Get to know Badger defenseman Anthony Kehrer
November 27, 2020 | Men's Hockey
Canadian-born freshman off to solid start for the Badgers
Madison, Wis. — Despite being the youngest player on the Badger's roster this season, Anthony Kehrer has his sights set on becoming an impact player on the blue line. With his four-point series this week at Penn State and his solid play through the first six games, he appears to be on the way to doing just that.Â
The defenseman hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Canada's Western Hockey League is a popular option for players seeking to compete at a higher level. However, Kehrer opted to play in the USHL for the Sioux City Musketeers, tallying one goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 58 games his first season with the team. While in Sioux City, Kehrer also got the chance to play alongside fellow Badger freshman Sam Stange and Luke LaMaster. He proved his resilience last season after a knee injury cut his season short. Kehrer was just weeks away from returning to the lineup before the USHL canceled the remainder of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a summer of rehabilitation and strengthening, Kehrer is showing it was worth the wait for both him and Wisconsin with his play on the ice.Â
Why did you choose the USHL/college hockey route?
That was a pretty big discussion I had with my family. In Canada, we have the Western Hockey League and that's where I was drafted to. I was drafted two hours away from home and would of been living with one of my best friends. I guess it was a pretty tough decision, just choosing between the two. Once I was able to learn about college hockey and visit Madison, it wasn't too challenging after that to choose. The USHL, there was talk of me going either there or the BCHL in British Columbia or the AJHL. I wouldn't change anything I did. The USHL is an amazing league that I believe prepared me for college hockey. I'm really happy with the route I've taken and I wouldn't second guess it. Both my sisters went to college as well in the States for soccer so my family already knew about that route and having an education to fall back on and keep yourself busy with was definitely a big factor.
What are you hoping to achieve this season?
I think just being able to jump into the college level and make an impact would be my personal goal, being able to play regular minutes and help the team. Obviously as a team, a national championship. It's just something you get goosebumps thinking about. That would be pretty special to bring back to Madison.
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How much has covid changed the experience of playing hockey at a high level?
I was injured in February and March last year so I wasn't able to finish the season with any games, but I was able to just train and get stronger in the off-season. Then coming here not knowing if we're going to play, when we're going to play, was hanging all over our heads, occupying our minds. It's taken a toll mentally, just frustrated we can't get out there, but now that we can, it's pretty exciting. I wasn't able to come to Madison unfortunately until September, so I missed the summer with the guys. I definitely appreciate being here and having the chance to play.
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Why did you pick Wisconsin?
It was pretty simple actually, for me, this was the first college that I toured. After that first visit, I didn't really want to go anywhere else. From the tradition of the program to the place itself and campus, I fell in love with it. I went to a few other schools, but nothing really compared. I was lucky enough to go to two games when I was first here and just seeing the fans and the atmosphere stuck out to me as something I'd want to be at. I committed my sophomore year. I think it was 2016 when I first visited.
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Do you have any hidden talents?
I can juggle a little bit. That was a quarantine hobby that I picked up. I wouldn't say I'm amazing at it, but I can do a lot better than others. I was pretty bored the first few weeks. I think it was apples that I started off with. I dented some of those a bit, so you probably couldn't eat them after. I learned the mechanics from a friend a while ago and I kind of already knew so I just had to practice after that. That was a little talent I picked up. I also played quite a bit of soccer growing up and even today that's one of the other sports I'm pretty good at.
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How has your experiences with injury shaped yourself as a person and player?
It was pretty challenging this past season. I didn't really have the season I was expecting to. I got injured twice, then my last injury, when I was coming back I was two weeks away from playing when COVID struck. It was just frustrating. I wasn't able to really prove myself or help my team, but you definitely gain a mental advantage, never taking anything for granted, just preparing everyday and having a good day everyday when you're healthy. I think mentally I was able to gain an advantage from that.
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What was it like playing on the Sioux City Musketeers with future Badgers?
It was pretty cool. Last year, we weren't the best in the standings, but I really enjoyed our team. We all got along real well, we all competed hard and definitely made each other better. It was really good, being able to compete. Sam is a forward, so being able to compete against him and hang out with the two and get to know them better, it was pretty special.
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If you could pick your own goal song or walk up song, what would it be?
I love a lot of music, I'm not too picky about that. Could be an old one, some AC/DC maybe. I like Drake as well, being from Canada. Maybe one of his classics.
What do you hope to add to the Badgers' line up?
I think good defensive play, just a steady defenseman who can break out pucks, move the puck well and just compete hard against anyone. I wouldn't say I'm a complete defensive-defenseman, I'd say I'm more of a two way, but I think just my presence I think I'd be able to calm the game down and help out at the next level here.Â
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Describe a moment that made you feel like you made the right choice coming to Madison or made you feel at home.
Sam Stange, myself, and Luke LaMaster, three of the freshmen, we played together last year. I didn't really know them before that year, but after we met we hit it off. Just going into school here already knowing those three made it a lot easier. The team was so accepting. We were able to gel quickly, we've got a pretty good team here.
