Brandon Bochenski

Brandon Louis Bochenski (born April 4, 1982) is a Kazakh American former professional ice hockey player and politician. He played 156 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams before serving as captain of Barys Astana in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Internationally Bochenski represented both the United States and Kazakhstan, playing in several World Championships. In June 2020, Bochenski was elected mayor of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Bochenski went to Blaine High School where he graduated in 2000. Bochenski was a part of the Blaine Bengals when they defeated the Duluth East Greyhounds 6–0 in the 2000 class AA championship. Also in the Minnesota State High School League tournament, Bochenski and the Bengals defeated Rochester Mayo, Hastings and finished the tournament leading the AA in scoring with 7 points. The St. Paul Pioneer Press named Bochenski along with teammates Matt Hendricks and Matt Moore to the second team of the All-State Boys hockey team.

With the Lincoln Stars of the USHL in 2000–01, Bochenski led the league in goals with 47 and was the single highest goal total in the league over the past 15 years. Playing in 55 games that year, Bochenski had 80 points and was named the USHL's Rookie of the Year. His standout performances were noticed by the Ottawa Senators and he was subsequently drafted in the seventh round, 223rd overall, in the 2001 NHL entry draft. Bochenski would then leave the USHL to pursue a collegiate career.

Bochenski was heavily recruited to play college hockey in the NCAA, finally choosing the University of North Dakota. Bochenski went on to spend three seasons with UND in the WCHA. As a freshman at UND, Bochenski led his team with five game-winning goals and was third in total points. While North Dakota failed to make the NCAA tournament in 2001–02, Bochenski would not fail again leading UND to two NCAA tournaments in his final two years at UND. In each of his final two years at UND, Bochenski led his team in goals, points and power play goals. After the 2003–04 season, Bochenski would sign with the Ottawa Senators where he would make his professional hockey debut with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL.

During his first season in the AHL with the Binghamton Senators, Bochenski racked up 34 goals and 36 assists for 70 points in just 75 games. The following year, he only saw action in 33 games, but scored 22 goals and had 24 assists. It would be the 2005–06 season when Bochenski would make his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators.

After being called up from the Senators, Bochenski would debut on October 5, 2005, and go on to play in twenty games. His first NHL point was an assist versus the Buffalo Sabres on October 8, 2005. Just one week later on October 15, 2005, Bochenski would have his first career goal scoring against the Boston Bruins. In a game against the Florida Panthers on December 15, 2005, Bochenski scored his first career hat trick. Bochenski would then be traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, leaving the Ottawa Senators scoring six goals and assisting on seven others.

On March 9, 2006, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks along with a second-round pick in exchange for Tyler Arnason. Bochenski would record his first point for the Blackhawks on March 19, 2006, and his first goal on April 1, 2006. Bochenski would go on to play for the Blackhawks in twenty games before helping the Norfolk Admirals in which he tallied two points in three playoff games. In his twenty appearances in 2005–06, Bochenski would record four points.

In 2006–07, Bochenski spent the majority of the year with the Admirals. With Norfolk, Bochenski had a phenomenal year scoring at a torrid pace, 33 goals with 33 assists in just 35 games. After an early January 2007 injury to Martin Havlát, Bochenski was recalled and found more playing time. But on February 3, 2007, the Blackhawks traded him to the Boston Bruins for Kris Versteeg and a conditional pick. On February 6, 2007, soon after joining to the Bruins, Bochenski scored his first Bruin goal at the five-minute mark of the second period. The game ended in a 3–2 victory after a shootout against the Washington Capitals.