a lot from his guys, so I think that's good. Not a lot has changed from his coaching standpoint from the USA team to here, which is obviously really good because of the success he had with the USA team and we could use a little more of that here," said Khodorenko.

Cole said he was thrilled to have a smooth-playing forward like Khodorenko come with him to East Lansing. He's watched Khodorenko mature, on and off the ice.

"It has been fun to see him grow over the several years I have known and coached him," Cole said. "He was 16 when we first met and just a young man figuring out hockey and life. To see him mature and become an intelligent, thoughtful leader on our team has been amazing.

"He has become a very well-rounded player with tremendous skill and work ethic, but what I enjoy the most about Patrick is how good a man he is and how he cares for his teammates and MSU."

Making the move from California to Michigan was huge, but an average part of an elite hockey player's career. Khodorenko's parents moved with him to Plymouth, but now that he's in college, moved back to Northern California.

Khodorenko quickly adapted to the state of Michigan, the reason he picked Michigan State was down to familiarity and the friendships he made along the way. He knew a lot of kids from his high school and teammates that were going to attend Michigan State.

Things have worked out quite well at MSU, as Khodorenko's speed, creativity with the puck and toughness makes him one of the team's top offensive producers. He's made an instant impact since joining the Spartans. His freshman year, he finished tied for third on the team with 18 points. He improved to 32 points during his sophomore year.

His junior year was his best yet, finishing as an All-Big Ten second-teamer, Academic All-Big Ten and finished with a career-high 37 points.

Entering his senior year, Khodorenko was the Spartan's active leader in points with 87. He's had talent around him for years to help contribute to those stats, including first team All-American Taro Hirose – who now stars for the Red Wings. Knodorenko recently reached 100 career points in the Spartans' win at Michigan on November 14.

Khodorenko views his time in college as more than playing hockey, as he's also looking to a future career in the business world. He's an Economics major and has earned Academic All-Big Ten status.

Khodorenko's hockey career will likely extend into the NHL, but he wants to be prepared for his whole life.

"Education is the most important thing in college. If I thought I was going to make an entire living just playing hockey I wouldn't have come to college," he said. "I would have probably gone to juniors in Canada.

"I know that hockey isn't your entire life you have to find a different source of income after hockey."

Michigan State University Athletics

From California to East Lansing, Khodorenko Continues to Get Better With Age

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