Ryan Lund, a 20‑year‑old defenseman from Warroad, Minnesota, is entering his third season with the Austin Bruins, a team that has become a springboard for several young talents.
The son of Tom Lund, a former Division I defenseman at St. Cloud State University, Lund grew up immersed in hockey’s subtle details and developed a reputation for intangible qualities that often go unnoticed on the scoresheet.
At Warroad High School he reached three state tournaments, guiding the Warriors to the championship game twice, and in his senior year he posted 20 goals while finishing with 38 goals and 109 points, a testament to his offensive surge.
Last season he played a pivotal role in the Bruins’ playoff push, even though a lower‑body injury forced him to miss nearly half of the schedule, underscoring both his durability and the team’s reliance on his presence.
A Defenseman Shaping the Bruins' Future
This year the Bruins return only eight players, among them three defensemen — Lund, Andrew Leung and Gus Elbert — while former captain Nathan Williams has moved on to Division I hockey at Maryville University, opening a pathway for Lund to assume a larger leadership mantle.
At 21, Lund will soon turn another year older and is preparing for the next phase of his career, as the NCAA’s new ‘5 for 5’ eligibility rule begins to shape his five‑year window to reach Division I competition.
Coach Steve Howard has voiced confidence that Lund’s size, skill set and hockey IQ make him a natural fit for the next level, highlighting his focus on edge work, teamwork and relentless improvement.