20 Mark Amstutz

Mark Amstutz built his reputation doing the little things right. In college he played ACHA club hockey, where he became a faceoff junkie — studying opponents’ hands, changing his grip at the dot, and turning draws into instant possessions. He wasn’t the loudest voice in the room, but coaches trusted him with every defensive zone start and the last minute of tight games.

His hockey map is full of road miles: Can/Am weekends in Lake Placid, gritty tournament swings through Madison and Pittsburgh, a late-night championship in a draft tourney that his friends still won’t stop talking about. Wherever he went, Amstutz earned ice time by being reliable — first forward back, last one to quit on a puck.

On the rink today, he plays a true 200-foot game. He wins draws, kills penalties, and has a knack for turning a chipped puck at the wall into a clean zone exit. Offensively he’s simple and effective: low, hard shots for rebounds, quick bump passes to spring wingers, and the occasional shorthanded dagger when a defenseman gets careless at the blue line.

There’s a craft to Mark’s gear, too — a slightly shorter stick for leverage on faceoffs, a rounded toe for quick lifts, and white tape on the blade to hide the puck off the draw. He won’t put up gaudy numbers, but when the bench needs a reset or the clock needs managing, everyone looks for Amstutz to hop the boards.