Get to know Badger forward Carson Bantle
August 05, 2021 | Men's Hockey
Bantle played for Team USA at the World Junior Summer Showcase
PLYMOUTH, Mich. — We recently caught up with incoming Badger transfer Carson Bantle at the 2021 World Junior Summer Showcase inside USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, to ask a few questions on Wisconsin hockey and what it means to represent Team USA.Â
Bantle was one of 24 forwards selected to represent Team USA at the July 24-31 event. It's held each held annually each summer to give fans, scouts and media a preview of the World Junior Championship, and USA Hockey a chance to evaluate its player pool for the main event that takes place in December and January.
Drafted in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, the Onalaska, Wisconsin, native, spent his freshman season at Michigan Tech where he recorded two goals and one assist for three points in 19 games. He missed a portion of the season due to injury and entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Before joining the Huskies, the 6-4 Bantle played for the Madison Capitols of the USHL, just down the road from UW's campus. Bantle racked up 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 49 games during the 2019-20 season, good enough for 12th on the league-leader board for points.
As a hockey player born and raised in Wisconsin, did you grow up cheering for the Badgers or going to games?Â
Bantle: I grew up a Badger football fan because my dad was a Badger football fan. I've been to a few games, but I've never been to a Badger hockey game. I went to a football game with my dad and I remember just being in awe as a little kid seeing all the people there, it was pretty sweet.
Why Wisconsin?
Bantle: I went up to Michigan Tech and it was a tough year and I wanted something new. Michigan Tech just didn't fit me and I wanted something that was the right fit for me.
What are you most excited about being back in Madison?
Bantle:Â I think just being around a lot of people I know. It's not really my hometown but it feels like it to me.
What impact did your time playing junior hockey in Madison have on your decision to transfer to UW?
Bantle:Â I really love the city. Being there for two years and playing for the Capitols really made it feel like home to me, so I'm glad to be back.
What do you hope to add to the Badgers' lineup as a sophomore with some NCAA experience under your belt?
Bantle:Â I'm a power forward so I think I'll kind of bring that grit and be hard to play against down low and be a big body to move out of the way.
Have you crossed paths with any former or future Badgers?
Bantle: I played with Danny (Daniel Laatsch) when I was younger and played against Anthony Kehrer a bit.
This is not your first time representing the USA, but I'm sure it's special nonetheless. How would you describe that honor?
Bantle:Â It's always an honor and a dream to represent your country so it's unbelievable every single time.
Describe how you've worked to distinguish yourself as a power forward and agile skater.
Bantle: That's a tough question, I never really had a skating coach so whatever coaches tell me I just run with. Skating is the thing I need to work on the most. I just try to throw my body around and protect the puck. Â
Where were you and who were you with when you got the news that the Arizona Coyotes selected you in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft? What was the first thing you did?
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Bantle:Â I was up at Michigan Tech. It was just my mom and my dad and I in the hotel room waiting to hear my name called. I can't remember the first thing I did, I was just shocked. I zoned out and everything was kinda a blur that day. It was pretty cool to hear my name. I got a call from my family advisor and he let me know, then the GM from Arizona called me.Â
Describe your recruitment process— did you know Wisconsin was interested upon entering the transfer portal?
Bantle:Â Not really. We're not allowed to talk to teams before we enter the portal. I talked to Wisconsin before coming to Michigan Tech and then they reached out to me after I entered the portal. It kind of just all fell into place. There were other teams but Wisconsin was the best fit.Â
Did you have any NTDP or U18 Team USA experience prior to the WJSS?
Bantle:Â Yeah, I made the U18 World Championship team but then COVID happened.
Were you a fan of the World Juniors growing up?
Bantle:Â Yeah, I'd watch them every year. I think the best memory is watching the outdoor game in Buffalo, that was pretty sweet.Â
How is international competition different from the NCAA or USHL?
Bantle:Â I think it's way more skilled. There's a lot less time with the puck on your stick and everything is elevated. I think that has a lot to do with it.
How has bouncing back from injury affected you both on and off the ice, mentally and physically?
Bantle:Â I think my injury made it tough to get back into things after I got hurt but it worked out the way it did. Now I'm at Wisco, so everything just fell into place.
Have you crossed paths with Robbie Beydoun, another Michigan Tech transfer to Wisconsin?
Bantle:Â Yeah, I've talked to him a couple times in Madison when I've seen him around the rink.
Describe summer in Madison.
Bantle:Â You never wanna be anywhere else besides Madison in the summer. A bunch of us go to the pool everyday and go on the lake a lot. It's so much fun.
What does your Spotify most played look like?
Bantle:Â Mostly country. I'm a big Morgan Wallen guy. I love Eric Church too. I sometimes listen to some rap, I like Lil Baby and Polo G too. I've got a good mix.
UW is scheduled to play Michigan Tech pretty early on, describe the emotions of playing against your former team.
