Ohio defenseman Tommy Kloepfer wasn’t born wearing ice skates and holding a hockey puck.
This is something he finds to be shocking given his birthplace just north of Toronto in King City, Ontario. Kloepfer tried just about every other sport before finding his way to hockey, from baseball to BMX, but eventually, that Canadian spirit pulled him in.
“I turned 12 and all my friends were playing hockey at school. I felt kind of left out,” Kloepfer said. “I hadn’t skated much in my life, I barely could at 13 years old. I put a lot of work into it, and I fell in love really quick.”
Of course, Kloepfer was always surrounded by hockey even if he wasn’t blocking shots on goal just yet. His family built a rink in their backyard during Ontario’s brutal winters, and his initial interest in the sport was spawned by some spring cleaning.
“I think what really initiated my love for hockey was doing some cleaning in our basement and finding an old newspaper from when my father was a kid and it was labeling him as a superstar,” Kloepfer said. "He was the man of the town. I saw what he was doing at his age playing hockey, and I wanted to try my shot at it.”
Kloepfer’s time in Canadian juniors was, in his words, “a blast.” He played for his local team, the Aurora Tigers, so he was constantly hanging out with all his friends, especially the ones he made on the team.
His friends on the team included current Ohio forwards Hollander Thompson and Luc Reeve. Thompson and Kloepfer’s friendship started distant, but having to sit next to each other in the locker room brought them together. Reeve was a local star, so Kloepfer was familiar before they were on the same team, and he regretted ever underestimating him.
“On the first drill we did together, it was a one-on-one,” Kloepfer said. "He was coming down on me, took it to the outside and just cut right into me and threw me right on my a--. From then on, I didn’t mess with him.”
It's clear their friendship has continued to persevere. Reeve credited Kloepfer with helping him score the winning overtime goal against Niagara.
One of Kloepfer’s enduring traits is practicality. He knows he won’t be spending forever on an ice rink, so he chose to pursue an entrepreneurship major at OU to continue to grow his business.
“My father is a businessman. I own a trailer parts business back in Canada, which we started back in 2020 while I was still playing juniors,” Kloepfer said. “I saw the business school here at Ohio, and the entrepreneurship program, and it was a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and take it to the next level.”
Kloepfer’s business sources all the parts for 18-wheel tractor trailers, which is what he plans on devoting himself to after he graduates from OU.
His practicality expands even past the rink and his business. If Kloepfer was stranded on a deserted island, he said he would bring a machete and a dirt bike. These two choices would arguably expand his ability to survive in those uncertain circumstances.
Plus, if he could only eat one ice cream flavor for the rest of his life, he said it would be Dutch chocolate. Kloepfer asserted this was an undeniably practical choice, as the plainness would make it hard to get tired of. Besides ice cream hypotheticals and desert island survival, Kloepfer is using his practicality and energy both on and off the ice.
“I’m a big energy guy,” Kloepfer said. “I bring physicality. I have a hard shot. I have a versatile role; I’m all over the place and I fit in where I’m needed.”
Of course, what’s hockey without a couple of superstitions? Wayne Gretzky put baby powder on his stick before every game, Sidney Crosby eats a PB&J at 5 p.m. and Tommy Kloepfer? You’ll never catch him walking into Bird Arena on game day without sporting a pair of sunglasses.
Those sunglasses mean Kloepfer is ready for another night defending some of his best friends on the ice.
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