Kenneth Bagley developed his overall game and skill set in Colorado Springs and then moved to the junior hockey ranks in the USPHL with the Islanders Hockey Club.

Next season, Bagley will skate for Hiram College, a first-year NCAA Division III program in Ohio.

“I was playing pretty well at the time and my head coach Jay Punsky did a good job of getting me out there to schools and Hiram seemed like the best option after talking with Coach Curto a little after another one of my teammates committed,” said Bagley. “What appealed me was it was a smaller school and I knew the learning was going to be on a more personal level. As for hockey, it’s a new program so a good opportunity to play right away and compete in the lineup with guys that are more my age.

“School wasn’t always a priority for me until my second year of juniors when I realized there was a chance I could play NCAA. I always knew I wanted to do something with business so I will be majoring in Business Management.”

While his hometown is Colorado Springs, Bagley lived in Grand Forks, N.D., where he grew up watching UND and fell in love with game.

“Then when I moved to the Springs, I had a close friend get me into hockey and start playing the game,” said Bagley. “I would say the biggest thing that got me in was watching college hockey between Colorado College and the University of North Dakota.”

Back home, Bagley skated for the Colorado Springs Tigers, Monument Hockey Academy and Pine Creek High School.

“Some coaches that have stood out are Joey Carrol, who is a great coach and taught me a lot when moving to higher levels of the game, and Ed Saxer, Walt Aufderhiede, George Pagonis, Kevin Holmstrom, Pat Bingham, Pat Kelleher, Justin Ochsendorf, Tony Driscoll, and then my junior coach Jay Punsky,” said Bagley. “All of theses coaches have played a big impact on my journey, whether it’s in the summer or during the season.”

Looking forward, Bagley has reasonable expectations.

“I would say short-term goals would be to have a good start and successful year at Hiram College and start my education on the right foot, giving a new program the best I can give,” Bagley said. “As for long-term goals, I want to be part of building a well-known program with Hiram. Maybe some pro hockey after that. I would also like to maybe coach or own some kind of business.”

Photo/Bella Capozzi

— Matt Mackinder

(August 9, 2025)