How is it rooming with Badger freshman Sam Stange?
It's good. We have pretty similar personalities. We like to keep it clean, go to bed at a decent time, do our homework. He's been great. No complaints living with him.
What's one thing most people don't know about you but would be surprised to hear?
I'm a dual citizen, so I have Canadian and American citizenship. My dad is from Canada and my mom is from the United States. It's pretty cool to be able to appreciate both countries.
What's it like playing for Tony Granato?
It's unbelievable. You just look at what he's done in his career whether it's playing or coaching. It's pretty special the connections he's had and he's made, with guys like Gretzky and Crosby, two of the best players that have ever played, just respecting him. When I first saw him I was kind of starstruck, now I'm pretty used to it. I can ask him anything. He's been amazing.
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Who do you model your game after?
Probably right now, Ryan McDonagh. He went here as well, to Wisconsin. My defense coach, Mark Osiecki, actually coached him, so we've been watching some video on him. He said I really remind him of McDonagh. I think that's a guy I watched specifically during the playoffs and someone who I'll continue to model my game after. He's just really sound defensively, no one really gets by him, makes good breakout passes, able to help out on the offensive side as well. I think him being the quarterback out there controlling everything, that's something that I want to take over.
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Favorite part about living in Madison?
I think just the city itself and being on campus around everyone. It's a lot of fun, everything is pretty close if you just want to go walk to State Street and get some food or go down to Starbucks in Smith. There's nothing really that isn't here. Just the people honestly.
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What's the hardest part of being so far away from home?
When I first moved away at 16 it was pretty tough, then last year I was used to it. Right now, I miss my family, obviously, but I'm having such a good time here that it's not bad at all. That's not really anything that's too challenging for me, just missing family and friends. I was home for probably seven months since February so I was used to that. Sometimes they'd get on my nerves, but now being away from them, I realized how I took it for granted.
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What's it like being on a team with another Canadian?
It's just Dylan [Holloway] and I, it's cool. He can obviously relate to a few things a bit more than others, but it's nice having another Canadian.
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What's your favorite restaurant in Madison?
I haven't been to many since I've been here but on my visit we went to Fresco. It's a few floors up and it has a balcony.
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Which Badger is the hardest to defend against in practice?
That's a tough one, obviously we have some pretty talented hard-working players both ends of the ice, whether it's forward or defense. I think Dylan would be one of the more challenging ones. He's got a big frame that can keep the puck away from you. He's pretty hard to move around but it's a good challenge whenever you get to go against him.
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How would you describe your taste in music?
Honestly if you looked at my playlist it would vary between any genre whether it's country, rock, hip hop, rap, anything. I have a playlist for whatever I'm feeling, I'm not too picky.
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Is there a US-Canada rivalry in the locker room?
I haven't seen anything first hand, but probably at the end of the day there is a little bit. That might change when the World Juniors tournament comes.Â
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What are you hoping to achieve academically this season?
Academically, my goal is to get into the Wisconsin School of Business, so I'm doing those core courses right now, then just trying to get my GPA up. So that'd be the goal at the end of the year.Â
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Best moment from youth hockey?
I've got a few. When I was 10 years old, it's called the Brick Invitational Tournament, it's at West Edmonton Mall, so it's a pretty big pee-wee tournament. The team I played with, we were called the Winnipeg Junior Jets and I think we finished third. I think my biggest memory would be when I was 14 years old and my team was playing in a tournament for 15 year olds, so 2001 birth years, and we ended up going undefeated in the tournament and I got MVP. That was probably one of my bigger youth hockey memories.
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Describe your recruiting process --Â were you a Badgers' fan growing up?
Growing up, I didn't really have a team. College hockey just showed up on my radar when I was probably 13-14, so I didn't really have a team. My recruiting process, I was playing at Shattuck St. Mary's in a little tournament there and Mark Osiecki was able to watch. From that point on they got in contact with me, I went on a few visits and they kept monitoring me and then a year after that is when I committed.
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Who do you look up to and why?
I would have to say my dad. He played hockey, he ended up going to the East Coast league for the Hampton Roads Admirals and he played in Europe for a bit. He had a pretty successful career there and he's definitely a guy that I can lean on for advice whether its about hockey or it's about life. He's had a really big impact on me.
Describe your pre game ritual.
I'm pretty simple. If whatever doesn't happen, like if I don't get my meal or whatever it won't really throw me off. I do like to get a nap in -- a 45 minute nap after morning skate usually -- and then a coffee before the game. That's kinda my two things that I like to do. Other than that, I don't like to lay around all day. I like to get out of the house or the dorm, do some homework, just have a normal day so I'm not sleepy when I get to the rink. Nap, coffee, tape my stick right when I get to the rink as well, and after that it's pretty much roll out, stretch, prepare for the game.
