Milwaukee Power assistant Captain Max Erstad has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey at the University of Dubuque.
Erstad, a Fond du Lac, WI native played three seasons with the Milwaukee Power after being acquired in a trade with the Rochester Grizzlies.
“Max came to us early in the 2020-21 season in a trade with Rochester, and we watched his game mature and him become a leader on and off the ice. The University of Dubuque is getting a complete player that provides what a university is looking for in the student athlete, community and performance on the rink. Max Erstad will bring all those attributes to the new Spartan program. Well done, Max, we are very proud of you and thank you for your time in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Power brand has grown because of you,” said Milwaukee Power VP of Hockey Operations, General Manager Kevin Marion.
“I’d like to thank my family, friends, teammates and coaches for helping me get to this point. I’d like to extend a sincere thank you to the Milwaukee Power organization for everything they have done to help me obtain this opportunity and for making my junior experience really amazing. I’m super excited to get started with a new hockey program in Dubuque. Go Spartans,” said Max Erstad.
“We are unbelievably proud of Max. In his time with the Power, he reinvented his game by working extremely hard on and off the ice. He’s truly earned this opportunity. It will be hard to replace Max Erstad. The University of Dubuque is getting an exceptionally fine hockey player and great human being,” said Milwaukee Power Head Coach, Assistant General Manager John Mitchell.
In 126 games played with the Power, Erstad tallied 43 goals and 45 assists for 88 points with 198 penalty minutes.
The University of Dubuque announced the addition of Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey to their NCAA Division III Intercollegiate Athletics Program with competition to begin in 2023-24. UD will be partnering with the Dubuque Ice Arena, which is home to the Dubuque Fighting Saints (United States Hockey League). The Spartans will be a member of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association—one of the top NCAA Division III hockey conferences in the country.
Congratulations, Max!