Bantle:Â It will be a lot of fun, the first game against those guys. It will be a lot of fun to get to see those guys again and it will be good experience.
Bantle was one of 24 forwards selected to represent Team USA at the July 24-31 event. It's held each held annually each summer to give fans, scouts and media a preview of the World Junior Championship, and USA Hockey a chance to evaluate its player pool for the main event that takes place in December and January.
Drafted in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, the Onalaska, Wisconsin, native, spent his freshman season at Michigan Tech where he recorded two goals and one assist for three points in 19 games. He missed a portion of the season due to injury and entered the transfer portal at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Before joining the Huskies, the 6-4 Bantle played for the Madison Capitols of the USHL, just down the road from UW's campus. Bantle racked up 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 49 games during the 2019-20 season, good enough for 12th on the league-leader board for points.
As a hockey player born and raised in Wisconsin, did you grow up cheering for the Badgers or going to games?Â
Bantle: I grew up a Badger football fan because my dad was a Badger football fan. I've been to a few games, but I've never been to a Badger hockey game. I went to a football game with my dad and I remember just being in awe as a little kid seeing all the people there, it was pretty sweet.
Why Wisconsin?
Bantle: I went up to Michigan Tech and it was a tough year and I wanted something new. Michigan Tech just didn't fit me and I wanted something that was the right fit for me.
What are you most excited about being back in Madison?
Bantle:Â I think just being around a lot of people I know. It's not really my hometown but it feels like it to me.
What impact did your time playing junior hockey in Madison have on your decision to transfer to UW?
Bantle:Â I really love the city. Being there for two years and playing for the Capitols really made it feel like home to me, so I'm glad to be back.
What do you hope to add to the Badgers' lineup as a sophomore with some NCAA experience under your belt?
Bantle:Â I'm a power forward so I think I'll kind of bring that grit and be hard to play against down low and be a big body to move out of the way.
Have you crossed paths with any former or future Badgers?
Bantle: I played with Danny (Daniel Laatsch) when I was younger and played against Anthony Kehrer a bit.
This is not your first time representing the USA, but I'm sure it's special nonetheless. How would you describe that honor?
Bantle:Â It's always an honor and a dream to represent your country so it's unbelievable every single time.
Describe how you've worked to distinguish yourself as a power forward and agile skater.
Bantle: That's a tough question, I never really had a skating coach so whatever coaches tell me I just run with. Skating is the thing I need to work on the most. I just try to throw my body around and protect the puck. Â
Where were you and who were you with when you got the news that the Arizona Coyotes selected you in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft? What was the first thing you did?
Â
Carson Bantle (@BantleCarson)
— USHL (@USHL) October 7, 2020
Round 5
142nd Overall@ArizonaCoyotes #WhosNext pic.twitter.com/4ofJAs4yDD
Bantle:Â I was up at Michigan Tech. It was just my mom and my dad and I in the hotel room waiting to hear my name called. I can't remember the first thing I did, I was just shocked. I zoned out and everything was kinda a blur that day. It was pretty cool to hear my name. I got a call from my family advisor and he let me know, then the GM from Arizona called me.Â
Describe your recruitment process— did you know Wisconsin was interested upon entering the transfer portal?
Bantle:Â Not really. We're not allowed to talk to teams before we enter the portal. I talked to Wisconsin before coming to Michigan Tech and then they reached out to me after I entered the portal. It kind of just all fell into place. There were other teams but Wisconsin was the best fit.Â
Did you have any NTDP or U18 Team USA experience prior to the WJSS?
Bantle:Â Yeah, I made the U18 World Championship team but then COVID happened.
Were you a fan of the World Juniors growing up?
Bantle:Â Yeah, I'd watch them every year. I think the best memory is watching the outdoor game in Buffalo, that was pretty sweet.Â
How is international competition different from the NCAA or USHL?
Bantle:Â I think it's way more skilled. There's a lot less time with the puck on your stick and everything is elevated. I think that has a lot to do with it.
How has bouncing back from injury affected you both on and off the ice, mentally and physically?
Bantle:Â I think my injury made it tough to get back into things after I got hurt but it worked out the way it did. Now I'm at Wisco, so everything just fell into place.
Have you crossed paths with Robbie Beydoun, another Michigan Tech transfer to Wisconsin?
Bantle:Â Yeah, I've talked to him a couple times in Madison when I've seen him around the rink.
Describe summer in Madison.
Bantle:Â You never wanna be anywhere else besides Madison in the summer. A bunch of us go to the pool everyday and go on the lake a lot. It's so much fun.
What does your Spotify most played look like?
Bantle:Â Mostly country. I'm a big Morgan Wallen guy. I love Eric Church too. I sometimes listen to some rap, I like Lil Baby and Polo G too. I've got a good mix.
UW is scheduled to play Michigan Tech pretty early on, describe the emotions of playing against your former team.
Bantle:Â It will be a lot of fun, the first game against those guys. It will be a lot of fun to get to see those guys again and it will be good experience.
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